5.2.1. Menu and Parameters Screens 18 5.2.2. EDITION and INSERT Screens 20 5.2.3. Overlapping Windows 21

COUTH MC 2000T² MC 2000 T²
Instruction Manual Controller
1. INTRODUCTION 6
2. SPECIFICATIONS 7
3. INSTALLATION 8
4. MARKING FEATURES 10
5. OPERATION BASICS 14
5.1. Components of the MC 2000T² Controller 14
5.2. Browsing the Screens 17

5.2.1. Menu and Parameters Screens 18
5.2.2. EDITION and INSERT screens 20
5.2.3. Overlapping Windows 21
6. MARKING EXAMPLES 25
6.1. Simple Marking 26
6.2. File Management 27
6.3. Marking Several Lines 28
6.4. Marking Special Characters 29
6.5. Changing the Marking Parameters 30
6.6. Angle Marking 31
6.7. Arc Marking 32
6.8. Marking Special Functions 34
6.9. DataMatrix Marking 35
6.10. Logotype Marking 37
7. SCREENS DESCRIPTION 38
7.1. HOME PAGE Screen 38
7.2. TEST Screen 39
Rev. A– Nov 2007 PAGE - 1

MC 2000 T² COUTH MC 2000T²
Controller Instruction Manual
7.3. MAIN Menu 39
7.4. EDITION Screen 40

7.4.1. Editing counters 41
7.4.2. DataMatrix Codes 42
7.5. FONT Overlapping Window 43
7.6. FORCE & SPEED Overlapping Window 43
7.7. POSITION & SHAPE Overlapping Window 45
7.8. INSERT Screen 46
7.9. PREVIEW Screen 51
7.10. MARKING Screen 52
7.11. FILES Screen 53
7.12. PARAMETERS Menu 54
7.13. MECHANICS PARAMETERS Menu 55
7.14. MARKING AREA Screen 56
7.15. TRANSMISSION Screen 57
7.16. HEAD Screen 58
7.17. MOTOR Screen 59
7.18. PORTABLE MACHINE Screen 60
7.19. QUICK CONFIGURATION Screen 60
7.20. MARKING PARAMETERS Screen 61
7.21. EDITION PARAMETERS Screen 62
7.22. CONTROLLER PARAMETERS Screen 63
7.23. SHIFTS Screen 64
7.24. CALENDAR Screen 64
7.25. COUNTERS Screen 65
7.26. COMMUNICATIONS Screen 67

7.27. STATISTICS Screen 67
7.28. LANGUAGE Screen 68
7.29. PASSWORD Screen 68
7.30. CONTROLLER Screen 70
7.31. TIMERS Screen 70
7.32. MEMORY CARD Screen 71
8. BARCODE READERS 72
8.1. Connection 72
8.2. Use 73
9. BINARY IO MARKING 74
ANNEX 76
A.1. Overall Dimensions 76
A.2. Fonts 77
A.2.1. Gulim 77
A.2.2. Courier 77
A.2.2. MonoS 77
A.2.3. MS5x7 78
A.3. Electrical schematics 79

PICTURES INDEX
Picture 1 – HOME PAGE.......................................................................................................... 8

Picture 2 – TEST screen .......................................................................................................... 9
Picture 3 – Text combined with logotype and DataMatrix code................................................ 10
Picture 4 – Text marked using different fonts .......................................................................... 10
Picture 5 – Text with different character heights...................................................................... 11
Picture 6 – Text with different character widths ....................................................................... 11
Picture 7 – Text with different character spacings ................................................................... 11
Picture 8 – Text with different marking dots densities.............................................................. 12
Picture 9 – Coordinates of a marking area .............................................................................. 12
Picture 10 – Marking in various directions............................................................................... 13
Picture 11 – Front face of the MC 2000T² controller................................................................ 14
Picture 12 – Back panel of MC 2000T² controller .................................................................... 15
Picture 13 – General screen format ........................................................................................ 17
Picture 14 – Menu Screen and Parameters Screen................................................................. 18
Picture 15 – Editable alphanumeric parameter........................................................................ 18
Picture 16 – Parameter with values from a closed list ............................................................. 19
Picture 17 – Prompt for saving changes.................................................................................. 20
Picture 18 – Text editing......................................................................................................... 20
Picture 19 – Selecting one line in the EDITION screen............................................................ 21
Picture 20 – Line selection in an overlapping window.............................................................. 22
Picture 21 – Selecting parameters in an overlapping window .................................................. 22
Picture 22 – Editing a parameter in an overlapping window..................................................... 23
Picture 23 – Editable numerical parameter in an overlapping window...................................... 23
Picture 24 – Parameter with value from a closed list in an overlapping window ....................... 24
Picture 25 – Editing the text of a Simple Marking example ...................................................... 26
Picture 26 – Simulation of the example................................................................................... 27
Picture 27 – File saving .......................................................................................................... 27
Picture 28 – Editing a sample text on various lines ................................................................. 28
Picture 29 – Preview of previous example marking ................................................................. 29
Picture 30 –Capital/Small Letter icon in the EDITION screen .................................................. 29
Picture 31 – Special symbol window overlapping the EDITION screen.................................... 30
Picture 32 – Preview of angle marking.................................................................................... 32
Picture 33 – Convex arc and concave arc............................................................................... 33
Picture 34 – Arc radii .............................................................................................................. 33
Picture 35 – Angles of arc markings ....................................................................................... 34
Picture 36 – Editing special functions...................................................................................... 35
Picture 37 – Editing DataMatrix codes .................................................................................... 36
Picture 38 – Editing logotypes ................................................................................................ 37
Picture 39 – Screens map ...................................................................................................... 38
Picture 40 – HOME PAGE...................................................................................................... 38
Picture 41 – TEST screen....................................................................................................... 39
Picture 42 – MAIN Menu ........................................................................................................ 40
Picture 43 – EDIT screen....................................................................................................... 40
Picture 44 – Special symbols window ..................................................................................... 41

