Hi, and thank you for the mutitude of information here. I have been trawling it for a few hours now trying to find the solution to my particular problem.
Background. I work as an engineer in a factory with machines which make parts for cars. There are 20 machines. I would like to monitor each with a K8055 board if possible.
I am well versed with the hardware side. I know exactly how I want to get the signal into the digital input of the board. This is not a problem. I am aware of how to ‘get behind’ spreadsheets, into the code to change and set values for form elements, buttons etc.
I have had the K8055 hooked up to a laptop running XP and also Vista and I have had the sample programme running properly with both. I have been able to make the counter value for inputs 1 and 2 rise by pressing the corresponding buttons. All the functions work by controlling from the laptops.
My problem is, I do not have a background in programming although I am reasonably au fait with computers. I have written a few access databases for various applications at work, mainly for itemising stock etc but they always require manual input.
I am confident, if I can have the K8055 update just one cell on a spreadsheet (excel 2003) with the counter value from input 1 on the K8055, I can set up the calculations based on that ‘live’ figure to monitor quantities made by the machine.
The second thing I would like to do, would be to monitor how frequently the signal is made, lost and then remade, a pulse monitor if you like. This is obviously to measure cycle time of the machine and generate an output on the boad when the cycle time goes above a set value.
So I guess my query is two-fold.
- Cycle count straight into a cell on an excel worksheet so I can calculate from it. ie you can stand and watch the value change as the machine runs. (eventually if successful, all the machines may be hooked up to a monitor in an office)
- Input frequency measurement with a way to set the maximum limit before an output is made to an output on the board.
If someone could reply with a description of how to do either, right down the nuts’n’bolts I would be eternally grateful.
PS. I am not asking for anyones hard earned knowledge to benefit the business I work for, i fully understand many of you have livelihoods to look after… It is a project I have set myself. If the K8055 (I bought with my own money) works in this application, the business will be in a better position to invest in the technology and buy boards for all the machines, possibly even a tech guy to write the code professionally.
And my K8055 will stay at home with me for my home projects!