Data Acquisition » Technical Support » Interfacing a Jumo TMM-45

Collecting Readings from Jumo TMM-45s

Windmill software lets you continually log data from Jumo TMM-45s, and other instruments with an RS232 or RS485 serial port, on a PC running Windows. All data is time-stamped and can be imported into Excel either during or after data collection. Alternatively, subscribers to the Monitor newsletter (ISSN 1472-0221) can download free logging software: ComDebug. This lets you log data from one instrument and save it in a text file. After collection is finished data can be imported into Excel.

1. Run the Windmill ComDebug, select Create a new Windmill Instrument File, and enter your balance's serial communication settings.
2. Run the Windmill DDE Panel, Logger or Chart program to save or display data from your balance.

After you have entered your configuration settings with ComDebug, you don't need to use this again and can go straight to the logging and display programs.

Using ComDebug to Enter Data about Your Jumo TMM-45

For an overview of entering the configuration settings see the Getting Started with COMIML and ComDebug page. Specific example settings for Jumo TMM-45s are given below.

Data Format

In ComDebug's Terminal or Message Screen, enter a command or prompt string to send to the balance to ask for data. Click the Send button, and the instrument should send a reply (see Trouble-Shooting below if not). Now click the Parse button and enter instructions to extract the data from the balance's reply. Check your Interface Operating Instructions for details of the commands to send, and the format of the reply. The example given below requests a value. Use the non-print menu to enter the carriage return (<CR>).

Extracting the reading from the data string and storing it in a channel called Chan00

Instrument Timing

Further Information:
COM Port Settings
Jumo Interface Operating Instructions

Now open Windmill DDE Panel

When you've finished with ComDebug use DDE Panel to show your data.

1. From the File menu select Load Hardware Setup and choose the *.ims file you just saved.
2. Connect your channels. You should see the correct values in DDE Panel.
3. Proceed similarly for the Logger and Chart programs.

Getting the data into Excel

You can use the Windmill Logger program to collect data, and after collection has finished import it into Excel. Alternatively, you can collect data with Excel in real-time by using an Excel macro to read data from the Windmill DDE Panel.

Trouble-Shooting

If you are unable to get data from your balance go back to ComDebug's Terminal screen. Make sure your command is shown in the prompt grid, like in the picture. Click the Send button: does your instrument reply?

1. If you only see your command being sent, and no data...
   1. Make sure that the unit is switched on and plugged into the PC's com port.
   2. Check that the communication settings you entered in ComDebug match those currently in use by the unit: COM port, baud rate, parity, etc.
   3. If using a USB-RS232 converter, its settings must also match those used by the unit - read the USB-Serial page for details, especially point 7.
   4. If still no luck see our Testing Serial Port Communication page.
       
      
2. If, in ComDebug you see data coming in but DDE Panel isn't showing it, you may need to edit your parsing settings. Go to ComDebug's Terminal or Message Screen, click the Parse button. Enter your Ignore and Extract Settings and click the Step menu. Is your data shown in the Value column? If not adjust your settings.
    
   
3. If you are getting accurate data readings, but much slower than expected, change your sampling rate. With COMIML, Windmill can make 5 readings per second per channel. So it can record one measurement every 0.2 seconds. If you have the sampling interval set much smaller than this, then Windmill may slow down considerably and only make a couple of readings per minute.

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Interfacing a Jumo TMM-45

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