Picture 45 – Editing counters.................................................................................................. 42
Picture 46 – Entering text for DataMatrix coding ..................................................................... 42
Picture 47 – FONT overlapping window.................................................................................. 43
Picture 48 – FORCE & SPEED overlapping window ............................................................... 44
Picture 49 – POSITION & SHAPE overlapping window........................................................... 45
Picture 50 – Marking at different inclination angle ................................................................... 45
Picture 51 – Convex arc marking and Concave arc marking ................................................... 46
Picture 52 – Horizontal mirror-symmetric marking................................................................... 46
Picture 53 – Vertical mirror-symmetric marking....................................................................... 46
Picture 54 – INSERT Screen .................................................................................................. 47
Picture 55 – Edit and Preview screens of a marking containing fixed text, special calendar mark
and DataMatrix Code ............................................................................................................. 51
Picture 56 – PREVIEW Screen............................................................................................... 51
Picture 57 – Error message on the PREVIEW screen ............................................................. 52
Picture 58 – MARKING screen ............................................................................................... 52
Picture 59 – FILES screen...................................................................................................... 53
Picture 60 – FILES screen opened from the MARK screen ..................................................... 54
Picture 61 – PARAMETERS Menu ......................................................................................... 55
Picture 62 – MECHANICS PARAMETERS screen.................................................................. 56
Picture 63 – MARKING AREA screen..................................................................................... 57
Picture 64 – TRANSMISSION screen ..................................................................................... 57
Picture 65 –HEAD screen....................................................................................................... 58
Picture 66 – MOTOR screen .................................................................................................. 59
Picture 67 – PORTABLE MACHINE screen ............................................................................ 60
Picture 68 – QUICK CONFIGURATION screen ...................................................................... 61
Picture 69 – MARKING PARAMETERS screen ...................................................................... 61
Picture 70 – EDITION PARAMETERS screen ........................................................................ 62
Picture 71 – Text selfcentering along the X and Y axes........................................................... 63
Picture 72 – CONTROLLER PARAMETERS screen............................................................... 63
Picture 73 – SHIFTS Screen .................................................................................................. 64
Picture 74 – CALENDAR Screen............................................................................................ 65
Picture 75 – COUNTERS Screen ........................................................................................... 66
Picture 76 – COMMUNICATIONS Screen .............................................................................. 67
Picture 77 – STATISTICS Screen........................................................................................... 68
Picture 78 – LANGUAGE Screen............................................................................................ 68
Picture 79 – PASSWORD Screen........................................................................................... 69
Picture 80 – Password prompting window............................................................................... 69
Picture 81 – CONTROLLER screen........................................................................................ 70
Picture 82 – TIMERS screen .................................................................................................. 70
Picture 83 – MEMORY CARD screen ..................................................................................... 71

1. INTRODUCTION
The MC 2000T² controller is the electronic system that monitors the movements of a marking
head (stylus) according to a user-defined marking program.
Editing the marking program is generally done using the MC 2000T² controller itself, although
the program can be externally prepared and transmitted to the controller later by means of an
SD memory card or through a serial communications interface.
The MC 2000T² controller has several operation interfaces that permit manual or automatic –
PC or PLC driven – operation, which makes it ideal equipment for incorporation into production
lines that perform various processes other than marking.

2. SPECIFICATIONS
ELECTRICAL
ITEM SPECIFICATION
Power supply 100V-220Vdc 60/50Hz.
Internal battery 3V. CR 2025.
Energy intake fuse 2A T2 - L250V.
Power supply fuses 4A T4 - L250V.
Display lighting Adjustable at home screen
MECHANICAL
ITEM SPECIFICATION
Dimensions 280x160x261mm
Weight 5.450kg
INTERFACES
ITEM SPECIFICATION
2 RS232 serial ports Female Sub-D 9-pin connector
Connection to marking unit Female Sub-D 25-pin connector
Start/Stop push box Male Sub-D 9-pin connector
Memory card Slot for SD card
Control signals - 11 Inputs. ±24Vdc. 12-pin terminal strip
Control signals - 7 Outputs. Potential-free. 14-pin terminal strip

3. INSTALLATION
To install the MC 2000T² controller correctly, do the following:
1. With the controller off, plug the male cable from the marking unit into the MARK-labelled
connector at the back of the MC 2000T² controller.
2. If supplied together with the MC 2000T² controller, connect the start/stop push box to
the MAN-labelled connector at the back of the controller.
3. Plug the power cable into the MC2000T controller. To do this
a. first connect the power cable to the MC 2000T² controller; and

b. then plug the power cable into a mains outlet.
Before making any connection, check that power supply at intake conforms to the MC
2000T² controller power rating specified on the back plate.
4. Switch MC 2000T² controller on.
The controller display should show a picture with COUTH's logo and the version of the controller
software.
Picture 1 – HOME PAGE
After 3 seconds, the display changes to the MC 2000T² controller's TEST screen.

