| The advantages of a standardized data format for materials testing result are obvious, allowing measurement data from different measurement systems to be uniformly processed. This allows easy statistical evaluation and comparison of results, and at the same time, minimizes possible data errors. Many Zwick customers want the test results which have been determined with testXpert® software to be exported into existing data bases for further processing. This data is often required in a pre-determined format.
Q-DAS is an international software company that develops computer based statistical methods for quality management. Many major companies have decided on the use of Q-DAS products as a standard solution for statistical evaluations. In cooperation with leading companies of the automotive sector, a specification called "Quality data exchange format for the automotive industry" was developed by Q-DAS: the Q-DAS ASCII data format. This was an important step towards standardization of the interfaces between different testing equipment. These guidelines are now considered to be a standard and are becoming a necessary requirement in the specification of testing systems. In addition, an official certification is requested.
In order to fulfil customers’ requirements, Zwick’s software experts programmed an special data interface which meets the ASCII transfer format: testXpert® QS-STAT Interface (tXQ-Interface).
The results calculated in testXpert® are transmitted for further evaluation, processing or archiving to the customers QS-STAT program. The Q-DAS ASCII transfer format is based on mandatory Key Fields (K fields), and testXpert® parameters are linked to the K Fields required by the customer. The basic interface contains 5 fields such as ‘total number of characteristics in the file’, ‘part number’, ‘part description’, ‘characteristics number’, and ‘characteristics description’. If more fields are required then they have to be individually programmed.
After successful trials, Zwick applied for official certification of the testXpert® QS-STAT Interface. Q-DAS confirmed the integrity of the system by reading the data sets into QS-STAT and performed the syntax and content checks. As a result, the interface was immediately certified by Q-DAS.
Already installed and running on more than 80 testing machines in 50 companies worldwide, Zwick has once gain demonstrated its ability to develop leading technology and help its customers to become more competitive in today’s global economy. |
