Balances

XPR/XSR Software Tech Guide

News

Using MT-SICS via RS232, Ethernet and USB

Internal

Covered Use Cases

XPR/XSR

1. How to send/receive MT-SICS commands and transfer weight results over USB-RS232
converter.
The balance must be connected to an external device with built-in RS232 interface (e.g. old
PC, lab instruments or production equipment). Weighing results are transferred over MT-
SICS to external software packages (e.g. Electronic Lab Notebooks, LIMS)

2. How to send/receive MT-SICS commands and transfer weight results over Ethernet interface.
The balance must be connected to an Ethernet network. Weighing results are transferred
over MT-SICS to external software packages (e.g. Electronic Lab Notebooks, LIMS)

3. How to send/receive MT-SICS commands and transfer weight results over USB interface.
The balance must be connected to a PC directly or through a USB Hub. Weighing results are
transferred over MT-SICS to external software packages (e.g. Electronic Lab Notebooks,
LIMS)

To ensure proper operation of the following procedure, the balance firmware version must be at
least 2.0.1.141 or newer.

Use Case 1: Send/receive MT-SICS and transfer weight over USB-RS232 converter

Material needed to connect to PC or other devices with built-in RS232 interface

 One USB to RS232 DB9 Male converter (part No. 64088427)

 One Null modem RS232 cable DB9 Female to Female

 The above mentioned cables must be connected together

Pic. 1

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 Important
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To connect Mettler-Toledo industrial terminals or other third parties devices with built-in RS232
interface, additional cables (e.g. Industry cables) and/or adapters (e.g. gender and null modem
changers) might be required. Before proceeding further, we warmly recommend you to collect
information regarding the interface characteristics and any other required material from
customers and/or your local specialist.

System and Method Settings

By following the steps from 1 to 11, you can configure XPR/XSR balances to receive and execute
MT-SICS commands over RS232 interface.

1. Switch on the devices to be connected (e.g. PC and balance)

2. First plug in the RS232 connector to the device to be connected with the balance (e.g. PC)
3. Plug in the USB connector to the balance
4. If you are on the home screen, the wizard will pop up automatically (Pic.2)
5. Select MT-SICS client (Pic. 3)
6. Configure RS232 interface communication settings (make sure that settings are identical to the
connected device settings)-> Next (Pic. 4)
7. Configure a unique name for this device. Then press -> Next (Pic. 5)
8. The device is now configured Ok (Pic. 6)
9. Press Home button to get back to the home screen (Pic. 7)

Pic.2 Pic.3

Pic.4 Pic.5

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Pic. 6 Pic. 7
10. Go to SettingsWeighing/QualityAutomatic weight value outputTargetselect MT-SICS
11. Tap on the Home button and apply with the changes

Now the balance is able to receive and execute MT-SICS commands coming from the connected
device (e.g. PC, PLC, industrial terminal etc. etc.). Weighing results can be transmitted only
through MT-SICS commands and are not recorded in the protocol. (Typical usage: fully automated
weighing workflows)
By following the steps from 12 to 15, you can configure XPR/XSR balances to manually transmit
weighing results over RS232. Each weighing result is recorded in the Protocol.

Pic. 8 Pic. 9

12. Data export is a method specific function

13. To activate it open the Methods drawerSelect the method to be configured (i.e. General
Weighing)  tap on the Edit iconPrint / ExportProtocol Printout and Data Export then select
only the "Weight Value" box (Pic.13). Go back to the main screen by pressing the Home button
then Apply changes.

Pic. 11 Pic. 12
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Pic. 13 Pic. 14

14. Now the balance is ready, just press the button to send out the weight result.
15. The weighing results remain available in the protocol for further data handling tasks until the task is
completed by the user (Pics. 15-16)

Pic. 15 Pic. 16

Important

The Protocol is able to keep in memory a large number of weighing results (>1000), but the
greater the number of values stored, the slower could be the balance.
When a large set of values must be transferred with no need to retain them in the protocol, a
method template provides an efficient solution. For further details please check the Appendix.

Practical hint

To test MT-SICS communication with a MS Windows computer, we warmly recommend you to

download and use the YAT Terminal Console software. This software tool is a good alternative to
the HyperTerminal no longer included in MS Windows.

If the computer used to run the test doesn’t have a RS232 serial interface, you can alternatively
use two USB to RS232 converters (part No. 64088427) connected together through a null
modem F/F (Pic. 17)

Pic. 17

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Pic. 18 – YAT Terminal Console

Notes

Link to YAT Terminal software

https://sourceforge.net/projects/y-a-terminal/

Link to the XPR/XSR MT-SICS manual

https://partner.mt.com/sites/LSS/Service_and_Tech_Support/LabTec/XPR_XSR_SICS_RM_en_303
24923C.pdf

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 Use Case 2: How to send/receive MT-SICS commands and transfer weight results over
Ethernet interface

Important
Internal News

Before to connect balances to a customer network, please consider to collect from the IT responsible
person information regarding the company setup/policy of the network infrastructure.

System and Method Settings

By following the steps from 1 to 9, you can configure XPR/XSR balances to receive and execute MT-SICS
commands over Ethernet interface.