Picture 2 – TEST screen
In case of FAILURE appearing on the display, switch MC 2000T² controller off, check all the
connections and turn power on again.
Three seconds later, the controller shows the EDITION or MARKING screen and is ready to
operate1.
1
When using the controller for the first time, the EDITION screen is retrieved. Otherwise, the display
will show either the EDITION or the MARKING screen, whichever was last used before the controller
was switched off.
4. MARKING FEATURES
Before starting to use the MC 2000T² controller, it is essential for you to know the features that
define each marking. This will make it easier for you to set up the adequate parameters in order
to get the expected marking result.
· Marking Contents: A mark is first defined by what you want to mark. With the MC
2000T² controller, you will be able to mark all the characters of the Latin alphabet
(including accents, diaeresis, etc.) in both small and capital letters. In addition to
alphanumerical characters, you can insert special symbols or logotypes (e.g. your
company's logo) and DataMatrix2 codes in the marking contents. The next picture
shows a mark comprising a mix of alphanumerical text, logo and DataMatrix code.
Picture 3 – Text combined with logotype and DataMatrix code
When defining the marking contents, you can finally insert changeable objects such as
the current date, a serial number that automatically increases after each marking, or a
different character for each shift.
· Font: This is the second feature used to define a marking. The MC 2000T² controller
permits applying different fonts to the same marking contents. The picture below shows
the same text to be marked using two different fonts.
Picture 4 – Text marked using different fonts
· Character Height: Character height is stated in mm and, as its name suggests, it

determines the final height of a (capitalised) character. When small letters are to be
2
A DataMatrix code is a two-dimensional symbol used to insert a large amount of information in a small
space. It is similar to a bar code, except that information is encoded using dots instead of bars, which
allows for a higher density of information.
marked, the final height will be in proportion to the upper case letters. Below is a picture
showing the same text with different character heights.
Picture 5 – Text with different character heights
· Character Width: The character width is stated as a percentage (%) of the character
height. Its value normally is 100%, meaning that the character to be marked will keep
the proportion of width to height as defined by the font design. However, it may be
suitable to reduce the character width (programming a value less than 100%) under
certain circumstances (e.g. limited space on the substrate or for aesthetical reasons).
Likewise, it is possible to specify a character width greater than 100% of height. The
next picture shows the same text with different character widths.
Picture 6 – Text with different character widths
· Character Spacing: This too is given as a percentage (%) of the character height and it
defines the size of space between two consecutive characters. The picture below
shows the same text with different character spacings.
Picture 7 – Text with different character spacings
· Marking Dots Density: Marking dots density is stated as a percentage (%) of a

continuous marking pattern (without space between two consecutive dots) and it
defines the number of marking dots per unit length. Below is a picture showing the
same text with different marking dots densities.

Picture 8 – Text with different marking dots densities
· Marking Coordinates: The above described features determine the appearance of a

mark. Marking coordinates establish the marking position within the machine's marking
area. The marking zero point or origin (coordinates 0,0) lies in the upper left corner of
the marking area, with the X-axis extending to the right and the Y-axis to the bottom. If
we program marking coordinates x,y for a text, we mean that the lower left end of the
first character shall lie at coordinates x,y.
The next picture shows a marking area that is 90mm wide (X-axis) by 60mm high (Y-
axis) and the marking coordinates for various texts.
Picture 9 – Coordinates of a marking area
· Marking Direction: This refers to the possibility of marking a text horizontally, obliquely
at any angle, or forming a convex or concave arc. The MC 2000 T² controller further

permits both horizontal and vertical mirror-symmetric marking. Below there is a sample
of markings made in various directions.
Picture 10 – Marking in various directions
· Marking Depth: With the MC 2000 T² controller it is possible to adjust the marking
force within certain limits, although the marking depth largely depends on the type of
machine used to mark.

5. OPERATION BASICS
This section briefly presents the system’s controls and the information that the display can
show. It will guide the operator to browse the different menus and screens and to acquire the
basic skills to operate the MC 2000T² controller.
5.1. Components of the MC 2000T² Controller
On its front face, the MC 2000T² controller has the following components:
10 1
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Picture 11 – Front face of the MC 2000T² controller
Component Function
1 Alphanumeric keyboard Keying alphanumeric characters.
2 Special symbols key Entering special ASCII symbols.
3 Shift key Selecting capital or small letters.
4 Internal start/stop pushbuttons Starts (green) and stops (red) marking.
5 Rotary pushbutton Editing and confirming data and texts.
6 Simulation key Simulation and preview of a marking.
7 DEL key Deleting characters.
8 ESC key Cancelling an operation.

9 Function keys Activating functions and menus.

10 Display 320x240 pixels grey-scale LCD display.
The back panel of the MC 2000T² controller accommodates the components as shown below:
1 2 3 4 5
14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6
Picture 12 – Back panel of MC 2000T² controller
Component Function
1 Ventilating duct Carrying air for internal parts cooling.

2 Earth pin Earthing of the MC 2000T² controller.
3 AUTOMAT Output connector External outputs connector (PLC or automaton)
4 USB port Connecting USB.
5 SD CARD slot Slot for SD memory card.
6 COM 2 port Communications through RS232-C serial interface
7 COM 1 port Communications through RS232-C serial interface
8 Z-AXIS connector Connecting rotary devices.
9 MAN connector Connecting to external start/stop push-button box.
10 MARK connector Connecting to Couth marking unit.
11 AUTOMAT Input connector External inputs connector (PLC or automaton).

