FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Purchase abroad

We have distribution partners all over the world that hold our whole product range. Wether you contact our partner nearby to you (please find a list of sales partner here: www.bmcm.de/sales-worldwide) or get in touch with us directly and we will take care of the shipping to your destination.

Warranty

As we are absolutely convinced of our product quality, we provide a 2 years warranty on our whole product range. Start of the 2 years is always the date of purchase.

Data privacy

We are taking care of your data very confidential, do not pass it on to a third party and process just the data you have given your consent to. Find all information regarding the safety of your data in our data privacy statement. 

Delivery times

Usually we take 1 to 2 working days for the dispatch. In the case of a modified or customized product, the delivery time is being coordinated individually with the client.

Shipping costs

Within Germany shipping costs are 9.- € per purchase. Shipping within the European Union usually comes to 39.- €. All other countries are depending on the destination.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Download archive

We offer the service of a vast archive for all data sheets, manuals and programming examples for all recent as well as old products to our clients. 
To gain access to this download archive just log in as a premium client. If you are not a member yet, simply register on www.bmcm.de. You will instantly be able to download what you need and on top of it you will benefit from loads of extra services and attractive price advantages.

NextView-License

The PC used for the measurement does not need to have internet access. The licensing process can be performed on a random PC with internet connection. For the detailed description of all licensing steps, please got to www.nextview.de to section "Video". Here you will find short and simple tutorials covering all aspects of the topic.

Single license

This license includes the right to run the software product by bmcm on a single PC and it is then bound to this computer. If you wish to transfer the license to an other Pc, please contact us on our hotline.
We also offer a bundle license for 10 work spaces on a special rate.

Troubleshooting

As a first step we recommend the reduction of the measurement set up by decreasing the number of the connected signals. Please also check if you are running the latest version of NextView. It is available completely free of charge on our website: www.nextview.de/download.

In case you still have trouble now, please contact us on our hotline and provide the serial number of the measurement system and the used software version.

Products Concerned

  • STR-meM
  • STR-PCI
  • STR-PC
  • STR-PIO

Description

The ActiveX import in DELPHI 6 shows wrong properties/functions in the respective TLB file. That means that programs using these ActiveX functions cannot be compiled.

Solution

This is a problem of Delphi 6. Please contact the support of Borland directly. Meanwhile there is a patch available by Borland for Delphi 6, that corrects the bug when importing ActiveX Controls in Delphi 6.

Products Concerned

Description

When using a PT100 temperature sensor in combination with the universal measuring amplifier MA-UNI from BMC Messsysteme GmbH, which amplifies but does not linearize the measured signal, a formula must be applied to determine the temperature values.

Solution

PT100 is a sensor, that records temperature through a non linear resistance. 100 equals the resistance in ohm, which the measuring resistance attains at 0° C. The following physical formula defines the temperature as a function of the resistance:

Formel Temperatur

with:
R = measured resistance in ohm
A = 3378,1
B = 0,06915533672
C = 2747632104
D = 3615050

When measuring with PT100 in combination with a all-purpose measuring amplifier MA-UNI in the measuring range of 0 ... 500 ohm, that has been implemented by one of our distributors, a deviation of +1,0°C  at 400°C is attained. A polynomial function has been developed that delivers good approximations in the range of approximately -50°C ... 400°C. With this function you can even achieve results with a deviation of just +0,5°C.

The following polynomial function constitutes a good approximation to calculate the temperature in a PT100 measurement with a MA-UNI amplifier:

Polynomfunktion

with:
R = measured resistance in ohm
A = -243,8
B = 2,324
C = 0,001134

The maximum fault (hardware induced measurement inaccuracy are not calculated in) of the approximate polynomial function range at +/-0,2°C.

Status

The approximate polynomial function has been developed by Dr. Schetter BMC and has not been tested in detail by the BMC Messsysteme GmbH. Therefore the Bmcm Messsysteme GmbH does not assume liability for the accuracy and usability. Please contact Dr. Schetter BMc for any further questions.

Products Concerned

Description

When using a thermocouple (type K) in combination with the measuring amplifiers from BMC Messsysteme GmbH, which amplify but do not linearize the measured signals, a formula must be applied to determine the temperature values.

Solution

Thermocouples work with thermal energy that emerges through the connection of two different metals respectively alloys (for example nickel-chrome or nickel-aluminium). A thermocouple measurement is basically a temperature difference measurement of the measuring point and the reference point. If the absolute temperature on a measuring point has to be defined, the temperature at the reference point has to be kept constant by regulating the temperature or has to be measured with an additional temperature sensor and then both measuring result have to be added up. Please note that only the miniature measuring amplifier MAL-THR has got a connection to the cold junction compensation.

