Chameleon module faceplates include sleeves to insert user-defined signal labels. Perforated label sheets designed for industrial use are available from Fairmount Automation. The label sheets contain a variety of perforated label sizes and shapes corresponding to sleeve sizes and shapes available in Chameleon modules.
To define the signal name, simply click on the desired label location in the hardware interface file module and type it in. For example, the tag just above the top-numeric display of the PCM-1 module in the hardware interface file shown in Figure 2.4 is labeled "SAM Temp". The label indicates to the plant operator that the value shown on the numeric display represents the SAM temperature.
To select the font used to print the signal labels, right-click on the module in the hardware interface file and choose the Select Label Font item from the drop-down menu.
Figure 4.19. Print Labels Dialog.
To print out the signal tags on the special perforated label sheets, select the Print item from the File menu, and then select Print Labels. Design Pad G4 will display the Print Labels dialog shown in Figure 4.19. The dialog allows you to identify labels that have been previously used and are not available for printing. To disable printing to a particular location, click on that label position in the dialog. To re-enable printing to a disabled location, click on it again. For example, label position number 12 in Figure 4.19 has been disabled for printing as indicated by the black
Proper alignment of the label sheet in the printer is needed to ensure that the text printed on the labels is visible through the faceplate sleeves. In order to achieve proper label sheet alignment, Design Pad G4 must be calibrated to your printer---every printer is different. To calibrate Design Pad G4 to your particular printer follow the procedure below:
- Select the Align Label Sheets item from the File menu. Design Pad G4 will display Label Sheet Printer Alignment dialog shown in Figure 4.20.
Figure 4.20. Align Label Sheets Dialog.
- Load perforated label half-sheets onto the printer's manual feed tray. (Note that two label sheets are included on each standard 8.5" x 11" piece of paper---the paper is perforated along the center of the page. The perforation along the centerline must be torn such that label sheets are fed to the printer individually rather than as sets of two.) The non-perforated edge of the label half-sheet should enter the printer first in order to avoid slight page rotation resulting from imperfections on the perforated edge of the sheet. The sheet should also be oriented such that the perforated arrow on the middle of the page points from left to right. (The perforated arrow is enclosed by the labels located in positions 8, 9, 13, and 14 of Figure 4.19. When the arrow is pointing in the correct direction, it will be located on the right side of the label sheet.)
- Click the Print Test Page (No Offsets) button on the Label Sheet Printer Alignment dialog. Design Pad G4 will print out four sets of gradated crosshairs that should generally align with perforated crosshairs on the label sheet.
- Measure the number of inches horizontally separating the center of the printed crosshair and the center of the perforated crosshair. Record the result in the X-Pos edit control of the Align Label Sheets dialog. (If the printed crosshairs are left of the perforated ones, the offset should be negative; otherwise it should be positive.)
- Measure the number of inches vertically separating the center of the printed crosshair and the center of the perforated crosshair. Record the result in the Y-Pos edit control of the Label Sheet Printer Alignment dialog. (If the printed crosshairs are below of the perforated ones, the offset should be negative; otherwise it should be positive.)
- Load another label half-sheet onto the printer's manual feed tray and click the Print Test Page (With Offsets) button in the Label Sheet Printer Alignment dialog. Design Pad G4 will print another set of crosshairs---this time they should align perfectly with the perforated crosshairs. If they do not, go back to step 2 and repeat the process. (Note that the Print Calibration Adjustment Page button prints the crosshairs without offsets and the Print Calibration Test Page button