12 AC connector Plugging the controller to the mains.

13 Fuse 2A (ø5x20).
14 Power switch ON/OFF switching of the controller.
The AUTOMAT Output connector features the following outputs:
Output Description
Q1 General-purpose output 1 (potential-free).
P Pause: Potential-free output. Contact closes when marking is interrupted.
E Error: Potential-free output. Contact closes when an error occurs.
Ready: Potential-free output. Contact closes when the marking unit is ready to start
R
marking.
Pin C Common for outputs P, E and R.
DC 24VDC output.
The AUTOMAT Input connector has 11 independent ±24VDC inputs whose functions are as
defined below:
Input Description
Input 1 General-purpose input 1.
Input 4 Binary file selection (weight 1).
Input 9 Reset counters
Input 10 Run
Input 11 Stop
As regards display information, the general screen format of the MC 2000T² controller looks like
this:

Title bar General information
Text area
Scroll bars
Help area
Screen tag
Icons of short-cut keys
Picture 13 – General screen format
The above picture shows the EDITION screen with data specific to this function, but the format
is identical for all the screens (except the HOME PAGE, TEST screen and PREVIEW screen).
· Title bar: Identifies the type of screen on the left and the marking area of the marking
unit (X-axis mm x Y-axis mm) on the right.
· General information: This field shows the current date, current time, and capital or
small letters function if selected.
· Text area: This is the working area for editing the marking contents, changing the
values of various parameters, selecting options, etc.
· Scroll bars: They indicate the horizontal and vertical positions within the text area.
· Screen tag: Shows the name of the displayed screen.
· Help area: Provides operator with help.
· Icons of short-cut keys: They symbolically represent the function of the short-cut keys
at all times.
5.2. Browsing the Screens
Browsing the different screens of the MC 2000T² controller is a simple and homogeneous
process. However, because the screens present slightly different characteristics, the following
describes how to use them by type.
Anyhow, this section is a quick guide; for detailed information, please refer to Section 7 .
Screens description.

5.2.1. Menu and Parameters Screens
This type of screens always includes one active line that is highlighted as the next pictures
show:
Picture 14 – Menu Screen and Parameters Screen
Turn the rotary pushbutton to select another line; press the rotary button to retrieve the selected
screen from a menu screen or to edit the selected parameter from a parameters screen.
Editing a parameter is possible in a number of ways according to its type:
· Editable Alphanumeric Parameters: These are parameters having an alphanumeric

value that the operator can edit. One example of such parameters is the character
height. If you press the rotary pushbutton, a blinking cursor appears under the first
editable character of the parameter.
Cursor
Picture 15 – Editable alphanumeric parameter
It is also possible to edit this type of parameters by pressing the alphanumeric keyboard
after selecting the line, without need for pressing the rotary pushbutton previously.

With the alphanumeric keyboard, you can change the value of the parameter and move
the cursor by turning the rotary pushbutton.
When you have finished editing the parameter, press the rotary pushbutton once to
confirm the entry and return to the initial situation of the screen with the selected line.
Alternatively, you can press ESC instead of pressing the rotary pushbutton in order to
exit the Edit Parameter mode without confirming any changes.
· Parameters with values from a closed list: These are parameters that can only take
any of the values recorded in a closed list. One example of such parameters is the
counter Reset. When you press the rotary pushbutton, a window with the selectable
values pops up.
Picture 16 – Parameter with values from a closed list
Turn the rotary pushbutton to select the required parameter value. Press on the rotary
pushbutton once to confirm the entry, exit the edit mode and return to the initial
situation. Alternatively, instead of pressing the rotary pushbutton, you can press the
ESC key in order to exit the edit mode without confirming any change to the existing
parameter value.
· YES/NO Parameters: These parameters take either of two values only. When you
press the rotary pushbutton, the value of the selected parameter changes, i.e. if it was
YES it changes to NO, and vice versa.
In order to quit a menu or parameters screen, you can press any of the short-cut keys or the
ESC key. In the event of the parameters screens, if you press ESC and had previously changed
the value of any parameter, the MC 2000T² controller will prompt you to confirm whether you
want to save the changes or not.

Picture 17 – Prompt for saving changes.
With the rotary pushbutton, you can select the option: quit and save changes, quit without
saving changes or return to the parameters screen. If you press any key, you will save the
changes and exit.
5.2.2. EDITION and INSERT screens
The EDITION and INSERT screens serve to edit the marking contents. It is possible to edit 40
text lines of up to 75 characters each. To enter text in the blinking cursor's position, type it with
the alphanumeric keyboard.
Picture 18 – Text editing
Press the rotary pushbutton once to highlight one line and turn the rotary pushbutton to select
another line.

Picture 19 – Selecting one line in the EDITION screen
When a line is highlighted, you just have to press the rotary pushbutton to return to the text
editing mode.
To retrieve another screen from either the EDITION or INSERT screen, press the relevant short-
cut key.
5.2.3. Overlapping Windows
If you press any of the short-cut keys F4, F5 or F6 from the EDITION screen, a window overlaps
this screen and shows some of the current file's marking properties. To be exact, there are three
overlapping windows that show the following marking properties:
· FONT overlapping window: it shows the values of the character height, character
width, font type, character spacing and marking dot density.
· FORCE & SPEED overlapping window: this shows the values of the marking force
and speed.
· POSITION & SHAPE overlapping window: it shows the values of the X-axis
coordinate, Y-axis coordinate, marking angle, arc diameter, arc type, horizontal mirror-
symmetric marking and vertical mirror-symmetric marking.
In these windows, there is always one active line that is highlighted as Picture 20 shows. This
line states the marking properties of the associated text line. On said picture, the value of all the
parameters is ‘-‘, meaning that the value of the selected parameter is identical to that of the
same parameter in the preceding line. As for the first line, the value of the parameter is the
default value as defined from the EDITION PARAMETERS screen.

Picture 20 – Line selection in an overlapping window
To select another line, just turn the rotary pushbutton.

