File | New Menu

File | New | Structure

Creates a new Structure file A Structure file contains the drawing Objects used to define a 3D model of a test structure. The structure model is used for displaying shapes in animation. Points, Lines & Surfaces are used for defining 3D structure models. FEA Objects can also be added between Points on the model. FEA Objects are used by commands in the SDM and Experimental FEA options of ME'scope., adds it to the current Project, and opens an (empty) Structure window for the new file.

New (Empty) Structure window.

File | New | Data Block

Creates a new Data Block file One or more measurements with a common time or frequency axis. Time domain measurements are real valued. Frequency domain measurements are complex valued. Each measurement has a unique measurement number (M#). M#s are displayed in the first column of the M#s spreadsheet in a Data Block window. M#s are used by the Animation equations at each Point for displaying M# data at the current cursor position. and adds it to the currently open Project.

A Data Block window cannot be empty.  It must contain at least one M#..

When this command is executed, the following dialog box is opened allowing you to choose the type of synthesized time waveforms or Auto spectra to put into the new Data Block.

1. Enter the desired Time Axis and Frequency Axis parameters

2. Enter parameters into the Sinusoidal, Random, Chirp, Impact or Auto spectrum tab

3. Click on OK to create a new Data Block file and open its window.

New Data Block Dialog Box.

Time Axis

• Block Size The number of samples of data in each M# of a Data Block or Acquisition window. The current Block Size can be viewed and edited in the File | Data Block Properties dialog box. Increasing the Block Size appends zero valued samples to each M#. Decreasing the Block Size removes samples from the higher frequency or time values of each M#. (N):  Number of time samples in each Sampling Window The Sampling Window is the block of time domain samples used by the FFT to calculate a DFT. The Sampling Window is also called the Transform window. To create certain properties in its corresponding spectrum, a special time domain windowing function (Hanning, Flat Top, Exponential, etc.) is often applied to the samples in the Sampling Window prior to transforming them into the DFT.

• Ending Value (T):  Ending time of the horizontal time axis in each Sampling Window (in seconds)

• Resolution (delta t):  Increment between samples on the horizontal time axis (in seconds)

• Pre-Trigger Delay (Samples):  Adds zero valued samples to the beginning of each Sampling Window

• Number of Averages:  The number of Sampling Windows used for Spectrum averaging

• Samples per Waveform:  (Averages x Block Size)

Frequency Axis (FFT of Time Domain waveforms)

• Block Size (N/2):  Number of frequency samples (or Lines) of each M#

• Ending Value (Fmax):  Ending frequency of the frequency axis of each M# (in Hertz)

• Resolution (delta f):  Increment between frequency Lines of each M# (in Hertz)

• Sample Rate (Samples/Second):  (Sample Rate = 2 x Fmax) (in Hertz)

Time and Frequency Relationships

The following formulas are always enforced by the FFT FFT is an acronym for Fast Fourier Transform. The FFT algorithm transforms a uniformly sampled time domain signal into its corresponding Digital Fourier Transform (DFT). The Inverse FFT transforms the DFT back into its original time domain signal. The FFT in ME'scope transfroms any number of samples, not just powers of 2. algorithm.

• Fmax = (N / 2) x (delta f)

• Fmax = 1 / (2 x (delta t))

• T = N x (delta t)

• (delta f) = 1 / T

Sinusoidal Tab

If this Tab is active, a new Data Block with sinusoidal waveforms in it is created.

• Number of Frequencies:  Number of sinusoidal frequencies

• Number of M#s:  Number of waveforms to be synthesized

• Frequency (Hz):  Sine wave frequency

• Damping (%):  The percentage of critical damping for each M#s.

• • Enter 0 for no damping.

  • Enter (0<damping<100) to synthesize Impulse Response Functions (IRFs)

• Magnitude:  The sine wave magnitude

• Phase (degrees):  The sinusoidal phase

• • When (Number of M#s =1), you can enter a magnitude & phase

  • When (Number of M#s >1), magnitudes & phases are randomly created for each waveform

Random Tab

If this is Tab active, a new Data Block with random time waveforms in it is created.  

• Number of M#s:  Number of M#s to be synthesized

• Magnitude:  All M#s are synthesized with this magnitude and a random phase

• Burst Random Width (%)

• • Width of the non-zero random signal as a percentage of the Sampling Window

  • Used to make random response signals periodic in the Sampling Window

Chirp Tab

If this is Tab active, a new Data Block with chirp (swept sine) waveforms in it is created.

• Number of M#s:  Number of M#s to be synthesized.

• Starting Frequency (Hz):  Starting frequency of the swept sine waveforms

• Ending Frequency (Hz):  Ending frequency of the swept sine waveforms

• Magnitude:  Magnitude of all waveforms.

• Burst Chirp Width (%)

• • Width of the non-zero chirp signal as a percentage of the Sampling Window

  • Used to make chirp response signals periodic in the Sampling Window

Impact Tab

If this Tab is active, a new Data Block with one impact (pulse) waveform in it is created.  

• Magnitude:  Magnitude of the pulse signal.

• Width (samples):  Width of the pulse, (in samples).

Auto spectrum Tab

If this Tab is active, a new Data Block with an Auto spectrum in it is created.  

• Number of Frequencies:  Number of sinusoidal frequencies

• The frequency & magnitude of each sinusoid must be entered into the spreadsheet

File | New | Shape Table

Creates a new Shape Table file and adds it to the current Project.  When this command is executed, the following dialog box will open.

• Enter the size of the Shape Table (Number of Shapes x Number of DOFs per shape) into the dialog box and press OK.

Manual Shape Data Entry

• Click on a cell to select it, type the entry on the keyboard, and press the Enter key.

File | New | Acquisition

Creates a new Acquisition window and adds it to the current Project.

• An Acquisition window is used to setup and acquire multi-channel noise & vibration data using third party front end hardware

New Acquisition windows can only be created if the VES-700 option is enabled by your ME'scope license

File | New | Report

Creates a new (empty) Report file and adds it to the current Project.

• A Report can be used for document a test using both text and graphics.

File | New | Script

Creates a new (empty) Script window and adds it to the current Project.

• A Script is a spreadsheet of ME'scope commands that can be executed by pressing its Hotkey on the Menu bar.

• Hotkeys & Scripts are used to automate the use of ME'scope by automatically executing multiple commands from a Script window.

• When a new Script window is created, a Hotkey is also created from which to execute the Script.

• When the Script is saved in the Project, its Hotkey is displayed on the Menu bar.