Tuesday, January 14, 2025 · 0 min read
Automating the Mensor CPC6050 Pressure Controller with DewesoftX Serial Communication
Introduction
In this application, we integrated the Mensor CPC6050 pressure controller with DewesoftX data acquisition software to fully automate the calibration process. Using the serial plugin, DewesoftX software controls the Mensor to set specific pressure points and then measures the corresponding pressure at each set point. This approach improves efficiency, reduces human error, and ensures consistent, reliable calibration data. Here’s how we did it.
System overview
The Mensor CPC6050 pressure controller is a versatile, high-precision pressure controller used in various industrial and laboratory applications. It can control and measure pressure with exceptional accuracy and integrate with multiple external software systems for automation.
The Dewesoft Serial plugin enables communication between Dewesoft X software and external devices via RS-232 or RS-485. This interface automates tasks such as setting pressure values and acquiring pressure measurements in real time.
Hardware configuration
A Mensor CPC6050 pressure controller.
A Windows® computer running DewesoftX software and the Serial Plugin.
Communication: RS-232 serial interface (RS-485 can also be used)
A KRYPTON-1xCAN and a CAN output pressure sensor
Combined with a CAN-output pressure sensor, the KRYPTON-1xCAN provides the pressure readings corresponding to the set points controlled by the Mensor. If a KRYPTON-1xCAN is unavailable, other pressure transducers can be used.
Software configuration
DewesoftX DAQ software and DewesoftX Serial Plugin.
The user sets up DewesoftX and the Serial Plugin to send specific pressure set points to the mensor and receive pressure measurements. After setup, the software automatically sends and receives commands to Mensor with SCPI commands to measure pressure, establish set points, and change channels.
Users can easily create custom screens in DewesoftX software using its intuitive graphical interface. Unlimited setups can be saved and recalled for use at any time. Screens can be configured with strip charts, scopes, digital meters, analog meters, custom pushbuttons, text blocks, images, and more.
The DewesoftX serial communication plugin
The Serial Plugin allows users to integrate and communicate directly with external devices supporting serial communication protocols, such as RS232, RS485, or TTL. To ensure proper communication with external devices, users may configure parameters like baud rate, parity, data bits, stop bits, and flow control. The plugin provides robust parsing capabilities for extracting and scaling data into helpful engineering units. It can handle multiple serial ports, allowing multiple devices to be used simultaneously.
Serial port configuration
The Serial Port configuration screen makes it easy to select the desired serial port (COM1, COM2…, etc.) and configure protocol settings such as baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits, and flow control.
The next step is to define the data structure to be received from the serial device. Users can also define scaling factors to display raw data in usable engineering units.
Automating the calibration process via the DewesoftX sequencer
DewesoftX software includes a high-level sequencer module that steps through processes in a user-defined way. We used this sequencer to automate the pressure calibration process completely.
Sequences can be created, saved, edited, and reused within any number of DewesoftX setup files. The sequencer also automates the command process to set pressure points and collect data.
Defining pressure set points
The user starts the process by defining a series of pressure set points in DewesoftX software.
These set points represent the desired calibration pressures (e.g., 0 psi, 100 psi, 200 psi, etc.)
Sending commands to the Mensor
DewesoftX sends commands to the Mensor to set the pressure at each set point.
The Mensor adjusts its output pressure accordingly and stabilizes at the target set point.
Measuring pressure
Once the Mensor reaches the desired pressure set point, DewesoftX automatically measures the corresponding pressure reading from the connected sensor.
The pressure measurement is logged in DewesoftX for real-time monitoring and later analysis.
Data logging and analysis
DewesoftX records the pressure values at each set point, ensuring that all data is time-stamped and logged in a structured manner.
Users can view the pressure data in various formats, such as graphs, tables, and summary statistics, to assess the accuracy of the pressure system.
Automated calibration sequence
The entire process of setting the pressure set point, measuring the pressure, and logging the data can be repeated automatically for each defined set point.
DewesoftX can be configured to run multiple calibration cycles, adjusting pressure points and logging measurements as needed.
Real-time monitoring
While the calibration process runs, DewesoftX provides live monitoring of the pressure adjustments and sensor readings.
Graphical displays, including pressure vs. time plots, allow users to track the Mensor's performance and stability during calibration.
Key benefits
DewesoftX DAQ software allows users to customize the calibration procedure by adjusting the number of setpoints and measurement intervals and adding conditional logic for advanced testing. The system can also be configured to meet the specific needs of different calibration standards or pressure testing protocols. This integration fully automates the calibration process, improving efficiency, reducing human error, and ensuring consistent, reliable calibration data.