Press the rotary pushbutton for 1 second to close the overlapping window and return to the
EDITION screen. Press the rotary pushbutton less than 1 second to highlight the first parameter
in the selected line and to be able to select the remaining parameters by turning the rotary
pushbutton as Picture 21 shows.
Picture 21 – Selecting parameters in an overlapping window
Having selected one parameter, press the rotary pushbutton for 1 second to re-select the entire
line, i.e. to recover the situation shown in Picture 20, or press it for less than 1 second to enter
the edit mode for the selected parameter, in which case the parameter appears in a black box
with a blinking cursor as Picture 22 shows.

Picture 22 – Editing a parameter in an overlapping window
Like the parameters screens, this window provides two ways of editing the parameters
depending on its type:
· Editable numerical parameters: You can enter the parameter value typing it directly
on the numeric keypad. The blinking cursor moves at each keystroke, showing the digit
you may change.
Turning the rotary pushbutton increases or decreases the parameter value in one
parameter definition unit. Taking the character height stated in mm with one decimal
digit, for example, if you turn the rotary pushbutton clockwise, the parameter value will
increase in 0.1mm. If the parameter value is "-" before turning the rotary pushbutton, it
will change to the minimum value for the parameter concerned, which is 0.1mm in the
case of the character height.
If you continue turning the rotary pushbutton to change the value of the selected
parameter, the blinking cursor will relocate itself under the first digit of the parameter
value.
Picture 23 – Editable numerical parameter in an overlapping window
· Parameters with values from a closed list and YES/NO parameters: As far as
overlapping windows are concerned, it is possible to edit the YES/NO parameters in the

same way as parameters with values from a closed list, since those parameters can
take the value "-" in addition to the YES and NO options.
Editing those parameters is very simple: you just need to turn the rotary pushbutton in
one direction or the other in order to select the next or previous value from those
available.
Picture 24 – Parameter with value from a closed list in an overlapping window
After editing one parameter, press the rotary pushbutton once to confirm the entry and return to
the situation as per Picture 21, in which you can select another parameter in the same line by
turning the rotary pushbutton. Instead of pressing the rotary pushbutton, you can press ESC to
return to the a.m. situation, but without confirming the entry.
Finally, after editing all the parameters, press the rotary pushbutton for a long while in order to
close the overlapping window, return to the EDITION screen and save all changes made.
Alternatively, you can press any short-cut key or ESC to confirm the changes made and move
to the appropriate screen.

6. MARKING EXAMPLES
This section contains a number of marking examples. These simplified examples highlight the
most frequently used characteristics of the controller and thus provide rapid and easy training in
producing the commonest types of marks.
In developing all the examples, we used a marking unit with a marking area of 50mm (X-axis)
by 17mm (Y-axis), which presently is the COUTH marking unit having the smaller marking area.
Therefore, all the examples given in this section can be produced with any other COUTH
marking unit. In this event, there is one point to bear in mind: when reproducing the examples
with any marking unit having a different marking unit, the aspect of the scale simulation will
differ from the look it has in this manual.
Likewise, it is important to consider the default values of the marking parameters used. For the
examples given, we used the following parameter values:
· Height: 005.5
· Width: 100
· Font: GULIM.FNT
· Spacing: 25%
· Density: Auto
· X-axis coordinate: 000.0
· Y-axis coordinate: 000.0
· Angle: 000.0
· Diameter: 000.0
· Concave/Convex: ^
· Horizontal mirror: No
· Vertical mirror: No
· Speed: 10
· Force: 10
· Selfcentering(x): NO
· Selfcentering(y): NO
If your controller has values differing3 from the above, we recommend you to change them in
the EDITION PARAMETERS screen; otherwise, the examples you work out may look quite
different from those shown here.
3
If you are using your MC 2000T² controller for the first time or if you never changed the parameters in
the EDITION PARAMETERS screen, the default values of the parameters will be those specified here.
6.1. Simple Marking
To start with, let's make a very simple marking. Its result will look like this:
The first time you power on the MC 2000T² controller, the display will show the HOME PAGE
screen and then a TEST screen, followed by the EDITION screen with the blinking cursor in the
first column of the first line.
If you have already used the controller and the display shows any screen other than the
EDITION screen, call it up (press the direct access key F1 to retrieve the MAIN menu from any
screen and then press F1 again).
In the EDITION screen, type out the text HELLO as the next picture shows.
Picture 25 – Editing the text of a Simple Marking example
The marking unit is ready to mark and does not require editing any other marking parameter,
since it will use the default values.
Before starting the marking unit, press the Simulation key to preview the resultant mark. The
display will show the dry test result that will look like this:
PAGE - 26 Rev. A – Nov 2007

Picture 26 – Simulation of the example
At the end of the dry test, the MC 2000T² controller displays the EDITION screen again. If you
are ready to do the marking operation, press the Start pushbutton.
6.2. File Management

This example aims at saving the job of the previous example in a file for future use. Additionally,
we are going to create a new file in order to do the next exercise starting from nothing.
After making a marking successfully, you might wish to save it in a file for future use. From the
EDITION screen, press the direct access key F3 to retrieve the FILES screen that allows you to
manage files. After opening this screen, press the direct access key F4 to save a file. As you
can see on the picture below, the display shows a new filename 00000000.TXT with a blinking
cursor under the first character.
Picture 27 – File saving
Use the alphanumeric keyboard to rename the file as you wish and press the rotary pushbutton.
In order to work with this file later on, press the direct access key F3 to open it and return to the
EDITION screen.
Rev. A – Nov 2007 PAGE - 27

To complete this exercise, press the direct access key F2 in the FILES screen to return to the
EDITION screen with a new empty file.
6.3. Marking Several Lines
This exercise consists in making a marking similar to the simple marking of the first example,
but writing the text on two lines. The result will look like this:
In the EDITION screen, starting from a new file, type out the text HELLO WORLD on two lines.
Changing from one line to another is achieved by shortly pressing the rotary pushbutton to
highlight the selected line, moving the cursor to the next line by turning the rotary pushbutton
and pressing the rotary pushbutton again to be able to edit the text on the second line.
Picture 28 – Editing a sample text on various lines
There is no need for changing any other parameters, in order to mark the two-line text, since the
MC 2000T² marking unit automatically moves the second line vertically so that marking does not
coincide with that of the first line.
Press the Simulation key to preview the result, as shown on the next picture.

