Zeltex Calibration Manual for the Windows-Based Software

Section 2, Calibrating a Zeltex Instrument 2

Zeltex Calibration Software

for Windows™ 3.1 and up

Version 1.5

Zeltex, Inc.®, 2003

130 Western Maryland Parkway

Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: (301)791-7080

Fax: (301)733-9398

E-mail:

Website: www.zeltex.com
Table of Contents

Section 1: General Information

System Requirements

Installing the Program

Running the Program

Menu Layout

A Note for Users of Zeltex’s DOS-based Software

Section 2: Calibrating a Zeltex Instrument

Before Beginning

Step 1: Create an Optical Data File and Collect Data from the Analyzer

Step 2: Plot Curves

Step 3: Obtain Lab Analysis for all Calibration Samples

Step 4: Create or Edit a Constituent Data File

Step 5: Merge Constituent Data File to Optical Data File

Step 6: Zeltex Regression Analysis

Steps 6a-c: Take-Five Calibration 15

Step 7: Enter Final K’s

Step 8: Check Accuracy

Appendix 1: Glossary 21

NOTE: This manual covers the ZX800, ZX880, ZX101C, and ZX50 Windows™ software. References to specific model numbers are made for ease of reading the manual.


Section 1: General Information

System Requirements

·  Windows™ 3.1 or above

·  8 megabytes RAM for Windows 3.1 or 3.11™; 16 megabytes RAM for Windows 95™ and up

·  VGA Color monitor

·  1 com port

·  3-1/2 inch disk drive

·  15 megabytes of hard drive space

·  printer

Installing the Program

Before installing the program, make sure you have closed all open Windows™ applications. From the Start menu, select Run (for Windows™ 3.1 and 3.11 users, from the File menu of the Program Manager, select Run). Insert Disk 1 of the Zeltex Calibration Software Program into your 3-1/2 inch disk drive. On the Command Line, type a: or b: (as appropriate) setup.exe. Press Return or select OK. The computer will walk you through the setup process, which requires little more than waiting patiently to insert Disk 2.

After installing the program, store the disks in a safe place in case of hard-drive failure or accidental erasure.

Running the Program

Double-click on the ZELTEX icon in the Program Manager. The following screen will appear:

As with other Windows™ applications, you can access the menu bar with the mouse or by pressing Alt and the underlined letter simultaneously. Shortcut keystrokes for some of the options in each menu are listed to the right of the command when the menu appears. The toolbar of shortcut buttons directly below the menu bar provides quick access to some of the most commonly used commands. The right mouse button accesses the Data menu when an optical data file is open.

File names should be no more than 8 characters long and consist only of letters and numbers. The computer automatically assigns the following extensions to the files and stores them in the DATA directory:

·  “.dt1” to optical data files

·  “.st1” to statistics files

·  “.con” to constituent data files

·  “.ks1” to K values files

·  “.zbk” to instrument settings files ZX-101C, ZX-50

·  “.z8b” to instrument settings files ZX-800, ZX-880

Any optical data file can be viewed in two ways: Plot View or Grid View. The grid view option is designed mainly for use by Zeltex researchers. The plot view is the most useful as it shows the curves of the sample readings. Whenever multiple samples are graphed in plot view, you can click on any curve or point on the graph to determine the sample’s ID number.

Menu Layout

Main Screen menus, with no files open
File / Edit / Window / Help
New / Undo / Cascade / Contents
Open . . . / Cut / Tile / Using help
Close / Copy / Arrange Icons / About . . .
Save / Paste / Close All / (disappears when
Save As . . . / Delete / a file is open, but
Print . . . / Search / can always be
Print Setup . . . / reached via the
Exit / toolbar button)

In addition to these menus, the following can be accessed . . .

A Note for Users of Zeltex’s DOS-based Software

The new Zeltex Calibration Software for Windows™ functions much like the DOS-based version, but many of the titles for various programs have changed. The following “translations” should help you acclimate to this new software.