As the formulas for calculating the temperature are very extensive, one of our distributors has develpoed a polynomial function grade 4 for direct thermocouple measurement respectively for usage of a measurement amplifier that delivers good approximation in the range of -20°C ... +480°C.

for directly measured thermovoltage:

for measured voltage at the amplifier output:
Näherungsformel Polynomfunktion 4. Grades

x = voltage in mV
T = temperature in °C
a = -5,00055*10-5
b = -0,000780486
c =  0,0230817
d = 24,4718
e = -0,0164727

x = voltage in mV
T = temperature in °C
a = -5,00055 * 10-5
b = -0,000780486
c =  0,0230817
d = 24,4718
e = -0,0164727
f = amplifying factor of the measuring amplifier

Signals measured by thermocouples can be directly displayed online in the professional software for data acquisition and analysis NextView by using formula channels, based on the function described above. Please use the following, for NextView applicable spelling for polynomials (enter coefficients for the calculated numeric values!):

for directly measured thermovoltage:

for measured voltage at the amplifier output:
poly (x,a,b,c,d,e) Näherungsformel

(coefficient as above)

Status

The approximate formular has been developed by Dr. Schetter BMC and has not been tested in detail by the BMC Messsysteme GmbH. Therefore the Bmcm Messsysteme GmbH does not assume liability for the accuracy and usability. Please contact Dr. Schetter BMc for any further questions.

Products Concerned

Description

Version 4.6 of the Software Collection from BMC Messsysteme GmbH has been released in November 2014 replacing all previous versions. This includes the latest version of NextView 4, the software for data acquisition and processing. Especially if changing from NextView/NT to NextView 4 (in the following: NV4 and NVNT), please note the following information.

Solution

  • NVNT and NV4 use different driver versions (same applies to the driver package NVNT-DP and NV4-DP for non-bmcm hardware) for the installed DAQ systems. That means, both versions should only be operated on the same PC if using NV4-Analysis or LAN network DAQ systems as they do not need a driver installation.

  • Projects (*.nvp), configurations files (*.nvc), and signals (*.lfx), created with NVNT, can be used in NV4 without qualification. However, as soon as projects and configuration files are saved in NV4, they cannot be opened in NVNT anymore. This does not apply to signals which were saved in NV4 with NVNT 3.4 file format (export).

  • The operating systems Windows 95/98/Me/SE and NT are not supported by NV4 anymore, Windows 2000 only through version 4.2. The latest version 4.6 can be installed on Windows 8/7/XP.

  • NV4.6 requires the licensing of the software. The relevant functionality of the program version used (Pro, Lite, Analysis) is unlocked with a license key that can be requested via e-mail or the bmcm website by entering the serial number when first starting the program.

  • A free 30-day trial is provided from version 4.4 on featuring all functions of a Professional version. If a software version is bought, all projects, signal files, and configurations can still be used. Otherwise, the trial version will be reduced to basic functions 30 days after requesting the license key being equivalent to the former NV4 Live! version. To operate and test the hardware, the trial version is included when purchasing a bmcm DAQ system or can be downloaded from the website.

  • In addition to the Standalone version of NV4 (release 4.2, Demo, Live!, Lite, Pro, Analysis), there is also a Client/Server version. Instead of the former STR-BMCSAD Client NV4 Client API is available as a supplement. The product NVNT-WORKM is cancelled.

  • The following DAQ systems can only be operated with software version 4.x: PCI-BASE1000, MAD16a, USB-AD, USB-PIO, iM-AD25a (operable with NVNT if installed as iM-AD25 after changing the firmware version to max. v.1.1 Build 117 only with ±5V measuring range).
    The PCI-BASEII, PCI-PIO, PCIe-BASE, the modules MAD12b/16b, MDA16-2i, MDA16-4i, MDA16-8i, and the USB-AD12f, USB-AD16f are supported from version 4.4 on.
    The LAN-AD16f and AMS42-LAN16fx, AMS84-LAN16fx and MADDA16, MADDA16n modules are supported from version 4.5 on.

  • ISA measurement cards and the PCI-BASE50 can only be used up to version 4.2 of the "Software Collection".

  • DAQ systems, not featuring an own micro-processor, scan asynchronously now. That means the time of the PC is used as a time reference for the scan. The sampling period of asynchronous devices is preset and not influenced by the setting of the scan frequency in NV4. In NV4, the sample period defines the storage frequency (how often the measuring values are written into the signal file).
    The advantage is that the sample period in NV4 does not depend on the slowest device. A fast device (e.g. meM-ADfo), operated with a slow one, can tap its full potential. If using two asynchronous devices, a scan cannot diverge anymore in time.
    The asynchronous measurement systems are the following devices:
    meM-AD/meM-ADDA, meM-INC/meM-PIO, USB-AD/USB-PIO, PC20TR, PIO24II/PIO48II, and ADAM modules (to be installed with driver package NV4-DP).

  • The ActiveX Control BMCSAD was replaced by the LibadX. Programs, created with BMCSAD and only concerning the file interface, can still be used. Programming in NV4 is done with NV4-Script.

Status

The update to the latest version 4.6 is strongly recommended unless if using ISA measuring cards, the PCI-BASE50, NV4 Client/Server, or if installing under Windows 95/98/Me/SE/2000/NT.

Products Concerned

Description

The professional software for measurement data acquisition and processing NextView 4 is provided in German and English. Changing the language does not require to reinstall the software.

