Overview
The DTect-IT software is designed to receive data from a variety of sensors installed in the machining environment. The data from the sensor(s) can determine machining and machine component anomalies. Sensor data can be analyzed or fed back to the CNC control to allow process adjustments or other actions. DTect-IT analyzes the sensor data using Analyses. An analysis is a process set up by the user to analyze data from a selected sensor. All data can be logged and/or saved to reports. Monitoring data collected by DTect-IT can help prevent machine or part damage as well as help control a process.
Installing DTect-IT
To install DTect-IT on Windows 8 or 10, launch the installer executable on the USB drive provided by Caron Engineering. The USB drive must be connected to a USB port on the PC that DTect-IT is to be installed on. Clicking the installer executable launches an install wizard that guides the user through the installation of the software. After the install wizard is finished, the DTect-IT software is ready to be used. Note: When installing the DTect-IT software on Windows 7 or XP, there are additional steps required to finish the install. Note: Due to a redesign of the database structure, all historical data will not be backwards compatible with any existing 1.5.x and below versions of DTectt-IT. It is recommended all old data is backed up after install of DTect-IT 1.6.0.
Windows XP Install (Hardware Wizard)
The wizard alerts the user that the Windows Update web site can be used to search for the files needed. Since the files were added during the software install, this is not necessary. Click no and the next button to continue the hardware install. Since the files are already saved, the hardware wizard just needs to locate them. Click the "Install the software automatically" bullet, then click next to continue. This will find the necessary drivers and install them.
Windows 7 Install
For Windows 8 and 10, the sensor drivers for DTect-IT come installed with the operating system. With previous versions of Windows, this is not the case and the DTect-IT install wizard will install each driver individually. This could take several minutes.
Licensing DTect-IT
The DTect-IT software is licensed in a few easy steps. After installing and launching DTect-IT, perform the following steps:
- Read and accept the End User License Agreement
- Generate a license by following the License Wizard
- Contact Caron Engineering to generate a license using the file from the wizard.
- Apply the license These steps are explained in detail in the following sections.
Note: Each individual install of DTect-IT requires a license.
End User License Agreement (EULA)
Upon first launch of DTect-IT, an end user license agreement (EULA) must be read and accepted before being able to use the software. If the EULA is declined, DTect-IT will prompt the user to verify they are declining the EULA. After verifying declining the EULA, DTect-IT will close.
License Wizard
After accepting the EULA, press the Generate License Data File button to launch the license wizard. The wizard guides the user though the licensing process in a few steps. Note: At least one sensor must be connected to the PC for validation during the licensing process. Perform the following steps in the License wizard to generate the license data file:
- Press Begin
- Plug in at least one sensor shipped with DTect-IT
- DTect-IT queries the sensors, and the sensor it finds will blink green and white.
- Confirm if this is the correct sensor by pressing the Correct Sensor button.
- Press the Save License Data File button. After generating the license data file, email the file to ceisupport@caroneng.com to generate a license for DTect-IT. Caron Engineering will process the license data file and send the generated license back.
Release Notes
After licensing DTect-IT, the software launches and displays a window where the release notes can be reviewed. The release notes will display the current version installed and all previous versions. The release notes provide an overview of any changes or new features in the software.
Main User Interface
The DTect-IT main user interface will vary depending which analysis is active, but some functionality will be global.
Analysis Tabs
After configuring an analysis, a reference tab for the analysis appears on the left of the interface. Pressing an individual tab will adjust the user interface based on the analysis type. The analysis tabs display quick information about the sensor connection state and alarm conditions for the analysis.
Tool Buttons
In the main interface there are several tool buttons that remain on the user interface with any analysis.
Notification Center
Some events that occur in DTect-IT, such as alarms, will cause a notification to appear in the upper right hand corner of the user interface. These notifications get stored in the Notification Center. Press the Notification button to display the Notification Center. The Notification Center will overlay on the right side of the user interface. Each entry in the Notification Center can be doubled clicked to open a separate window with more information on the notification.