To execute the program formerly known as: / In the new Windows™ software,
with the appropriate file open, select:
MAIN MENU
Collect Data from the ZX-___ / Data, Collect
Plot a Data File / Data, Plot View
List/Print a Data File / File, Print . . .
Multiple Linear Regression / Data, Reduce
Predict a Data File / Data, Predict
Take-5 Calibration
Recalculate Take-5
UTILITY MENU
Delete/Copy Sample from a File / Edit, Delete or Edit, Copy
Change Percents in a Data File / File, Open, Constituent Data file, OK
Merge Data Files / Data, Grid View, (select samples), Edit, Copy,
Paste into second file
Create/Edit a Constituent File / File, New, Constituent Data file or
File, Open, Constituent Data file
Merge Constituents to a Data File / Data, Merge Constituents
Constituent Histogram Listing / File, Open, Constituent Data file, OK, Edit, Search
ASCII Convert Utility
Add K Files
CM/Asis Calculation
Download Saved Samples
INSTRUMENT EDIT UTILITY MENU
Load K Values / File; Open; Instrument Settings file; Con 1, 2, or 3; Load K’s
Backup Product Data / File, Open, Instrument Settings file, Download from Instrument
Restore Product Data / File, Open, Instrument Settings file, Upload to Instrument
Edit a Product / File, Open, Instrument Settings file
STATISTICAL PROGRAMS MENU
Create File / File, New, Statistics file
Load File / File, Open, Statistics file
Correct File / File, Open, Statistics file, (edit as needed)
Save File / File, Save or Save As
List File / File, Open, and File, Print (if desired)
Linear Regression / (calculates automatically each time additional sample information is added to the file)

Section 2: Calibrating a Zeltex Instrument

After you become familiar with the process of calibrating a Zeltex instrument you will be able to alter the order in which you perform the following tasks, but beginners should follow this basic flowchart. The additional information you will need to perform each step is given later in this section.

Before Beginning

Before beginning a calibration, you should have 100 to 300 samples of the product for which you will be calibrating. Label these samples with Zeltex sample ID numbers from the Calibration Numbering Setup Manual.

Directions for Setting Optical Powers

The ZX800 must have the specific product selected to set the optical powers for that product. The ZX800 output must have PC1 selected.

ZX800 Calibration Software:

Select - File

- New

- Instrument Settings

- Instrument Edit

- Set Energies

Press OK

Select - Communicate

- Options - Select the correct comport for your computer and press OK

- Communicate

- Synchronize - Press OK, “synch is a success” is displayed - press OK

- Communicate

- Read - “Please wait, Reading ZX800... Byte xxx of 8192” is displayed.

- Calibration

- Optical Power

- Product to edit - highlight to select the same product that is displayed on the ZX800 and press Enter.

·  Optical Power Edit is displayed

·  Place cup of sample in the ZX800

·  Select Auto Set - highlight to select THIRTY.PWR in the Load Power Setting.

·  Press OK

Adjusting the energies takes approximately ten minutes. The computer will display a two-row listing of the energies of the standard and the sample when the ZX800 has finished adjusting the energies. The energies with the asterisks indicate the gain of the filter.

View the row with the asterisks. Make sure that:

1. No standard energy is above 75% (70% is better).

2. No sample energy is less than 7%.

Proceed with the calibration if everything is within the established parameters.

If the standard energies are too high or the sample energy too low, “Standard saturated? Use thinner cup?” is displayed. Refer to cups available for the ZX800.

Products such as soybean or corn cannot be run with a thinner cup. Highlight to select “NO” and the computer will adjust as best it can.

Setting Optical Powers is complete. Select: Finished, File, Exit.

CUPS AVAILABLE for the ZX-50, ZX-800/880, & ZX-9500

The sliding window cup for the ZX-50 and ZX-800/880 includes the following:

Item/Stock # / Quantity
Cup Frame/2672 / 1
Window/A0420-1 / 2
Window/A0420-2 / 2
Window/A0420-3 / 2
Window/A0420-4 / 2
Window/A0420-5 / 1

The combination of these windows in cup frame #2672 produces a cup with a sample thickness as indicated in the following table (rounded to nearest mm).

Shaded boxes indicate preferred window combinations.

Window # / A0420-1 / A0420-2 / A0420-3 / A0420-4 / A0420-5
A0420-1 / 15 / 14 / 13 / 12 / 8
A0420-2 / 14 / 13 / 12 / 11 / 7
A0420-3 / 13 / 12 / 10 / 9 / 6
A0420-4 / 12 / 11 / 9 / 8 / 5
A0420-5 / 8 / 7 / 6 / 5

The combination of these windows in cup frame #A0612 produces a cup for liquid and slurries in the ZX800/880.

