Calibration Verification

Setup Guide
Software and Version
4/29/13

Command Alkon Inc.

5168 Blazer Parkway
Dublin, Ohio 43017
1.800.624.1872
Fax: 614.793.0608
Part Number: 28338
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 Contents

Contents ........................................................................................ 3

Introduction .................................................................................. 4
Purpose ................................................................................................ 4
Audience ............................................................................................... 4
Revision Summary ................................................................................. 4

Calibration Verification .................................................................. 5

Calibration Verification - Buttons .............................................................. 6
Calibration Verification - Setups ............................................................... 7
Database Flags ................................................................................... 7
COMMANDbatch Setups ........................................................................ 8
Calibration Verification - Examples .......................................................... 10
Software Upgrade (Out of Load) .......................................................... 11
Database Restore (Out of Load) ........................................................... 12
Software Upgrade (In Load) ................................................................ 15
In Load Event ................................................................................... 16
Calibration Change ............................................................................ 18

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 Introduction

Topics in This Section

Purpose
Audience
Revision Summary

Purpose
This guide explains how to configure the Calibration Verification feature in
COMMANDbatch and provides examples of how to perform calibration
verification in various scenarios.

Audience
This guide should only be used by Command Alkon installation and service
personnel, or plant/management personnel specifically authorized to
configure and operate COMMANDbatch.

Revision Summary
CMDbatch
Date Version Revision
Feb. 15, 2013 1.8.6.2 Document created.
Apr. 29, 2013 1.8.6.2 Minor revisions to Overview per QA review.

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 Calibration Verification

This feature provides a method for checking a scale/meter’s calibration during

a load or outside a load (i.e. after a software upgrade, a database restore, or
a change to a scale/meter’s calibration on the Calibrations form).
Whenever a qualifying event occurs (see “Triggering Events” below), a
message prompts the user to launch the Calibration Verification form so he
can enter the scale/meter's reading displayed on Batch Graphics and then
click “Check”. COMMANDbatch then compares this value to the actual value
presented by the E-Z Cal, Phase V, Eagle, or external scale display.

Note: Readings from the Batch Graphics form CANNOT be used for
calibration verification purposes.

If the entered value is within the scale/meter's grad tolerance range of the
actual value, the event is recorded and batching continues. If the entered
value is outside this range, a notification with 'Retry' and 'Cancel' options is
presented.

Triggering Events
• Software Upgrade (see Note 1 below)
• Database Restore (see Note 1 below)
• Calibration Change (on the Calibrations form) (see Note 2 below)
• One of the following configured Event Types: (see Note 3 below)
— Number of Loads
— Time Interval
— Time of Day
— On Next Load
— Cumulative Load Size
— Cumulative Material

Notes:
1 Restores and Upgrades can be configured to trigger calibration during a load or
outside a load.
2 Calibration Change events always occur outside a load.
3
These events trigger calibration verification during a load.

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 Topics in This Document
Calibration Verification - Buttons
Calibration Verification - Setups
Database Flags
COMMANDbatch Setups
Calibration Verification - Examples
Software Upgrade (Out of Load)
Database Restore (Out of Load)
Software Upgrade (In Load)
In Load Event
Calibration Change

Calibration Verification - Buttons

The following descriptions of buttons on Calibration Verification messages and
forms are provided as an aid to understanding this feature.

BUTTON DESCRIPTION
One of the options on Calibration Verification forms.
Check Compares the entered value to the actual scale/meter
value from the E-Z Cal, Eagle, or external scale display.
One of the options on calibration verification error
Retry messages. Allows the operator to go back and enter
another value for verification.
One of the options on calibration verification error
Cancel messages. Cancels calibration verification for the scale/
meter during the current and subsequent loads.
One of the options on Calibration Verification forms for an
“Out of Load” event such as a software upgrade or
Ignore database restore. Allows calibration verification to be
postponed until the first load that uses the scale/meter is
started.
One of the options on Calibration Verification forms for an
“Out of Load” event such as a software upgrade, database
Reset restore or calibration change. Appears only if the Ignore
option was peviously selected. Allows the operator to go
back and enter another value for verification.
One of the options on Calibration Verification forms for an
“In Load” event. Only appears if the grace period for the
Skip triggering event has not expired. Allows calibration
verification to be postponed until the first load that uses
the scale/meter is started.

