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Installation Categories
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ACES - Installation and calibrationEach ARIEL CES machine is
carefully inspected, tested and calibrated prior to delivery. Normally only a
simple installation procedure, including a calibration check, is required before
the system is operational. The installation procedure is described in this
section. In addition, the full calibration procedure will be explained as well
as certain system utility functions. INSTALLATIONARIEL exercisers are
shipped as number of separate components. These components include the exercise
station (Multi-Function or Arm-Leg), the computer, monitor and associated
accessories such as cables, backup software and other optional items. Upon
arrival, carefully unpack these components and inspect for shipping damage. HARDWARE
CONNECTIONS Position the exercise
station in the desired location. The computer for the Arm-Leg exerciser should
be placed in front of the exerciser about 3 to 4 feet away. The computer for the
Multi-Function exerciser should be placed to one side of the exerciser within a
few feet of the bench. Each exercise station will have a single cable that
connects the machine to the Ariel analog box. You will notice that the
electrical connector on each end of the cable is a different type to prevent
incorrect connections. It is recommended to cover the cables between the
exercise station and the computer so that users do not trip on them or damage
them when walking in the vicinity of the exerciser. Flat rubber cable conduit
may be obtained for this purpose, or the cables may be taped directly to the
floor using duct tape. Unpack the computer
monitor and optional items (printer etc) and place them in the desired
positions. Plug the monitor, computer and stepper motor power supply into a
multi-outlet power strip. This allows all the CES components to be turned on/off
with one switch. It is recommended that no other electrical equipment or
appliances be connected to the same circuit as the ARIEL CES.
The diagram above
illustrates the hardware connections of the basic Ariel CES components. The
boards may be in different slots than shown (depending on computer model). Slot
numbers are designated 1 through 7 going from bottom to top. Slot 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6
have no external connections. Slot 4 connects to the
external Analog Input box. Use the ribbon cable supplied with the A/D box. This
cable connects to the external Analog-to-Digital (A/D) box. Make certain that
the connector is plugged in the correct way. Slot 7 has a single
15-pin connector. The color monitor connects to this slot. The keyboard plugs
directly in the keyboard connector. The PS2 mouse connector
is used to for the mouse. The Parallel Port 1 is
usually used for the optional printer. The Serial Ports 1 and 2
are not used on this computer system. ANALOG
DATA COLLECTION (OPTIONAL) The Ariel Analog to
Digital (A/D) Input Box has two types of connectors for each of the sixteen
channels. The RJ11 type connector is used for the Pre-Amplified electromyogram
(EMG) electrodes. The BNC type connectors are used for single-ended analog
signals. Up to 14 channels can be sampled simultaneously with the CES exercise
session. Channels 15 and 16 are reserved for the CES system operation. Channels
are numbered sequentially from left to right. Only one connector should be used
per channel. Sampling should begin with Channel #1 and sequentially add the
desired number of channels. It is not recommended to skip a channel. The last
channel used should be specified in the CES software module. EMG
DATA COLLECTION The optional
Pre-Amplified EMG electrodes are supplied by Ariel Dynamics with the RJ11
connectors already installed. Connect the electrodes into sequential channels
beginning with channel #1. The Pre-Amplifier in the electrode requires a voltage
supply for power. Power is normally supplied from the computer power supply.
Optionally, one may use the supplied nine-volt batteries anytime the electrodes
are being utilized. Batteries should be inserted into the B1 and B2 nine-volt
battery holders. Jumper J1 should be on the upper 2 pins while Jumper J2 should
be on the lower 2 pins. Power switch (SW1) is used to turn the system on and
off. When the system is turned ON, the two LED lights (D1 & D3) should be
illuminated. Dimly lit LED's indicate weak batteries. Batteries should be
removed or the switch turned to the OFF position if Analog sampling will not
take place for an extended period of time. FUNCTIONAL TESTComponent installation is
now complete and the system is ready for a functional test designed to check the
correct operation of each component. Turn on the main power strip switch. Then
turn on the power switch to the monitor, (optional printer) and computer. If no
display appears, turn off the power and check all cable and power connections.
If the source of the problem is not a bad connection, refer the problem to
qualified service personnel. When the system has been
powered up successfully, the computer will display the Microsoft Windows
desktop. The CES-System folder should be visible in the upper-middle portion of
the display. Double-click the CES-System icon to display the CES and Program
software modules. Double-click the CES icon to display the CES Log-On menu.
Select the Cancel button. You will notice several pull-down menus displayed at
the top of the screen. Select CALIBRATION and then CHECKOUT to display the CES
Hardware Checkout menu.