Picture 29 – Preview of previous example marking
6.4. Marking Special Characters
In this exercise, we shall mark the text of the previous example, written in small letters and with
special characters added. The result should be like this:
In the previous examples, the text was fully written in capital letters, using the visible characters
of the alphanumeric keyboard. In order to write the text with a mix of capital and small letters,
press the shift key to change from one type to the other. On doing so, you can see the letter
icon in the middle of the general information field showing alternately a capital and a small letter
"a".
Capital or
small letter
icon
Picture 30 –Capital/Small Letter icon in the EDITION screen

On the other hand, to insert characters that do not appear on the keyboard of the MC 2000T²
controller, press the special symbol key to open an overlapping window allowing you to choose
and insert the desired character.
The MC 2000T² controller permits the use of the entire Latin set of characters as specified by
ISO-8859-1.
Picture 31 – Special symbol window overlapping the EDITION screen
Turn the rotary pushbutton to select the desired characters and finish writing the text Hello
World! on two separate lines.
6.5. Changing the Marking Parameters

This example serves to apply different marking parameters to different characters. Here is the
expected result:
In the two previous examples, we have used two file lines in order to mark the text on two
different lines. The "file line" concept is however broader than that of a text line. As the result of
this exercise shows, three words will be marked on a same text line: the character height and
width being respectively 5mm and 100% for the first word; 2.5mm and 100% for the second
word, and 2.5mm and 50% for the third word.
Whereas those three words will be marked on a single text line, it is not possible to use only one
file line for this purpose, because their marking parameters differ and a file line only accepts
characters having the same marking parameters. Therefore, three file lines are necessary to do
this exercise.
As a rule, whenever any part of the marking contents requires a different marking parameter,
you will need to enter this part of the contents in a new file line. In the previous examples
"Marking on several lines" and "Marking of special characters", the Y-axis coordinate was the
parameter that determined the change of line.
Understanding this principle makes working out the last example easy.

Starting from a new file, write the words HELLO, LITTLE and WORLD on three successive file
lines. Next, set the parameters for the second line as follows:
· Character height: 02.5

and set the parameters for the third lines as follows:
· Character width:: 050

You will have noticed that it has been necessary to specify appropriate marking coordinates for
these two lines. Programming correct values involves trying approximate values and adjusting
them, using the simulation function until the result is satisfactory.
6.6. Angle Marking
Angle marking at an angle of 45º is the subject of this example. The result will look like this::
To mark a text at any angle, bear in mind that the X-axis coordinate for the first line of text to be
marked (in this example, the line containing the word HELLO) will probably be different from
zero. This is because, in order to reach the required inclination, the text pivots on the lower left
corner of the first character part of which thus lies to the left of said corner. A similar rule applies
to the Y-axis coordinate. In this event, it is more obvious, since the text must be moved
downwards to avoid getting out of the marking margins.
Thus, after writing the text HELLO WORLD on two lines, change the values of the X-axis
coordinate, Y-axis coordinate and angle of the first line, as follows:
· X-axis coordinate: 005.0 mm.

· Y-axis coordinate: 012.0 mm.
· Angle: 45º.

Now, if you press the Simulation key, you will see that part of the marking is outside the marking
margins, because the font size is too large. Therefore, change the character height for the first
line:
· Height: 02.0 mm.
Press the Simulation key to preview the result that will look like that shown on Picture 32.
Picture 32 – Preview of angle marking

As you can see, the text on the second line is angled too. If you do not want this text to be
marked obliquely, you need to set the angle value for this line at zero.
Finally, try changing the angle value and watch the new inclination of the text.
6.7. Arc Marking
This example explains how to make a concave marking and a convex marking. The result looks
like this:
Arc marking with the MC 2000T² controller is easy, provided the arc marking underlying
concepts are absolutely clear.

· Concave/convex: Convex arc means an arc so formed that the text on the whole
circumference is readable from the inside of the arc. By contrast, a concave arc is that
which permits you to read the text on the whole circumference looking at it from the
outside of the circle.
Picture 33 – Convex arc and concave arc.
The above picture shows a convex arc on the left and a concave arc on the right.
· Diameter: This refers to the diameter of the circle on which the text is marked. The arc
radius is always measured from the centre of the circle to the lower left corner of the
first character. Shown below are the radii of a convex arc and a concave arc.
Picture 34 – Arc radii
· Angle: This defines the angular position of the first character in relation to the
horizontal. The next picture shows 8 arc markings at 8 different angles.

