Aimco Brakes AHCTS Series Continuous Rotation Torque Tool Test Stands User Guide

							
PO Box 16460, Portland, OR  97292-0460  
 
 
503-254-6600  

   Fax 503-255-2615  
AHCTS Series  
Continuous Rotation  
Torque Tool Test stands 
Users Guide   
 www.aimco-global.com 
						

							 
  CONTENTS 1 
AHCTS Series User’s Guide 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
INTRODUCTION ........................................................ 2 
Description .............................................................. 2 
System Specifications ............................................. 2 
OPERATION .............................................................. 3 
Display Operation .................................................... 3 
Back  Panel Inputs .................................................. 4 
Transducer Input (10-pin connector). ................... 4 
DC In .................................................................... 4 
RS-232 ................................................................. 4 
Charging the Batteries ............................................ 4 
RS-232 
RS232 Transfer Protocol 
RS232 Datastream Format 
RS232 Cable Pinouts 
PROGRAMMING & NAVIGATION ............................. 6 
Menu Tree 
Button Operation 
MENU TREE 
RUNDOWN FIXTURE ..............................................  11 
DESCRIPTION OF FUNCTIONS ............................. 12 
Operating Modes 
Peak 
1st Peak 
Track 
Engineering Units 
Full Scale 
Low Limit 
High Limit 
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS ...................................... 14 
AIMCO LIMITED WARRANTY ................................. 15 
 
 
 
 
  
						

							 
  INTRODUCTION 2 
AHCTS Series User’s Guide 
INTRODUCTION 
DESCRIPTION 
The Portable Torque Test Stands are designed specifically to test the torque output of a variety of 
continuous rotation torque tools.  The AHCTS Stand features include a LCD graphics display, 
battery powered for remote testing, and movable reaction devices for a variety of tools. There are 
a variety of reaction devices available contact us to ensure reaction devices are suitable for your 
specific tools.  The display has serial output for use with a serial printer or Windows PC (with any 
terminal emulator program – see serial settings in this manual – or special software available only 
from Auditor).  Optional instruments are offered providing larger screens and data collection if 
required. 
 
NOTE:  The AHCTS series of test stands are available with a wide range of configurations that are 
driven by the specific users’ needs.   You may notice many of the images contained in this manual 
may vary in reference to the actual unit that was configured. 
However, Auditor branded instruments feature similar user interfaces and menu structure.  When 
appropriate, an additional manual specific to the instrument configured on the stand may be 
included in the shipping documents. 
 
SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS 
Dimensions of Stands 
 Small Stand       Width:  8”, Height: 15”, Depth:   8”, Weight 35 Lbs. 
Medium Stand   Width: 12”, Height: 15”, Depth: 12”, Weight 40 Lbs. 
HD Med Stand   Width: 14”, Height: 15”, Depth: 19”, Weight 45 Lbs.  
HD Large Stand Width: 18, Height: 15, Depth: 24, Weight: 50 Lbs. 
Power Requirements 
 9V DC, 150 mA (120V mains adapter standard, 240v mains adapter 
available) or internal NiMH batteries. 
Operating Temperature 
Range  0˚C to 50˚C 
Data Communications 
 RS-232-C 
Accuracy 
 1% of Indicated Reading with Auditor series transducers. 
Range 
 10% to 100% 
Lockout Combinations 
 Mode, Auto Clear, Mode & Auto Clear, Engineering Units, Mode & 
Engineering Units, Auto Clear & Engineering Units, Mode & Auto 
Clear & Engineering Units, None (Off) 
Display 
 4 active digits 
Units 
 Eight (8) available engineering units: Oz.in., Lb.in., Lb.ft., Nm, cNm, 
KgfCm, gfCm, Kgfm. 
Special units available, please inquire. 
Filter 
 Selectable Hz filter: 125, 250, 500, 1000, 1500, & 2000 
Full Scale 
Capacities/Models  500 Ft Lb, 1000 Ft Lb, 2500 Ft Lb, 5000 Ft Lb, 7500 Ft Lb 
Configuration Styles 
 Base plate, casters, legs, legs & casters 
 
  
						

							 
  OPERATION 3 
AHCTS Series User’s Guide 
OPERATION 
 
 
 
 
DISPLAY OPERATION 
 
Button Function: 
 
1: Turns the display On 
    Zeros the Transducer 
    Clears the reading in Peak and 1
st Peak Mode 
 
2: Turns the display Off 
 
3: Programmable Soft Buttons. Functionality varies with the current 
    menu set and is shown on the bottom two lines of the display.  Arrow buttons scroll 
   through torque modes and engineering units. 
 