The Hardware Checkout
menu allows the user to check signals for the three CES transducers; position,
force and the stepper motor. The position and force analog channels are inputs
to the computer that provide measurements from the position and pressure
transducers in the exercise station. A number of measurements are continuously
taken from each of the transducers. The average �Raw� analog value of these
measurements is shown next to the names of each transducer, as well as computed
value in �User� units.. When the ARIEL CES is
properly adjusted, and when the bar is not moving, the average value for
F/Torque should be approximately +3500. The value for position should change
with the bar position. When the bar is at the lowest point, the value should be
approximately not be less than -3500. At its highest point the value should not
be more than +3500. If any of the analog values are zero (0) or 4095 and do not
change with movement of the bar, or if the values differ significantly from the
guidelines above, the transducers may not be adjusted properly or indicate a
connection problem. In addition, the values should always be stable when the bar
is not moving. Rapidly fluctuating values (when the bar is stationary) indicate
unreliable analog measurements and are usually due to noise or electrical
interference. Check that the cables between the exercise station and the console
are connected properly. If problems persist, contact the Ariel technical service
department. You may also test the
Stepper Motor operation. The stepper motor is used to open and close the valve
in the hydraulic resistance mechanism. When the Checkout menu is opened, the bar
on the exerciser should move freely. If the bar moves with appreciable
resistance, or not at all, then the valve has not opened properly. Check that
the cables are properly connected between the exercise station and the computer.
Also make certain the external power supply is connected to the power strip and
the power line is connected to the Analog input box. If this does not appear to
be a connection or power problem, contact Ariel technical service department.
Once you have verified that the bar moves freely when the valve is open, type
the number 400 in the #Step field and select the STEP button. This will
cause the stepper motor to completely close the valve. The bar on the exerciser
should be locked and should not move even with your full body weight applied. If
the bar will not lock, make certain that you entered the number 400 properly (it
should be displayed in the POS field), and that the cables are connected
properly between the station and computer. If the stepper motor does not close
the valve properly, the system might require service. Finally, press the OPEN
button to open the valve again and verify that the bar moves freely. Select the OK
button when complete. The installation and
functional test of the ARIEL CES has now been completed. At this point, the user
may wish to perform a calibration check. If so, refer to the following section.
Otherwise, you may wish to try a sample exercise session. The system is now
ready for use. CALIBRATIONARIEL CES machines are
fully calibrated prior to shipping. However, as with any precision instrument,
it is recommended that calibration occasionally be checked and, if necessary,
readjusted. Also, in the event that the CES requires adjustment or replacement
of exercise station transducers or the computer electronics, re-calibration will
be required. In addition, certain system options are specified during
calibration and some users may wish to modify one or more of these options. This
section will explain how system calibration is performed. STATION
PARAMETERS The first menu in the
calibration process is the Station Parameter menu. This is used to set a number
of items of information about this individual exercise station as well as
selecting certain system options such as units of measurement.
SITE NAME
is the name of this installation (e.g. club, clinic, hospital, etc). It will be
printed on copies of exercise and rehabilitation results. STATION
TYPE identifies the station connected to this computer as either
Multi-Function or Arm-Leg. UNITS
selects the system of measurement as either English or Metric. English units
measure force in pounds, work in foot-pounds and linear movement in inches.
Metric units measure force in kilograms, work in kilogram-meters and linear
movement in centimeters. Units should be set to the same value for all exercise
machines at a given installation otherwise user files could be interpreted in
the wrong system of units. NOTE: If the units are changed from English to Metric
(or vice versa), the calibration procedure must be repeated. Units cannot be
changed without calibration. BAR MEASURE
selected to set how bar position and bar movement are measured and reported.
Linear reports the movement of the bar in linear units (e.g. inches or
centimeters) while Angular reports the movement of the bar in degrees around the
pivot point. Angular bar measure is recommended, especially for the Arm-Leg
exerciser. RESISTANCE MEASURE
is available for the Arm-Leg exercisers. Since the bar length on the Arm-Leg
exercisers is adjustable to accommodate different limb lengths, while the Ariel
CES exercisers are calibrated with a fixed bar length, the true force on the bar
cannot accurately be reported when the bar length is adjusted. To solve this
problem the Arm-Leg exerciser may optionally report torque about the pivot point
rather than force on the handles of the bar. Torque measurement is not affected
by a change in bar length, thus it is the recommended mode for the Arm-Leg
exerciser. BAR LENGTH
is the length of the bar on the exerciser from the pivot point to the handle
(point of force application). This value is fixed for the Multi-Function. For
the Arm-Leg exerciser, it is the length from the pivot point to the center of
the handle. This can be any distance as long as the correct value is entered and
maintained during the calibration process. BAR RANGE
is the full range of movement of the bar from lowest to highest position. The
actual value of these parameters will never change, as they are mechanically
fixed. The numeric values will, however, change when system units change. These
parameters are always displayed in the current system units. VALVE RANGE
refers to the total number of stepper motor steps in the full physical rotation
of the hydraulic valve. Hardware �stops� or limits prevent valve rotation
beyond this range. The value for this item must not be less than the true
physical valve range, and it is recommended to set it slightly larger than the
actual range. It is recommended to use the value 450 (the default range). The
usable portion of the valve range is always less than the full physical range.