Picture 35 – Angles of arc markings
To work out the suggested example, follow these step-by-step instructions and press the
Simulation key after each operation to check its effect:
1. Write CONVEX ARC on the first line of a new file and CONCAVE ARC on the second
line.
2. Set the Character Height parameter for the first line at 2mm.
3. Change the first line marking coordinates as follows: X = 5mm and Y = 8mm.
4. Change the second line marking coordinates as follows: X = 4mm and Y = 10mm.
5. Change the Convex/Concave parameter, assigning "convex" to the first line and
"concave" to the second line.
6. Enter 20mm as the Diameter value for the first line and 24mm for the second line. The
reason for entering different values is that the above mentioned definition of "diameter"
makes it necessary to add twice the character height to the convex arc diameter in
order to get two circles of "same diameter". If you press the Simulation key at this stage,
the marking may exceed the marking margins, depending on the marking area of your
marking unit. Do not worry; this will be corrected with the next step.
7. Change the arc angles, specifying 53.0º for the first line and 310.0º for the second line.
Press the Simulation key and you will get the expected result.
The values entered at this final step are not easily deducible from the marking result shown at
the beginning of the exercise. An efficient method to determine those values is through trial and
error: starting from an angle value of 0º, increase this value and check the result after each
change with the Simulation key. Three or four trials should be enough to assess the adequate
values for the marking concerned.
6.8. Marking Special Functions
This example aims to marking special time and counter data. Its results will look like this:

In the EDITION screen, write TIME on the first line of a new file. Next, insert the special mark
"Calendar:Hour-Minutes". To do so, press short-cut key F2 on the EDITION screen; this opens
the INSERT screen. Now press F2 again to open an overlapping window with the available
"Calendar" options. Select the aforementioned one with the rotary pushbutton.
On the second line, insert the special mark "Counter:C1". To do so, press short-cut key F2 on
the EDITION screen; this opens the INSERT screen. Now press short-cut key F4; this opens an
overlapping window with the available Counter options. Select the aforementioned one (Counter
1) with the rotary pushbutton. The EDITION screen will be like this:
Picture 36 – Editing special functions
As you can see, the counter value is 0000000000. If you press the Start button, the counter
value will not increase automatically after finishing the marking. The counter increases only
when making the marking from the MARKING screen. Save the edited file, open the MARKING
screen and mark the file several times. As you will notice, the value of the counter automatically
increases after each marking.
6.9. DataMatrix Marking
This example aims to marking two DataMatrix codes and the encrypted text they contain. It will
give the following result:

On the first line of a new file, insert the special "Square DataMatrix " mark and write HELLO in
the parenthesis of this special mark. To insert the DataMatrix square mark, press short-cut key
F2 to open the INSERT screen; next press short-cut key F6 and select the "Square DataMatrix"
from the available options.
To place the cursor inside the parenthesis, first move back to the beginning of the special mark
and next move it one position forward. After writing the text to be encrypted, move the cursor
one position forward by turning the rotary pushbutton, leave a blank space behind the special
DataMatrix mark and type out HELLO.
On the second line, insert a special "Rectangular DataMatrix " mark and, instead of writing a
certain text inside, insert a special mark "Calendar:year-month-day". Move the cursor out of the
special DataMatrix mark and insert a blank space and the same special Calendar mark. The
EDITION screen should look like this:
Picture 37 – Editing DataMatrix codes
Finally, change the character height for the first line to 3.5mm (to prevent the mark from
exceeding the marking margins when using marking units with a small marking area). You can
also change the value of the Y-axis coordinate for the second line in order to separate the
DataMatrix codes and thus to be able to distinguish them easier. Setting the value of this Y-axis
coordinate to 010.0 will be appropriate.
Having made a simulation or marking, you will notice that the height of each DataMatrix code
coincides with the specified character height. Try inserting a bigger text inside the special
DataMatrix marks and you will see that the overall size remains identical to the character height
although the new codes are denser (greater number of rows and columns).
If you have a DataMatrix code reader, you will further observe that the coded text coincides with
the text entered (as regards the rectangular DataMatrix code of the example, the text will be the
current date).

6.10. Logotype Marking
In this example, we are going to mark two logotypes and a fixed text. The result will look like
this:
Like the DataMatrix codes in the previous example, a logotype is processed in the same way as
any other text character. In this example, we are going to mark a logotype inserted at the end of
a text and the same logotype on a different file line in order to increase its size.
On the first line of a new file, write COUTH and insert the special logotype mark for the desired
logotype (in our example CE.LOG). To insert the special logotype mark, press short-cut key F2
to open the INSERT screen; next press short-cut key F3, select LOGOTYPE and choose the
desired logo from the list.
On the next line, insert only the same special logotype mark. The text editing screen should look
like this (if you entered another logo, its name will appear instead of CE.LOG):
Picture 38 – Editing logotypes
Next, change the character height for the first line, setting 3.5mm. Set the character height for
the second line to 10.0mm.
After effectively marking this file, you will see that, as commented above, the logo on the first
line has been processed just like any other character.

7. SCREENS DESCRIPTION
This section provides a description of the menus and operating functions of the different
controls or keys on the front panel of each screen.
Picture 39 – Screens map
7.1. HOME PAGE Screen
When switching on the MC 2000T² controller, the display shows this screen containing the
COUTH logo and the controller's software version.
Picture 40 – HOME PAGE

After 3 seconds, the HOME PAGE screen closes and the display shows the TEST screen.
7.2. TEST Screen
The TEST screen appears immediately after the HOME PAGE screen, providing information on
the controller's auto test.
Picture 41 – TEST screen
· Machine zero position: When switched on, the MC 2000T² controller commands a
short movement of the marking head in order to detect possible errors of the limit
switches, drive belts and motors.
· STOP button: "OK" means the MC 2000T² controller has detected a connected
external start/stop push box. Although this is not indispensable for the marking unit
operation, it is advisable that this push box is always connected, as it allows anybody to
make emergency stops during any marking process.
· Memory Card: "OK" means the MC 2000T² controller has detected the presence of an
SD memory card.
In addition to the previous information, the TEST screen allows the operator to adjust the
brightness of the display, by turning the rotary pushbutton in the appropriate direction.
After 3 seconds or the activation of any key or rotary pushbutton, the TEST screen closes and
the display shows the EDITION or MARKING screen
7.3. MAIN Menu
To retrieve this menu, press the F1 key on any of the screens that has the MAIN menu
identifying icon on said key.