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 Calibration Verification - Setups
Database Flags
COMMANDbatch Setups

Database Flags

Caution!
Changes to the database can cause COMMANDbatch to
incorrectly calculate targets and/or show incorrect data.
Only authorized personnel should edit the database tables!

The following flags in the ASC_CONFIGURATION table in MSSQL control the

behavior of the Calibration Verification feature.

EnableFeature 0 disables the feature; 1 enables it.

EnableUpgrades If this flag=1 and EnableFeature=1, and a Software

Upgrade occurs, calibration verification is triggered.

RunInLoadContext Applies only to Database Restores and Software

Upgrades. If this flag = 1 and a restore or an upgrade
occurs, calibration verification is triggered the first time
a device is used in a load. If this flag = 0, all devices
must be checked before the first load runs.

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 COMMANDbatch Setups
1. Make sure the scale/meter has been properly configured in
COMMANDbatch (see the Plant_Device_Setup.pdf).

2. If the scale/meter is connected to an Eagle, Eagle Flex, or

Fieldbus PLC, specify the “Scale Counter Tolerance” on the
Calibrations form’s Calibration tab. (Hint: This field is hidden and
set to 0 for E-Z Cal and Phase V manual stations.)

For Eagle, Eagle Flex or Fieldbus PLC interfaces:

a) Select the calibration record and click the “Calibrate” button.
A message similar to this one appears.

b) Click Yes to make the Scale Counter Tolerance field editable.

c) Select one of the following Scale Counter Tolerances.

0 (the default) for no tolerance
1 for a 1-grad tolerance above or below the scale reading
2 for a 2-grad tolerance above or below the scale reading
d) Enter your initials in the By field and save your changes.

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 All fields on the Calibration tab turn gray and become read-only.
3. On the Scale Check tab of the Scales form, select “Semi-
Automatic” as the Calibration Mode. (For Metered Feeds, this is
not necessary because Semi-Automatic is the only choice.)
4. On the Scale Check tab of the Scales form (or Meter Check tab for
Metered Feeds), select and enable the Event Type(s) that will
trigger calibration checks then enter threshold values and grace
periods as needed.

Notes: • Grace periods default to 0.

• Grace periods are not editable for On Next Load and Time of Day.

The following screen example shows the AGG scale set up for scale
checking whenever 100 loads have been run.

5. Save your changes and close the Scales (or Metered Feeds) form.

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 Calibration Verification - Examples
Click on the following links to see examples of calibration
verification for various triggering events.

Software Upgrade (Out of Load)

Database Restore (Out of Load)
Software Upgrade (In Load)
In Load Event
Calibration Change

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 Software Upgrade (Out of Load)
If the following Database Flags are set as indicated:
EnableFeature=1, EnableUpgrade=1, RunInLoadContext=0
AND an upgrade is performed via the DB Utility, the following message
appears the first time COMMANDbatch is opened after the upgrade:

Calibration Verification notification after upgrade (Out of Load)

Do one of the following:

• Click No to postpone calibration verification until the first load is started.
• Click Yes to launch the Calibration Verification form. Calibration
verification is then accomplished the same way as described for Database
Restore (Out of Load).

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 Database Restore (Out of Load)
If the following Database Flags are set as indicated:
EnableFeature=1, RunInLoadContext=0
AND the “Run Calibration Check” box on the DB Utility window is checked
during a database restore, the following message appears the first time
COMMANDbatch is opened:

Calibration Verification notification after an “Out of Load” database restore

1. Do one of the following:

• Click No to postpone calibration verification until the first load is started.

• Click Yes to launch the Calibration Verification form.

Calibration Verification form for an “Out of Load” database restore

Note: A “No External Display” button is visible for devices that have no
external display. Click this button to disable Calibration Verification
for the scale/meter. The button is then labeled “Enable Display”.

