Tensitron TX-1 Series
Tensitron TX-1 Series
Tensitron TX-1 Series
• Add-On Options...................................................................................................... 6
o Resolution ....................................................................................................... 10
o Length Units (Optional feature) ...................................................................... 11
o Re-Cal Tension: See description at the end of this booklet. ............................ 11
o Audio ............................................................................................................... 11
o Backlight .......................................................................................................... 11
o Set-Point Menu ............................................................................................... 11
o Version ............................................................................................................ 11
Proprietary Notice
Thank You . . .
For purchasing another fine product from Tensitron
1. WARRANTY POLICY
STANDARD EQUIPMENT WARRANTY
Tensitron warrants that all Tensitron-manufactured equipment will be free of any defect in materials or
workmanship for the period of (1) year. Warranty begins from the date of shipment from a Tensitron facility.
The warranty is extended to customers and applies to all Tensitron-manufactured equipment purchased,
installed, and used for the purpose for which such equipment was originally designed. The above warranties
cover only defects arising under normal use and do not include malfunctions or failures resulting from misuse,
abuse, neglect, alteration, problems with electrical power, usage not in accordance with product instructions,
acts of nature, or improper installation or repairs made by anyone other than Tensitron. Shipping costs to
and from Tensitron are not included in the warranty coverage.
4. INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTION
• Standard Instruments
Model Material Selection Resolution Range
(Wire / Filaments) (grams) (grams)
5. BASIC OPERATION
• Charging Instrument Batteries
1. Use only a Tensitron power supply to avoid damage to instrument.
2. Connect power supply cable to the instrument. Plug the power supply into a
power source with input voltages between 100 – 240 VAC.
3. A full charge of the battery assembly requires several hours of charging.
4. The battery pack assembly cannot be overcharged.
5. The instrument will remain on while connected to its power supply.
6. The battery charge level is indicated in upper, right-hand corner of display.
• Quick Start Instructions
1. Power the unit on by pressing ON button. Main display will indicate: Tension,
Material, Min and Max tension readings. (See Figure 3.)
2. Select a screen:
Main Display
Operation Buttons:
Off / Escape
On / Enter / Zero
Arrow Up
Arrow Down
Store
Main Display
3. Log Data:
a. Press the STORE button to store tension readings along with the
Minimum and Maximum of these values.
b. Clear the data displayed on the Main Screen by pressing and
holding the STORE button, or power the instrument off.
c. For additional information on logging and viewing data, refer to Sec
6 - Display Screens - Data Logging.
4. Read Tension: Variations in materials affect tension readings. It is essential
to select the correct material and size before use, or tension values may be
incorrect.
5. Select Tension Units:
a. Using the up or down arrows, scroll to TENSION UNITS, then press
ENTER.
b. Next, select from: Grams, Newtons, or LBS, and then press ENTER.
6. Select material:
a. Using the up or down arrows, scroll to SELECT MATERIAL, then
press ENTER.
b. Next select your material from: Wire, Filaments or Custom and
press ENTER. Next select your material size (diameter) in AWG (for
wires), Inches, mm or description for Custom entries and then
ENTER your selection. (See Figure 4.)
TX-1 Series 10.3.2019 www.tensitron.com pg. 8
c. If your specific material is not listed, add it to the menu by following
the calibration instructions included at the end of these instructions.
Or, send a 15’ sample of your material and the instrument to
Tensitron and ask to have it added to the menu.
Figure 4:
Select Material Screen
7. Zero Instrument: Hold the instrument in the attitude your reading will be taken
before you engage it to the tensioned material. Then, press ZERO.
• Engaging Instrument onto material
WARNING: DO NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM TENSION RANGE
OF THE INSTRUMENT OR DAMAGE WILL OCCUR.
6. DISPLAY SCREEN
• SETUP Screen
o LCD Refresh Rate
To either speed up or slow down the instrument’s LCD refresh rates:
▪ Scroll to SETUP and press ENTER.
▪ Scroll to LCD REFRESH RATE and press ENTER.
▪ Enter your preference: 1, 2 or 5 Hz and press ENTER.
Note: This feature is unrelated to Data Averaging.
