AutoMixer V4
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      How to Start a Mix Operation

      How to set parameters for a mix operation and start blending.

      Once you have your products calibrated, you are ready to begin a mixing operation. To do so, you will first press “START” on the main menu to enter the “AutoMixer Setup” page shown below.

      1. Operator
        1. Specify the “operator” you would like to be saved into the mix report.
      2. Client
        1. Specify the “client” you would like to be saved into the mix report.
      3. Farm
        1. Specify the “farm” you would like to be saved into the mix report.
      4. Field
        1. Specify the “field” you would like to be saved into the mix report.
      5. Application Rate(GAL/AC)
        1. Here you can select a total mixed solution application rate, in gallons per acre.
      6. Pump Label
        1. Illustrates which pump corresponds to each row.
      7. Product Selection
        1. Drop down menu allowing you to select which of the products you would like to use that you have calibrated for the given pump.
      8. Product Rate (oz/ac)
        1. Enter here the volume in fluid ounces per acre of a given product you would like to apply. This field can only be modified for pumps 2-5.
      9. Flow Rate (oz/ac)
        1. Displays the volumetric flow rate in fluid ounces per minute of a given product, based on the Pump 1 flow rate, application rate, and product rates. This field can be modified for pump 1 to change the total flow rate of the mixer. We recommend not exceeding 350 ozs/minute for pump 1.
      10. Starting Tank Volume(gal)
        1. This required field tells the mixer the volume of a product stored in your product tank at the beginning of the mixing operation. Please be as accurate as possible so that low volume alerts are accurate.
      11. Low Volume Alert(Gal)
        1. The AutoMixer will stop and alert the user when it determines that any product tank volume is below the limit set here.
      12. Prime
        1. Press and hold this button to spin the corresponding pump forward (counterclockwise) at a slow speed.
      13. Back
        1. Return to the main menu without saving any data entered.
      14. Next
        1. Continue on to the main operations page.

       

      Before you begin, you will first need to enter an operator, client, field, and farm. This data will not affect the operation itself but will instead be saved as a part of the corresponding mix report.

       

      Next, you must enter the appropriate “Application Rate” in gallons per acre of total product you would like to spray onto the field.

       

      Then you will set up each pump for the product it will be pumping. Using the drop down list in orange, you are able to select from each of the products that has been calibrated for a given pump. When a product is selected, the “product rate” column is automatically filled with the default product rate given in the calibration page; however, this can be changed if needed. For all pumps but pump 1, the “Flow Rate” column is not user editable and rather shows the flow rate calculated by the AutoMixer to produce the correctly proportioned final mixture. On pump 1, the “Flow Rate” column is user editable and can be used to set the output flow rate of the AutoMixer. Do keep in mind that when changing this flow rate for pump 1, you are just changing the flow rate of pump 1. However, the mixer will recalculate product flow rates as needed.

       

      Finally, using the “Starting Tank Volume” and “Low Volume Alert” columns you can change input the total product volume in the product tank when you begin the operation, and at what volume of product you would like the AutoMixer to pause the operation and alert you that you may be running out of product. 

       

      1. Level Sensor Status
        1. Provides the state of the level sensor
          1. OFF -> No liquid detected, float in the downward position
          2. ON -> Liquid detected, float in the upward position
      2. Total Mixed
        1. Provides the total quantity of product created so far in the mixing operation.
      3. Operator Information
        1. Lists “Operator,” “Client,” “Farm,” and “Field” for reference, as given on the “AutoMixer Setup” page.
      4. Total Mixed Limit
        1. When the “Total Mixed” volume reaches the value given in the “Total Mixed Limit” dialog box, the mixer will pause the operation. “Total Mixed Limit” is in gallons.
      5. Pump Label
        1. Illustrates which pump corresponds to each row.
      6. Product Remaining
        1. Displays the AutoMixer’s estimate for how much of a given product remains in each tank.
      7. Change Product Tank Volume
        1. When you add more product to a given product tank, you can click this button to add (or remove) product to the product tank’s running tally (volume is in gallons).
      8. Level Sensor Toggle
        1. In normal operation, the AutoMixer will automatically pause the operation when the level sensor switches to the “ON” position and will resume when it switches to the “OFF” position. When toggled, this setting will prevent the AutoMixer pausing/resuming the operation when the level sensor is triggered.
      9. Setup
        1. Before the operation has commenced by pressing the “START” button, this button allows the user to go back to the “AutoMixer Setup” page to make adjustments. If the operation has been started, a new operation will need to be created to apply any changes.
      10. Start
        1. Press this button to commence the operation and start the pumps.
      11. Finish
        1. Once you are done with an operation, press this to generate the mix report and open the “Mix Report” page.

       

      Once you have finalized your operation setup, you will be taken to the main operations page, which will be the home for running operations. Before you begin the operation, you can press the “Setup” button to return to the “AutoMixer Setup” menu and make changes to the operation. If you do not wish to make changes, you can press “START,” at which point the pumps will begin to spin and to pump. You can pause the operation using the “PAUSE” button, but the operation will also pause itself when any estimated remaining product value drops below the value listed in “Low Volume Alert,” and when “Total Mixed” exceeds the “Total Mixed Limit.” When the level sensor switches to “ON,” the operation will not be paused but the pumps will stop until the level sensor state returns to “OFF.”

      If you need the AutoMixer to ignore input from your level sensor, you can flip the “Level Sensor” toggle. This feature can be useful if, for example, your level sensor fails during an operation and you need the AutoMixer to continue blending chemicals. However, when using this feature, keep a close eye on the mix tank to ensure it does not overflow.

      You are also able to add and remove product to the AutoMixer’s count of the volume remaining in a product tank.

      1. Volume to be Added/Removed
        1. Type here the volume of product (in gallons) you have added or removed from the tank.
      2. Add Product
        1. Click to select to add volume when “submit” is pressed.
      3. Remove Product
        1. Click to select to subtract volume when “submit” is pressed.
      4. Submit
        1. Commits the changes given, adding or removing the quantity of product shown in 1 to the tank volume.
      5. Cancel
        1. Exit the “add/remove” product menu without saving.

       

      Finally, once you have finished with your mixing operation, you can press “FINISH” which will shut off all pumps and will open the mix report page, from which you can export the report to USB drive or delete it. All reports are saved automatically after you finish the operation, so you can always come back later to the “Mix Report” menu to export or view them. 

      To export an operation, simply connect a flash drive to the “USB - Flash Drive” port, select the report (or reports) you would like to export, and click “Export to USB.” Reports are exported in a .CSV format.

       

      1. Mix Report Checkbox
        1. Use this to select which mix report(s) you want to export.
      2. Data Labels
        1. This row showcases a variety of data that are previewed for all reports shown.
      3. Export to USB
        1. Exports the selected reports to the connected flash drive.
      4. Delete Product
        1. Delete the selected product from internal memory.
      5. Return to Main Menu
        1. Return to the AutoMixer main menu.