This is due to the geometry of the valve which permits the motor to step the
valve some number of steps past the open and closed positions. The full physical
open position is defined as step position 0 (zero). VALVE OPEN/LOCK
define the stepper motor step positions of the effective valve open and valve
closed (locked) positions, in other words, the usable valve range. These values
are critical to the correct performance of the ARIEL CES and can be determined
either automatically (using the VALVE Calibration) or manually (using the
Checkout menu option). Once the Valve Lock is determined, the Valve open can be
calculated as it is always the Valve Lock value minus 200 stepper motor units.
For example, if the Valve Lock position is 350, then the Valve Open position is:
350 - 200 = 150. Both the Valve Lock and Vale Open positions are automatically
entered when the VALVE calibration is performed. RESPONSE RATE
selects how rapidly the hydraulic valve will respond to an application of force
on the bar. Any value between -25 (slowest) and +25 (fastest) can be set by the
user. The default value of 0 (zero) has been designed to give the best
�feel� during normal exercise for the widest range of users. If the
predominant mode of exercise for this station will be at low force levels (e.g.
rehabilitation) try setting this item to a higher value to achieve optimum
response. Setting this value unnecessarily high may result in the valve opening
too quickly during exercise. PRESET ADJUST
is used to modify the valve starting position. For example, the software
calculates a starting position for the valve based on the expected exercise. A
fast velocity exercise will start with the valve opened more than a slow
velocity exercise in order to minimize the distance the valve must travel to
meet the expected response. A value of -25 (easiest) relates to the valve
starting in a more open position while a value of +25 (hardest) relates to the
valve beginning in a more closed position. The default value of 0 (zero) should
provide the best feel for the widest range of users. Station Parameters are
now complete. The next step is Valve calibration. This will determine the Valve
Lock and Valve Open positions. VALVE
CALIBRATION The VALVE
calibration procedure sets the stepper motor step positions for the usable range
of valve travel (valve open and valve locked), as described in the Station
Parameter section above.
A series of displays will
instruct you to move the bar to a high position (for the Arm-Leg exerciser about
30 degrees forward of vertical), hang weights on the bar (approximately 50 lbs /
22 kgs. suggested) and then signal by pressing OK. The ARIEL exerciser
will then automatically determine the valve limits and, when done, report those
limits and instruct you to remove the weights from the bar. FORCE
/ POSITION CALIBRATION Selecting FORCE
calibration actually performs Position and Force calibration.
Position calibration establishes a correspondence between the full travel of the
bar and the values measured from the position transducer in the exercise
station. A series of displays will instruct you to move the bar to its upper and
lower limits and, for the Arm-Leg exerciser, to parallel and vertical (use a
level for this procedure). Make certain that the bar is positioned exactly as
requested and that it is not moving when the positions are entered. Then press
the OK button. Force Calibration
establishes a correspondence between the force on the handles of the bar and the
values measured from the force transducer in the exercise station.
The initial menu prompts
the user to enter two weight values to be used in Trial #1 and Trial #2 of the
calibration. The first weight value should be low (25 to 50 lbs.), and the
second should be higher (80 or more pounds). Ideally, the two weight values
should represent the lower and upper ranges of the force expected during
exercise. If you do not have accurate bar-bell type weights at your disposal, do
not attempt force calibration. Make
certain that the �Calculate Up From Down� option is selected. This
will automatically calculate the �Up� calibration from the �Down� data
without having to perform a calibration in the opposite direction. The next display prompts
the user to move the bar first to the �Lowest� position and then SLOWLY
to the �Highest� position. This step calibrates the position transducer as
well as establishes a �zero� baseline for the force transducer. The reason
for moving slowly to the highest position is that the system records the
internal pressure in the exerciser�s hydraulic system throughout the entire
range of motion. The next display will ask
you to move the bar first to the �Stop� position and then to the �Start�
position. In this manner the ARIEL CES determines the portion of the range of
motion that is being calibrated as well as the bar direction (up or down). Since
the weights must fall during the calibration, the �Stop� position must be
the low position and the �Start� position must be the high position. The bar will lock at the
start position and you will be asked to hang your first weight value on the bar.
Press the READY button to start force calibration. The bar will fall
slowly to the �Stop� position and you will be asked to remove the weights.
Next you will be asked to move the bar back to the �Start� position where
the bar will again lock so that you my hang the second (higher) weight value on
the bar. Press the READY button to repeat the force calibration for the
Trial#2 weight, after which you will be asked to remove the weights. CALIBRATION
CHECK After completing the
calibration process, or simply to check the calibration, the Calibration Check
can be selected to check or verify the current system force calibration. You
will be asked to move the bar to the �Stop� and �Start� positions as you
did with force calibration. The bar will lock and you will be asked to hang a
known weight on the bar. Press the READY button and the bar will slowly
fall through the range of motion. The system will then plot a graph of measured
Force vs. Position on the monitor and display the average value over the range
tested. You may copy this graph by pressing the Print Screen key and then
�paste� it into a graphic program to keep a record of system calibration. See also
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