Data acquisition and analysis, creation of reports, archiving, transferring the data to a mainframe, and control of the test procedures are also part of the task. The computer system uses a high resolution VGA color display for operator display and interaction. The operator interface is through a windowed environment, called the Presentation Manager, wherein displays, options, and system functions are selected on the screen using a mouse. A dot matrix printer is used for local message output and an internal cartridge tape for archiving data. Digital outputs control the motor, apply pressure, provide calibration signals and are used to initiate low speed tests.
Digital inputs provide a means of measuring RPM and inputting status or anomaly conditions.
The inputs monitored include applied pressure, torque, fluid temperature and other parameters as needed. The test machines are controlled by the TCAMs by using stored test procedures. Several hundred different test procedures are kept in a data base to provide detailed instructions to both the operator and to the computer for performing the friction tests. The test procedures contain three pages of information such as the total number of cycles, which cycles to take data, setup instructions including part number, oil type, when to perform low speed tests and the type of test data required. These test procedures can be created, stored, and edited from a task in the TCAM program.