The tool does not power on, and appears to be out of battery power.
The Flexo-M tool is basically a PDA running Microsoft Windows Pocket
PC software. When the internal battery runs out, the RAM memory is erased. Resolution: Recharge the tool and reload the software.
How do you recharge the tool?
The steps to re-charge and re-install the Flexo-M tool are detailed on page
60 of the Owner's manual.
Recharging the tool:
To remove the PDA from its housing, remove the rear panel and then slide
the handheld out of the housing.
To remove the backup battery (located on the underside of the PDA), slide
the switch to "Back Up," and then open the small panel to expose
the battery.
Charge the tool completely. This could take several (6) hours.
Install a fresh backup battery.
Install fresh batteries into the housing.
Open the battery panel located on the underside of the housing and insert
4 AA batteries. Note: These batteries power the light source. These batteries should
be removed when you are finished with the tool to prevent leakage during
prolonged periods of storage.
How do you reload the Flexo-M software?
The steps to re-charge and re-install the Flexo-M tool are detailed on page
60 of the Owner's manual.
To reload the software:
When the tool is recharged, from the Windows Pocket PC setup menus,
follow the prompts until you get to the home (Today) screen.
Insert the compact flash card with the Flexo-M software. The software installation
begins automatically.
When the software is installed, click OK.
Turn off the PDA and remove the compact flash card.
Insert the PDA back into the tool housing. Make sure that the card in
the housing slides into the compact flash card slot of the PDA.
Turn on the tool.
Select Start: Flexo-M Setup.
Select Apply Default Settings, and click Yes at the prompt.
Click OK to exit the setup.
Turn off the tool and then turn it back on.
If the Flexo-M software does not launch automatically, from the Windows
Start menu, launch the Flexo-M software.
Do I make measurements over a light table?
The tool requires a point light source to make accurate readings. The easiest
way to get this light source is to use the internal light source and to make
readings over a mirror so that the light is reflected back through the plate.
If you make measurements over a light table, the results can be less consistent
and not as accurate, particularly when measuring extreme highlights and shadow
areas.
What is the best way to read ablated masks?
If measurements are critical, then ablated plates should be read without any
back or main exposures applied. When the plate is exposed in the light frame,
the polymer can undergo a slight change that will cause the light to refract
when being read by the tool.
What is the best way to make readings?
The QEA system is more of a relative measuring tool, meaning it works best
when you have a base from which to compare your measurements.
It is suggested to focus your initial measurements to 50% since you will be
able to visually compare the dot if you are measuring an ablated mask, and you
can expect that a 50% dot will measure about 35% on a processed plate.
Once you get a good 50% dot, you can make measurements at other points in the
scale with more confidence.
Which menus are most commonly used?
In the Options menu, there are two important menus: General and
Dot.
General:
Flexo Shutter (1 - 992): 472 - this is the default value. By decreasing this
value, you are visually reducing the amount of contrast between the non-printing
surfaces of the plate and the printing surfaces. If you make the contrast
too light, the tool will not be able to identify dots, particularly in the
highlights and shadow areas. You will be able to visually see the differences
in the appearance of the area you are reading as you make changes to this
value.
Sample: Flexo - this should be selected for reading processed plates.
Dot:
Dark, Light, Auto D/L - To enable the tool to identify printing and non-printing
surfaces, set Dot to Auto.
Threshold %: 40 - this is the default value. As the value changes, the measuring
tolerances for the size of the dot area the tool measures will change. The
difference is not overtly obvious visually, but by changing this reading to
higher values, the tool will give different results for the same dot values.
For example, a dot with a reading of 33% at threshold 60, reads 35% at threshold
40.