Window # / A0612-1 / A0612-2 / A0612-3 / A0612-4
A0612-1 / 21
A0612-2 / 18 / 15
A0612-3 / 17 / 14 / 13
A0612-4 / 13 / 10 / 9 / 5

See next page for products that require the indicated cup size.

ZX-50 & ZX-800/880 Stock #
Wheat, Barley / #2670
Standard Black molded cup (16mm)
Corn, Soybean / #A0562
Black molded cup w/windows on outside (24mm)
Milo/Sorghum / Use the chart on previous page to make a 13mm cup with the sliding windows.
Flax, Mustard,
Soymeal / Use the chart on previous page to make a 10mm cup with the sliding windows.
Canola, Rapeseed / Use the chart on previous page to make an 8mm cup with the sliding windows.
Clamshell/ Multipurpose cup / #A0581 (ZX-50)
#A0612 (ZX-800/880)
(Uses: slurry/liquid samples)

Step 1: Create an Optical Data File and Collect Data from the Analyzer

To collect data on calibration samples from the Zeltex analyzer, you will need to

·  create a new optical data file (File, New, Optical Data) or

·  open an existing optical data file to which you wish to add additional samples.

Select Collect from the Data menu, and the Collect screen will appear:

Select the Options button. Connect the RS232 cable to one of the computer’s com ports and to the instrument’s RS232 port (beside the AC adapter port).

Select the OK button on the Communication Options screen.

Ensure that the instrument is ready to communicate with the PC.

ZX101C: Press SELECT PROGRAM, 7.

ZX50: Press SELECT, (down arrow) [Data Link], Enter.

ZX-800, ZX880: Press OUTPUT on the instrument keypad, and make sure PC2 is displayed on the top. If not, press 2. Press ENTER to exit and start collecting data.

Enter the Zeltex sample ID number from the Calibration Numbering Setup Manual and select Collect or press Return. For the ZX50 and ZX101C, the computer screen will display “Attempting to Connect” until it is successful in doing so. ZX101C will display “Attempting to Connect” until successful. The ZX800 and ZX880 will display “Waiting for Sample Data.” The ZX800 and ZX880 will automatically connect. The screen will then prompt you to read a sample. (For more information on each of these steps, see the User’s Manual that came with your instrument.)

After the instrument has read the first sample in the new file, the Save As screen will appear. Enter a file name and click OK.

The Collect screen will reappear. Enter the next sample number and repeat the above steps. (The Save As screen will not reappear each time, as the computer automatically saves additional data to the same file name.)

If you make a mistake while running a sample or if the curve of the sample appears questionable (see examples of good and bad curves under Step 2: Plot Curves), highlight the sample ID number under “Last __ samples collected” and select Cut.

Keep in mind: The samples do not all have to be run the same day; the file can be saved and additional samples added later.

Temperature Variation during a Calibration

Because of temperature variations in the field, it is important to vary the instrument temperature during the calibration.

To vary instrument temperature, place heating pads, set on high, around the instrument for about 15 minutes or until the instrument temperature reaches approximately 38°C. (See “To check instrument temperature” below.) Remove the heating pads and continue running samples.

At another point in the calibration, wrap the instrument with plastic and surround it with ice packs for 15 to 30 minutes or until the instrument temperature is lowered to 17°C. (See “To check instrument temperature” below.) Remove the ice packs and continue running samples.

To check instrument temperature, collect data from a sample and allow the graph of the sample reading to appear. The bottom of the window lists the sample and instrument temperatures respectively in ºC.

On all analyzers other than the ZX-101C the sample temperatures must also be varied during calibration. Zeltex recommends using 3 to 5 different temperature ranges of samples during calibration covering the warmest to the coldest sample temperatures that will happen during normal use.

Step 2: Plot Curves

You can view the sample curves a number of ways. With the optical data file (*.dt1) open,

·  use Plot, Next (Page Down) and Plot, Previous (Page Up) to view one sample graph at a time;

·  use Plot, Overlay, Page Down or Page Up to view more than one sample at a time (the current sample is outlined in red, while all others are blue); or

·  use Plot, Show All to view all the sample graphs at once.

Use the method that works best for you. The reason for viewing the curves is to search for any whose basic shape is radically different from the other curves in the calibration. Sample curves should curve gradually rather than peaking sharply (see the following examples). Such curves are usually a result of operator error and should be deleted from the calibration. To delete the sample highlighted in red, select Delete from the Edit menu, press Delete on the keyboard, or use the Cut button on the toolbar.