2. If you clicked Yes to launch the Calibration Verification form, you

must either enter a value and click “Check”, or click “Ignore” to
bypass calibration checking until the first load that uses the
scale/meter is started.

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 • If you click “Ignore”...
— The button label is changed to “Reset” (in case you decide to go
back and enter a value for verification), and the Check button label
is changed to “Ignored”.

Ignored Calibration Verification

• If you enter the current scale/meter value and click “Check”...

— If the entered value is within tolerance, the row for the scale/meter
looks something like the following example with a “Check Again”
button in case you want to enter another value.
Calibration Verification within tolerance

— If the value is not within tolerance, an error message appears.

Verification Error message

You must now do one of the following:

— Click Retry to enter another value.
— Click Cancel.

Canceled Calibration Verification

— The Reset button gives you another opportunity to go back and

enter another value for verification.

When you have taken action for each scale/meter, the Calibration Verification
form looks similar to the following screen example.

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 Action taken for all scales/meters

3. Click Done to close the Calibration Verification form.

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 Software Upgrade (In Load)
If the following Database Flags are set:
EnableFeature=1, EnableUpgrades=1, RunInLoadContext=1
AND an upgrade is performed via the Db Utility, the following message
appears when COMMANDbatch is opened the first time after the upgrade:

Click OK. No further action is required until the first load is run (see In Load
Event for details.)

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 In Load Event
If the following Database Flags are set:
EnableFeature=1, RunInLoadContext=1
AND a triggering event for one or more scales/meters comes true, the
Calibration Verification form opens when feed completes during the first load
that uses the affected scales/meters:

Calibration Verification form for AGG1 SCALE

Note: If a feed or load is aborted, calibration verification will occur the next
time a load is started that uses the affected scales/meters.

Enter the current scale/meter value and click “Check”.

• If the value is within tolerance, the Calibration Verification form for that
device closes and batching continues.
• If another material feeds into the scale/meter, the Calibration Verification
form opens when that material finishes feeding. Enter the current scale/
meter value as described above.
• If an entered value is not within tolerance, an error message appears.

Verification Error message

You must now do one of the following:

— Click Retry to enter another value.
— Click Cancel.

Canceled Calibration Verification

You must now do one of the following:

— Click Done to close the Calibration Verification form.
— Click Reset to enter another value for verification.

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 • The process continues until calibration has been verified for all affected
scales/meters.

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 Calibration Change
If you edit any of the following fields listed for a particular device on the
Calibrations form, the Restart RTC message (shown below) is displayed when
you save your changes.

Scale or Decumulative Scale

— Grad Size
— Low Raw Counts
— High Raw Counts
— Low Scale Value
— High Precision Value
— Fieldbus Parameter 1
— Fieldbus Parameter 2
— Physical IO Low
— Physical IO High
— Calibration Type
Decumulative Scale only
— Max Capacity

Metered Feed
— Grad Size
Restart RTC message

1. Do one of the following:

• Click “Later” to delay calibration verification until the first load that uses
the calibrated scale/meter is run.
• Click “Restart Now”. If EnableFeature=1 (see Database Flags), the
following message appears while the RTC restarts.

Calibration Verification notification after a calibration change

2. Do one of the following:

• Click No to ignore calibration verification until the first load is run.

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 • Click Yes to launch the Calibration Verification form which includes a row
for each scale/meter that was calibrated.

Calibration Verification form for a calibration change

3. If you clicked Yes to perform the verification now, enter the

current scale/meter value and click “Check”.

• If the entered value is within tolerance, the Calibration Verification form

looks something like the following example.

Calibration Verification within tolerance

You must now do one of the following:

— Click Done to close the Calibration Verification form.
— Click Check Again to enter another value.

• If the entered value is not within tolerance, an error message appears.

Verification Error message

You must now do one of the following:

— Click Retry to enter another value.
— Click Cancel.

Canceled Calibration Verification

You must now do one of the following:

— Click Done to close the Calibration Verification form.
— Click Reset to enter another value.

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