4: Accepts the reading into memory 
    Scrolls back one level in the menu system 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 
2 
1 
4  
						

							 
  OPERATION 4 
AHCTS Series User’s Guide 
BACK  PANEL INPUTS  
The back of the stand display unit contains various interface connections. 
 
Transducer Input (10-pin connector).  
 
To install or remove the cable simply push in or pull out.  Do this by gripping the outer 
metal case of the cable and NEVER from the cord itself. THIS IS NOT A TWIST LOCK 
CABLE!  IMPORTANT! REMOVE CABLE FOR SHIPPING & TRANSPORTING!! 
 
DC In 
The interface for the AC Adapter supplied with the unit.  Use this if you are working under 
Mains power.  Use only the AC adapter provided with the unit.  Use of another power 
source will void the warranty and may cause severe damage to the display. 
 
RS-232 
If you are downloading to a printer, data collector, computer, etc., this is the mini-plug 
interface for the RS-232 cable.  Values are sent via RS-232 every time the unit auto-clears 
or the ENT/CLR button is pressed 
 
 
CHARGING THE BATTERIES 
1.  The battery life is approximately 12 hours when fully charged.  The Low-Battery 
indicator on the display will illuminate when the battery voltage is low.  After this 
indication the user has approximately 15-30 minutes before the batteries will no 
longer power the unit. 
2.  The batteries charge when the system is plugged-in.  In Fast Charge mode ( i.e. the 
unit is plugged in and the power is OFF), charge time is 2- 4 hours depending on 
charge level. The green LED on the front panel will flash when the battery is charging 
and turned off. It is recommended the tester be plugged in when not in use.  This will 
not harm the unit and will increase battery life. 
Note: If the tester is stored for several months, ensure the battery is completely charged 
prior to storage.   
   
						

							 
  OPERATION 5 
AHCTS Series User’s Guide 
 
RS-232 
The display can be connected to a printer, computer or data collector via the RS232 
interface. When a reading is accepted into memory, a peak is cleared, or data is 
transmitted via the print data menu(s), it is transmitted via the RS-232 port.  To download 
the readings, go to the DATA MENU. Auditor has special software available to download 
the readings, or they can be viewed with a terminal emulator program such as 
HyperTerminal (included in all versions of Windows before Vista under 
Start>Programs>Accessories>Communications), or a free terminal program such as 
PuTTY. 
 
RS232 Transfer Protocol 
Protocol Value 
Cable 9 pin to mini-plug. 
Baud 9600 
Parity None 
Bits 8 
S Bit 1 
Flow None 
 
RS232 Datastream Format 
mmmbsdddddbuuuuucl, where: 
m Memory Location     
s Sign (space or -)  c Carriage Return 
d Data with Decimal Point   l Line Feed 
u Units  b Blank 
 
RS232 Cable Pinouts (9 pin)  
Pin # Description  Pin # Description 
1 Unused    6 Unused 
2 Transmit  7 Unused 
3 Receive    8 Unused 
4 Unused  9 Unused 
5 Ground       
 
 ICBL-USB Cable 
 
 
 
 
  
						

							 
  Programming and Navigation 6 
AHCTS Series User’s Guide 
PROGRAMMING & NAVIGATION 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Auditor product line has been designed to provide a consistent interface. the user 
interface menu is “driven”, as opposed to hard coded providing several advantages: 
   Allows user to operate any of our products with the shortest learning curve 
possible.   
  Offers greater functionality than previously possible.   
  User can economically upgrade and/or customize the tester in the future. 
 
The four buttons on the bottom row are programmable or Soft Buttons.  The functionality 
of the buttons will vary with the current selection.  There are two ways to change settings, 
or otherwise gain access to the operation of the tester: 
 
1.  Live Programming: Where the soft buttons have text above them, pressing the 
button will scroll through the options.  In the picture above, pressing the down arrow 
scrolls through the Torque Modes.  These include Peak, 1
st Peak and Track.  The Up 
Arrow scrolls through the Engineering Units. 
2.  Menu Driven: There are two sets of menus in the display.   
a.  Bottom right oval button scrolls through the Tester Operating Functions.  For 
basic testers, this includes the RUN MODE and MEMORY (MEM) MODE.  
Toggling this button changes the functions of the other soft buttons appropriately. 
ENTERS THE MENU 
SYSTEM SCROLLS THROUGH  
TORQUE MODES  
						

							 
  Programming and Navigation 7 
AHCTS Series User’s Guide 
b.  MENU (bottom left oval) takes you to the Main Menu system.  (Shown below is a 
sample of one menu screen) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MENU TREE 
Operation Overview: There are eight buttons on the display face: Off, On, four (4) 
programmable or ‘soft’ buttons Zero and Enter.  The exact function of the soft buttons is 
defined by the bottom two rows of text and will vary depending on the current mode of 
operation. Pressing the ENT button takes you back to the previous screen, until you return 
to the Run Mode. 
 