Solution

The regional settings in the Control Panel are decisive for the language selection. If a German-speaking country is set on the computer, NextView 4 will be shown in German, otherwise in English language. If you want to use NextView 4 in another language as given by default, please follow these links:

  • Windows 7: Start / Control Panel / Clock, Language, and Region / Region and Language / TAB "Keyboards and Languages" / section "Display language"
  • Windows XP: Start / Control Panel / Regional and Language Options / tab "Regional Options " / section "Standards and formats"

Press the arrow button to open the list of provided languages and choose the desired entry. When restarting NextView 4, the language settings will be adapted accordingly.

This applies to the bmcm Software Collection CD and all installation programs started from the Software Collection CD in the same way. Depending on the set language in the regional options, they will automatically be opened in German or English when inserting the CD.

Alternative for experts:

Direct access to the user settings of NextView 4 is possible via the file prefs.ini located in the hidden folder "Application Data" or "AppData" in the relating user directory:

  • Windows 7: Start / / AppData / Roaming / BMC Messsysteme / NextView 4.5 / prefs.ini
  • Windows XP: C:/ Documents and Settings / / Application Data / BMC Messsysteme / NextView 4.5 / prefs.ini


To set the language of NextView 4, insert the following code at the end of the file:

  • Display NextView 4 in German:

[options]
lang=de
  • Display NextView 4 in English:

[options]
lang=us

Status

The latest version NextView 4.5 has been available since June 2010. Users of earlier 4.x versions are recommended to install the free update.

Products Concerned

Description

When applying for a NextView 4.5 license number via email, users of the email program Outlook receive the error message "None of your email accounts could send to this recipient".

Solution

The NextView 4.5 license number can be requested from bmcm by email or via the bmcm website. If the option "This computer can send and receive emails" has been choosen in the licensing process, the default email program is opened displaying an email with the required data. The email recipient licence"at"bmcm.de has automatically been entered in the address field.

Normally the user only has to send this email to get a NextView 4.5 license number.

Outlook, however, puts single quotation marks around the first part of the email address ('licence' "at"bmcm.de) causing an error message to be returned when sending the email. Check the email address in this case and remove the single quotation marks before resending it.

Status

This is an Outlook-specific problem. Outlook is a product from Microsoft. Please contact the manufacturer if you need support for Outlook.

Products Concerned

Description

When sending a bug report for NextView 4.5 via email, users of the email program Outlook receive the error message "None of your email accounts could send to this recipient".

Solution

A bug report for NextView 4.5 can be sent via the command "Send Bug Report" (menu "Options") directly in the software by email. The following dialog boxes allow for the description of the error and for choosing the files to be attached.

If the option "This computer can send and receive emails" has been choosen, the default email program is opened displaying an email with the required data. The email recipient bugreport"at"bmcm.de has automatically been entered in the address field.

Normally the user only has to send this email with the bug report for NextView 4.5.

Outlook, however, puts single quotation marks around the first part of the email address ('bugreport'"at"bmcm.de) causing an error message to be returned when sending the email. Check the email address in this case and remove the single quotation marks before resending it.

Status

This is an Outlook-specific problem. Outlook is a product from Microsoft. Please contact the manufacturer if you need support for Outlook.

Products Concerned

Description

When using the OR8 or R8 in connection with the digital I/O card USB-PIO supplied with Harris components, the relays may turn on for a short moment when initializing the PC. This is characteristic for that component.

Solution

Mount a resistance array 8x4.7K in the pin row 1-10 of the highest ICs (U12) of the OR8/R8. This causes a defined turn-on level for the intitialising phase so that the relays can't switch themselves on uncontrolled anymore.

Please retrieve the graphical illustration from the PDF file.

Status

The later series of the USB-PIO contain elements by NEC (µPD 71055C) that don't have this problem. These have been tested and approved.

Products Concerned

Description

The connection of an optocoupler or relay card to a USB-PIO is realized with a plain 25-pole D-Sub extension cable to the 25-pin D-Sub socket of the USB-PIO. It is also possible to connect two R8/OR8 directly to the USB-PIO, as it provides for two 25-pin D-Sub sockets. When using several R8/OR8, a special connection cable must be made. In this case, check for the correct pin assignment.

Solution

The R8/OR8 boards each assign eight channel. Therefore a maximum of three respectively six boards can be conntected up to the USB-PIO. The eight channels of a board assign eight pins of the 25-pole D-Sub socket. In addtion one pin is set on ground.

In the following PDF file the pin assignment of the 25-pole D-Sub socket and the graphics of the to be manufactured connceting cable are displayed. Please download if needed.

Status

Because of the various connection possibilities there is no serial produced connection cabel available.

Products Concerned

Description

±10V signals are to be connected to the USB devices USB-AD, USB-PIO by BMC Messsysteme GmbH.

Solution

The input voltage can be upped to ±10V by adding an externally biased 1:1 voltage divider in front of the analog inputs. Therefore a 49,9 kohm resistor with 0,1% has to be connected parallel to the according analog input and a 47,9 kohm resistor with 0,1% has to be conntected serial into the supply cable. The maximum measuring faults can result in ±0,3%. The input resistance then adds up to 95 kohm.

Please retrieve the according wiring diagram from the PDF file.

Status

Tested and approved.