Open the balance menu drawer (Pic. 19)

1. Select Settings InterfacesEthernet (Pic. 20)

2. Make sure that the network configuration is set to DHCP (Pic. 21)
3. Connect the balance to the network, later on the DHCP will automatically assign the TCP IP
address
4. Go back to the Settings menu
5. Select LabX / ServicesMT-SICS services  select Network (Pic. 22)
6. Define the Port number, normally is 8001 (Pic. 22)

Pic.19 Pic.20

Pic.21 Pic.22

8. Go to SettingsWeighing/QualityAutomatic weight value outputTargetselect MT-SICS

9. Tap on the Home button and apply with the changes.

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Pic.23 Pic.24

Now the balance is able to receive and execute MT-SICS commands coming from the connected device
(e.g. PC). Weighing results can be transmitted only through MT-SICS commands and are not recorded in
the protocol. (Typical usage: fully automated weighing workflows)

By following the steps from 10 to 13, you can configure XPR/XSR balances to manually transmit
weighing results over Ethernet. Each weighing result is recorded in the Protocol.

10. Data export is a method specific function

11. To activate it open the Methods drawerSelect the method to be configured (i.e. General Weighing)
 Tap on the Edit iconPrint / ExportProtocol Printout and Data Export then select only the
"Weight Value" box (Pics. 25-28). Go back to the main screen by pressing the Home button then
Apply changes.

Pic.25 Pic.26

Pic.27 Pic.28

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 12. Now the balance is ready, just press the button to send out the weight result.
13. The weighing results remain available in the protocol for further data handling tasks until the task is
Internal News

completed by the user. (Pics. 29-30)

Pic.29 Pic.30

Important

The Protocol is able to keep in memory a large number of weighing results (>1000), but the
greater the number of values stored, the slower could be the balance.
When a large set of values must be transferred with no need to retain them in the protocol, a
method template provides an efficient solution. For further details please check the Appendix.

Practical hint

If you want to test the MT-SICS communication over Ethernet with a Mettler-Toledo computer, you
have first to disconnect the computer from the Mettler-Toledo network.
Build up a separate testing network by connecting your computer and the balance to an Ethernet
Switch (Pic. 31).
By following the a.m. setup procedure your test network will be ready in seconds.

Pic.31

Now let's open YAT Terminal Console software.

In the terminal settings, click on the Port Type drop down menu and select TCP/IP Client.
Type-in the TCP/IP address and the port number. (They must be the same as set in the balance).
Click OK to go back to the main screen and then click on the green arrow to connect.

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Pic.32

Pic.33

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 Use Case 3: Send and receive MT-SICS commands using a standard USB A/B cable
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Material Needed

 Any USB A/B cable

System and Method Settings Pic.34

By following the steps from 1 to 7, you can configure XPR/XSR balances to receive and execute MT-SICS
commands over USB interface.

1. Download and install the driver from

https://partner.mt.com/sites/LSS/Service_and_Tech_Support/LabTec/MT_Lab_Excellence_USB_Se
rial_Port_Driver_v1.24.0_setup.zip
a. Restart the PC after the installation.
2. Connect the balance to the PC through the USB A/B cable. The squared part must be plugged into
the balance
3. Go to Balance menu  Settings  LabX / Services (Pics. 35-36)
4. Enable MT-SICS service as USB Client (Pic. 37)
5. Press Home button to get back to the home screen (Pic. 38)

Pic. 35 Pic. 36

Pic. 37 Pic. 38

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 6. Go to SettingsWeighing/QualityAutomatic weight value outputTargetselect MT-SICS
7. Tap on the Home button and apply with the changes.
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Pic.39 Pic.40

Now the balance is able to receive and execute MT-SICS commands coming from the connected device
(e.g. PC). Weighing results can be transmitted only through MT-SICS commands and are not recorded in
the protocol. (Typical usage: fully automated weighing workflows)

By following the steps from 8 to 10, you can configure XPR/XSR balances to manually transmit weighing
results over USB. Each weighing result is recorded in the Protocol.

8. Open the Methods drawerSelect the method to be configured (i.e. General Weighing)  Tap
on the Edit iconPrint / ExportProtocol Printout and Data Export then tick the "Weight Value"
box (Pics. 41-43). Go back to the main screen by pressing the Home button then Apply
changes.

Pic.41 Pic.42

Pic.43 Pic.44

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 9. Now the balance is ready, just press the button to send out the weight result.
10. Weighing results remain available in the protocol until the task is completed by the user (Pics.
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45-46)

Pic.45 Pic.46

Important

The Protocol is able to keep in memory a large number of weighing results (>1000), but the
greater the number of values stored, the slower could be the balance.
When a large set of values must be transferred with no need to retain them in the protocol, a
method template provides an efficient solution. For further details please check the Appendix.

Practical hint

YAT Terminal software can be used to verify the correct operation.

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 Appendix
Use case: Manual Check weighing of metallic rings in production.
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Workflow information:

 The user places the ring on the weighing pan

 The user presses the button

 Once the weight is stable the value is transferred to the PC
over USB
 Every single weight is retained in the protocol (but it is not
needed)
 More than 5000 pieces per day are weighed
 Users are not properly skilled Pic.47

Customer needs:
 Weighing process must easy, lean and productive

Issues:

 After weighing for two hours the balance becomes slow

 The user doesn’t care at all
 The user isn’t able to clean up the protocol
 Productivity drops down dramatically

Solution:
When a large set of values must be transferred with no need to retain them in the protocol, a method
template offers an efficient solution. Here below how to setup the method.

1. Open a new method (i.e. General weighing)

2. Configure the method according to one of the use cases 1-2-3 ( RS232, Ethernet, USB)
3. Add to the protocol just one weight, any value is valid
4. Press the More icon
5. Scroll the menu down until you see Save as method with templates
6. Enter the method name and confirm
7. The method is now ready

After the weight transfer, the created method with templates will keep in the protocol only the latest value.

Benefits:

 Endless weighing results can be transferred avoiding the user to empty the Protocol manually
 The balance no longer slow down
 Simplified operations
 Maximized productivity

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 Notes
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 Notes
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