 
Button Operation: 
Run Mode (Current mode displayed):  
ON: Clears the peak reading if saved, otherwise zero’s the display and erases the 
memory location.. 
ENT: Save current reading in memory if memory is on and clears the peak reading. 
 
Memory Mode (MEM displayed instead of Run): 
ON: Goes to Run Mode without erasing memory location. 
MENU 
LOCATION 
RETURNS TO 
PREVIOUS MENU 
MENU ACTION 
BUTTONS 
MENU SCROLL 
BUTTONS  
						

							 
  Programming and Navigation 8 
AHCTS Series User’s Guide 
ENT: Scrolls to next empty location. 
 
Either Mode: 
RUN -> MEM: (soft button) changes the mode of the arrow buttons. 
Up and Down: (soft buttons) Units and Mode respectively for RUN; Memory location for 
MEM. Depends on the right programmable button. 
MENU: Enter menus. 
 
MENU Operation: 
ENT: Previous menu. 
Up and Down: Scrolls through the current menu. 
Programmable Keys: Menu actions.  The text varies depending of the active menu 
selection. 
 
 
 
MENU TREE 
1  PEAK OPTIONS MENU 
SEL: Enters menu. 
 
 
1-1  Auto clear 
+, - Set time in seconds. 
 
Auto-clear works in Peak and 1
st Peak modes, freeing the operator from manually clearing 
the display after taking a reading. Auto-clear can be set from one to nine seconds, or 
turned completely off. 
 
With AutoClr disabled, the reading will continue to display until the operator stores it by 
pressing the ENT button, or clears it by pressing the On button. 
 
Pressing the + key will change Off to a value of 1, referring to the number of seconds 
the system will hold a reading on the screen before clearing. Press  arrow key to scroll 
from Off to 9. When the desired value is shown, press the enter button. 
 
When unit is returned to operational mode, AC will show on the bottom of the display. 
Because AutoClr is now active, the reading will show for the specified number of seconds 
and then clear the display. At this point, all readings will clear and be stored automatically 
into memory. 
Note: AutoClr will not work in Track Mode. 
1-2  Filter 
   +, - Set filter value in Hz.  
125, 250, 500, 1000, 1500 & 2000. 
 
 
 
  
						

							 
  Programming and Navigation 9 
AHCTS Series User’s Guide 
 
 
 
1-3  Peak Blanking 
+, - Set blanking in percent of full scale. 
Peak Blanking sets the minimum threshold at which torque is captured as a peak. 
Pressing the + and - buttons will toggle this from 2% to 50% of Full Scale. Pressing the 
ENT button will accept this value and return to Run Mode. 
 
1-4  Sign Lock 
+, - Toggle On or Off. 
The Sign Lock feature allows the user to select the torque direction of the peak to be 
captured. With Sign Lock ON, the initial direction, or sign, is the default direction. Any 
peak in the non-selected direction will be measured, but not captured as a peak. To reset 
the sign, either cycle the power or zero the unit. 
With Sign Lock OFF, the tester will capture both CW and CCW torque. 
 
1-5  Edit Limits 
High or Low edits that limit. 
Limit editing:  
Up and Down: Change the digit specified (5 is decimal point, OFF turns the limit off) 
DIG: Changes which digit to edit. 
ENT: Accepts changes. 
 
 
2  SYSTEM MENU 
SEL: Enters menu. 
 
2-1  Sleep 
+, -: Set time in minutes. 
To conserve battery life, the display is equipped with a sleep mode which sets the limit to 
standby after a specified amount of inactive time Press the +/- keys to increase/decrease 
the number of minutes the unit will wait for input. The highest sleep setting is 20 minutes. 
Press ENT to accept the value and continue to the next function.
 
 
2-2  Lockout Menu 
SEL: Enter menu. 
 
2-2-1  Mode Lockout 
+, -: Toggle on or off. 
 
 
2-2-2  Units Lockout 
+, -: Toggle on or off. 
 
2-2-3  Scroll Lockout 
+, -: Toggle on or off.