Status View
Status view displays all sensors and CNCs connected to the system. For each device displayed, the following information is available:
- Name: Name given to the device
- Device Type: Type of device- Sensor, CNC, MTConnect adapter or I/O device
- Status: Displays the connection status of the device.
- View Additional Information: Press to reveal additional information about various devices. This includes in-use CNC macro variables and physical I/O device inputs and outputs.
General Settings
The General setting menu contains two ribbons. The top ribbon displays buttons for all created analyses and a create button to add a new analysis. The bottom ribbon contains buttons for the following settings menus:
- Sensor Button
- CNC Button
- Physical I/O Button
- Display Button
- Data Logging Button
- General Tab
Each button opens a settings menu. The analysis buttons will open settings specific to that analysis, and the other buttons will open more general settings menus.
Sensor Button
Pressing the Sensor button opens a menu ribbon displaying all sensors that have been created so far and a Create button to add new sensors. Pressing on any of the sensor buttons opens a settings menu specific to that sensor. Pressing the create sensor button runs the sensor wizard. Depending on the sensor type chosen, the sensor wizard will vary.
CNC Button
Pressing the CNC button opens a menu ribbon displaying all CNCs that have been created so far and a Create button to add new CNCs. The CNC buttons open setting menus specific to that CNC. Use the Create sensor button to run the CNC wizard. Depending on the type of CNC chosen, the CNC wizard will vary.
Physical I/O Button
Pressing the Physical I/O button opens a menu ribbon displaying all physical I/O devices that have been created so far and a Create button to add new devices. The individual device buttons open setting menus specific to that device. Use the create button to run the Physical I/O Device wizard.
Data Logging Button
Pressing the Data Logging button opens a menu ribbon displaying all data logging outputs that have been created so far and a Create button to add new outputs. The output buttons open setting menus specific to that output. Use the Create button to run the data logging output wizard. Depending on the type of output chosen, the data logging output wizard will vary.
Display Button
Pressing the Display button opens a window where DTect-IT display options can be set. The following options are available:
- Theme color: The theme color changes the color of elements in the DTect-It user interface. The following themes are available: Gray, Green, Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Purple.
- Sidebar: Change the default look of the analysis sidebar. This setting is also adjustable on the main user interface. The following options are available:
- Extended: The sidebar is wider and displays more characters on the analysis tabs.
- Simplified: The sidebar is smaller and only displays the first character of the analysis names on the analysis tabs.
- Force Maximized: If checked, DTect-It automatically maximizes the window when an analysis enters an alarm state.
- Enable Supervisor Password: When checked, user is prompted to create a supervisor password
Information Button
Pressing the Information button in the General Settings menu opens a menu containing general information about DTect-IT. The Information window has the following four tabs:
- General Tab
- Logging Tab
- License Tab
- Release Notes Tab
- Third Party Software Tab
- Partners Tab
General Tab
The General tab displays the current version of DTect-IT installed and the date of the install. The following buttons are available in this tab:
- View End User License Agreement: Opens the End User License Agreement for review
- Create Support Package: Generates a support package containing a backup configuration and all available log files. The backup configuration can be used to restore system settings.
Logging Tab
The Logging tab allows the user to set the logging level for various parts of the application. This is for use by Caron Engineering support and should be left at the default setting, unless otherwise directed.
License Tab
The following information is displayed in the License tab:
- License Owner: Purchaser of DTect-IT software
- Serial Number: Serial number of the DTect-IT software.
- Analysis Count: Number of analyses that can be created on this license
- Analysis Types: The analysis types allowed on this license
- Allowed Sensors: List of sensors compatible with the license.
Invalidate License Button
Press the Invalidate License button to disable the license. Use this button if the license needs to be switched to another PC for any reason.
Update License Button
Press the Update License button to update the license for the software when the analysis count is upgraded, a new analysis type is purchased, or new hardware is ordered.
Release Notes Tab
In this tab, the release notes for every version of DTect-IT is viewable. The tab loads with the most recent version of DTect-IT, but older versions can be selected using the drop down.
Third Party Software Tab
This tab displays all third party software license information.