QC5000 Exporting Results and (SPC) Statistical Process Control 1
Exporting, Printing, and Outputting From the file menu, select either Export, Print., or Output. from the image map below. Exporting QC5000 data can be exported in different formats. For example, you may want to export QC5000 features to a CAD program; in this case, you would export the QC5000 features in the.dxf format.
When exporting features, keep in mind that the DXF format does not support relations (angles, distances), and it does not support points. Aside from relations and points, however, you can export any QC5000 features by selecting them from the feature list, and then selecting Export from the File drop down menu. Look at the left hand side of the status bar. If the data was exported successfully, the status bar indicates so. If you do not see this indication, then the file did not export properly. Printing The QC5000 will print feature data, part view graphics, and even the feature stamp. The print command is located under the file menu. Just click on File, and then select Print from the file drop down menu. The QC5000 will guide you through the print process. To Print: 1. Select File from the main menu. The file drop down menu appears. 2. Select Print from the file drop down menu. The print dialogue box appears. 3. Select the print option that suites your needs. Do this by clicking on the down arrow at the right of the Print What? box. (these options are described below). 4. Select OK. The Enter Report Header Data dialogue box appears. 5. Enter the report header data. Do this by clicking in the Job, Part, and Operator fields with the mouse, and entering names with the keyboard. 6. Select OK. Printing begins. The Print What? dialog box... If you select specific selected features... The QC5000 will print a report, without part view graphics, that includes all of the features highlighted on the feature list. The header of this report will contain the date, time, job (as you entered it), part (as you entered it) and operator (as you entered it). The report contains six columns of information: Feature (name, projection, type, origin, tolerances performed); Position (X, Y, Z); Dimension; Tolerance (the specified tolerance zone); Results (pass /fail tolerance, amount over tolerance); and Fail (for a quick pass/fail view as the last column).
If you select all features... Operations Technology Inc. The QC5000 will print the complete list of features in the format described above. If you select part view... The QC5000 will print the part view graphic from the selected view pane. If you are working in the four pane part view mode; or, if the feature stamp is activated, then you should make sure that the pane you want to print is selected. The selected pane can be any of the four part view panes, or the feature stamp the QC5000 will print whichever is selected. If you select features and part view... The QC5000 will print the selected view pane, and the selected features from the feature list. You can use the edit command select all to select the entire list of features. Remember, the feature stamp acts like a view pane, and will print if selected. The feature stamp can also be zoomed and manipulated like the other view panes. Your printed document will contain the graphic from only one view pane. Also, your printed document will contain the graphic as it appears in the part view. If you elect to print the single pane part view, but you have zoomed the pane so that only a single feature appears in the part view, then only that single feature will appear on the printed document. The view pane prints in a what you see is what you get manner. The Enter Report Header dialogue box... Use the mouse to place the cursor in each field, and use the keyboard to make entries. Once you select OK, printing will begin.
Outputting The Output option (on the File drop down menu), allows you to send QC5000 data to other DDE compatible programs (Excel, SPC). Select File from the main menu, and then Output, and the Output dialogue box appears: The Output Dialogue Box... Use the mouse to place the cursor in the Application field, and then enter the name of the target program with the keyboard. Enter the File Name in the same way, but be sure to include the file extension (.xls in this case); without the file extension the output will not be successful. Designate the column and row in which the output data will begin, and then select the type of data to output. Click on the down arrow at the right of the Data field to see the drop down list of data types. If multiple features are selected on the feature list, this list will include only the data types common to all of the features. Here s the procedure, step by step, for outputting data (using Excel as an example target application): 1. Both the QC5000 and Excel must be running for data exchange to take place. If Excel is not running, open it now. 2. Save a blank Excel spreadsheet as "Part.xls". Return to the QC5000 but leave Excel running with the Part.xls file open. 3. Select the features from the feature list that you want to output. For this example we are selecting several planes (remember to use the CTRL key to make multiple selections on the feature list). 4. Select File from the main menu. Then select Output from the file drop down menu. The Output dialogue box appears. 5. Click in the application field and Enter "Excel" with the keyboard (do not enter quotation marks).
6. Click in the File Name field and Enter "Part.xls" with the keyboard (do not enter quotation marks). 7. Click in the column field and Enter "B" (do not enter quotation marks). 8. Click in the row field and Enter "5" (do not enter quotation marks). 9. Click on the down arrow at the right of the data field. The data drop down list appears. 10. Select XY Angle from the drop down list. Click on it to select it. If you have chosen only planes on the feature list, then XY Angle will be available to you. If you have chosen other features and relations, the XY Angle may not be available to you. If this is the case, select an available data type and continue with the demonstration. 11. Select OK to accept your entries and choices. Toggle back to Excel. This should be simple since Excel was open and running the entire time. If the output was successful, you should see something similar to this: Note that the data begins in B5, just as you specified. This leaves you room above to insert titles and column headings. You may find it easier to build the spreadsheet before outputting data to it. For example, insert a title, and row and column headings; then output the data to the appropriate column and row. DDE Commands The QC5000 provides a generic DDE dialogue box. Select Tools \ Programming\ Special Steps \ DDE, and the DDE dialogue box appears. You can use this box to enter specific DDE commands into QC5000 programs. Enter any command that your target application supports into the command field. For information on DDE commands supported by your target application, refer to the manual that accompanied that application.
SPC Statistical Process Control QC5000 is equipped to show SPC charts in real time. In a runs database of your creation, accumulate data for numerous runs. Right click on a data column and choose charts. You have the option to display simple data, average data range data, and a histogram of raw data. Choose a graph type and enter the subgroup size. You may also specify the Upper Control Limit (UCL) and the Lower Control Limit (LCL). This is optional. Summary: There are several ways to output data from the QC5000. You can print data, output it to a spreadsheet or SPC program, export it in a different format to another application, or enter your own Dynamic Data Exchange commands. You should now be able to output data from the QC5000. Tips:?? When outputting to a spreadsheet program, name the spreadsheet file before outputting. Also, set up the spreadsheet with titles and labels before outputting, this can minimize post-output revision.?? When printing the part view remember that only the selected pane is printed.?? You can print a customized part view (views that have been zoomed and rotated).?? When exporting features in the.dxf format, relations, distances, and points cannot be exported.?? When outputting to a spreadsheet program, output like features together this will allow the full range of data type selection. DDE command used to run Macros The most efficient way of evaluating the data generated from QC5000 is to: 1 Take the numbers only text file (Report) generated in QC 5000, open it in Excel. 2 Run macros which process the data. To do this select Tools \ Programming \ Special Step \ DDE Use the syntax in the Command Name Window. Courtesy of Metronics inc.