• SPEED Screen
Scroll down to this screen to view the speed at which the material is passing
through the meter at that instant. The meter will also store the Minimum and
Maximum speeds logged. The units of measure will be shown in Meters/Minute
or Feet/Minute. (These units are designated in the Setup screen under Length
Units). Maximum measurable speed is 9,999 FPM or 9,999 meters per minute.
Note: line speeds exceeding 2,000 FPM are generally unsafe for hand-held
applications.
7. ADVANCED OPERATION
• General Calibration Precautions
1. To verify accuracy or to calibrate your instrument, hang a sample length of
material vertically, and suspend known weight(s) from the opposite end. (See
Figure 9.)
2. When performing this test, use a micrometer to measure your material
diameter and verify it is dimensionally within tolerance and not out of round.
3. Only use free-hanging weights which are traceable to National Standards.
4. Never use any tensioning device that attempts to convert rotational torque
values into tension loads, as these types of systems are highly inaccurate.
Also, any load cell system must be routinely checked for accuracy using
traceable weights, as these types of systems are also highly inaccurate and
generally do not meet minimum repeatable accuracy standards.
• Check Accuracy
1. To check the accuracy of your meter, first hang the test material and suspend
weights from it as described in “General Calibration Precautions” above.
TX-1 Series 10.3.2019 www.tensitron.com pg. 13
2. Select from your meter’s menu the material type and material diameter
corresponding to your test material.
3. Before engaging the instrument onto the material, zero the instrument by
holding it in the same attitude you’ll be taking the readings, and pressing the
“Enter” or “Zero” button. This will eliminate any small tare effects.
4. Take readings along the material.
FOR BEST RESULTS ALWAYS TAKE SEVERAL READINGS OF
THE MATERIAL TENSION BY DISENGAGING AND THEN RE-
ENGAGING THE INSTRUMENT ON THE MATERIAL.
5. If the meter is accurately calibrated, readings will fall within 1% of the full-
scale capability of the instrument:
▪ TX-125-1: +/- 1.3 grams
▪ TX-1000-1: +/- 10 grams
▪ TX-5000-1: +/- 50 grams
NOTE 1: TX-1 instruments are calibrated for Wire and Filaments through a factory
process not available to users. Use the calibration procedure below to add or change
a calibration in the CUSTOM menu.
NOTE 2: When calibrating your TX-1 instrument, tension values must be entered in
grams.
1. To add or change a calibration in the CUSTOM menu of your TX-1 meter,
first hang the material for the calibration as described in “General Calibration
Precautions” above. (You will suspend the weights later in the process.)
2. Access the setup menu: Turn on your meter and press the DOWN ARROW
until SETUP is highlighted, then press ENTER.
3. If there isn’t yet a CUSTOM NAME in the menu for the material, then add one
as follows:
o Scroll down until CUSTOM NAMES is highlighted, and press ENTER.
o Scroll down to CUSTOM1 (or to the next available CUSTOM entry),
and press ENTER.
o Using a combination of the UP, DOWN and ENTER buttons, key in a
name for your custom material.
4. Add or change the calibration for your CUSTOM material:
o Press the ESCAPE button until only SETUP is showing, and press
ENTER.
o Scroll down to RE-CAL TENSION, and press ENTER
o Enter password. You may obtain the password by emailing
service@tensitron.com.
o Scroll up or down to select the CUSTOM NAME for the material want
to calibrate, and press ENTER.
o Enter the number of calibration points you will be using (at least five,
and no more than ten). Zero counts as the first point.
o ENTER WEIGHT for each data point:
▪ Zero is the first value and is already programmed.
▪ Each successive data point should be a higher weight than
the previous one.
▪ Data points are typically distributed evenly along the tension
range. (Example: With 5 data points for 1000 grams, use 0,
200, 400, 600 and 800.)
o When the display reads Zero Unit, hold the instrument (NOT engaged
on the material) in the attitude that you plan to do the calibration (likely
horizontal). Then, press ZERO.
o As the display prompts you, suspend the correct weight from your
material. Then clamp the instrument on the material and press
ENTER.Repeat for each weight as prompted.
E-mail: sales@tensitron.com
Web Site: www.tensitron.com