Windmill Software Ltd
Windows Engineering Software

Interfacing a Quadra Check 2000 to Excel

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The free Windmill 4.3 software has resulted in a 90% efficiency improvement for a company using a Quadra Check 2000 optical measuring system. You can now download the Excel application and DDE examples for the Quadra Check, plus the Windmill setup files: download quadra20.zip now. You will need PKZip, WinZip or similar to unpack the files into your Windmill folder.

The measurement application works with a measurement program written on the Quadra Check 2000. The program uses 5 points to define a circle, then 8 points to define the edges of some boxes, then another 5 point circle. Upon completion of the measurement series, the application instructs the Quadra Check to report the diameters of the circles, several distances across the boxes and the height of the boxes back to the Excel application. While the inspector is obtaining and placing the next sample, the Excel application:

• Records the measurements
• Compares them to a set of specifications listed on the "specs" sheet
• Determines pass or fail
• Determines the next sample number
• Resets the Quadra Check

Equipment

• Desktop PC with Microsoft Excel and Windmill I/O Software
• Quadra Check 2000 Olympus Optical Comparator

Setup

The Quadra Check 2000 is connected by RS-232 to the PC, and programmed as above. The 10 measurement diagrams (included in the zip file) must be placed together in a specific directory, usually a sub-directory of the folder that contains the application. The path to the 10 measurement diagrams must be indicated in the macro for the measurement sheet - do a 'find' for "servername".

For instructions on loading the Windmill setup files see the readme.txt document included in the download.