Picture 42 – MAIN Menu
The MAIN menu includes the following options:

1 – EDITION: Opens the EDITION screen.
2 – MARKING: Opens the MARKING screen.
3 – PARAMETERS: Opens the PARAMETERS menu.
4 – MEMORY CARD: Opens the MEMORY CARD screen.
To select any option, press the associated figure on the numerical keypad, or press the short-
cut key F1, F2, F3 or F4, or highlight the corresponding line (not shown for clarity's sake) with
the rotary pushbutton and press this button to confirm the selection.
7.4. EDITION Screen

By selecting option 1 – EDITION in the MAIN menu, you will open this screen that permits you
to define the marking features: marking contents, font properties, marking coordinates and
shape, force and speed...
You can also retrieve this screen directly from the MARKING screen by pressing short-cut key
F2.
Picture 43 – EDIT screen

The display shows the first 10 lines (rows) of the 40 ones available per file and 40 of the 75
characters (columns) available per line. A blinking cursor indicates the current text inserting
position and will move on this same line if you turn the rotary pushbutton. Shifting to another line
requires pressing the rotary pushbutton first and then turning it.
Editing the marking contents is by means of the alphanumeric keyboard.
The Shift key serves to change from capitalised to small letters, and vice versa, the current
option appearing in the form of a capital or small A icon in the middle of the general information
field.
If you press the special symbol key, an overlapping window pops up, allowing you to select the
ASCII - ISO88591 symbols not available on the alphanumeric keyboard with the rotary
pushbutton.
Picture 44 – Special symbols window
The Simulation key opens the PREVIEW screen that allows you to make a scale dry run of the
marking.
With the controller's START and STOP pushbuttons, you can start, stop, resume or finish
marking the active file. Alternatively you can use the external start/stop push box or the
integrated controls of COUTH portable marking units for these purposes.
Here are the functions of the short-cut keys on this screen:

· F1 – Menu: Opens the MAIN menu.
· F2 – Insert: Opens the INSERT screen.
· F3 – Files: Retrieves the FILES screen.
· F4 – Font: Opens the FONT overlapping window.
· F5 – Force & Speed: Opens the FORCE & SPEED overlapping window.
· F6 – Position & Shape: Opens the POSITION & SHAPE overlapping window.
7.4.1. Editing counters
In the EDITION screen, you can change a counter's value manually. For this purpose, move the
cursor inside the parenthesis of the counter special mark and type the new value.

Picture 45 – Editing counters
Please bear in mind that the screen always shows the counter's ten digits, even if you specified
a smaller number of markable digits in the counter's setup parameters. In this event, the digits
that shall not be marked may take any value, since the MC 2000T² controller will omit them.
It is the EDITION screen's function to enable you to set the marking parameters until you
get the expected result. Once you have achieved this, you must save the file and retrieve the
MARKING screen to make the final markings. During the parameters setup process, you may
need to perform several marking tests. For this reason, the counters are inoperative in the
EDITION screen; the dry run marking shows the same counter value and there will be no
automatic increment or decrement of the counter value.
7.4.2. DataMatrix Codes
After inserting a special DataMatrix code mark, editing the encryptable text is similar to editing
the counter value: move the cursor inside the parenthesis of the DataMatrix special mark and
type the text you want.
Picture 46 – Entering text for DataMatrix coding

An encryptable text may include special marks such as work shifts, calendar, counters and
special action (Movements) commands. The previous picture shows a special DataMatrix
square mark in which a fixed text (COUTH-Hernani) and a special calendar (Day-Month-Year)
mark have been placed.
7.5. FONT Overlapping Window

This window pops up when pressing short-cut key F4 in the EDITION screen and serves to
change the font parameters for the active file.
Picture 47 – FONT overlapping window
Specifically, the following are the modifiable parameters for each line in the file:
· Character height: Height in mm of the characters, logotypes and DataMatrix codes to

be marked. The maximum character height is the Y-axis travel of the machine.
· Character width: Width stated as a percentage (%) of the height of the characters,
logotypes and DataMatrix codes to be marked. You can specify width equal to 100%
height, less than 100% (compression) or greater than 100% (expansion).
· Font: Font in which the text will be marked.
· Character spacing: Spacing between two consecutive characters, stated as a
percentage (%) of character height. It is possible to define spacing characters of up to
200%.
· Dot marking density: Number of dots to be marked, in %. A dot marking density of
100% denotes continuous marking (5 dots per mm). You can also select the value Auto
for high marking density at high speed when using the autovibrating pneumatic head.
7.6. FORCE & SPEED Overlapping Window

change the marking force and speed parameters for the active file.

Picture 48 – FORCE & SPEED overlapping window
Depending on the use of a pneumatic or electric (solenoid) marking head, the Force parameter
will be interpreted in different ways.
· Pneumatic Head: When the setting of the marking density is Auto, the system
disregards the Force parameter. Otherwise, with force settings from 1 to 3, the
stylus impacts the workpiece only once per marking dot; with force settings from 4
to 6, there will be two impacts of the stylus per dot; with force settings from 7 to 10,
there will be three impacts of the stylus per dot.
· Electric Head: In this case, the solenoid excitation time varies according to each
force value, resulting in stronger or weaker impacts. However, for effective results, it
is necessary to adjust the stylus-to-piece distance for each force setting. The table
below shows adequate distances for different forces:
Force Stylus-Piece Distance (mm)

1 0.1 – 1.0
2 0.1 – 1.0
3 0.5 – 1.5
4 1.5 – 3.0
5 3.0 – 6.0
6 4.0 – 7.0
7 4.5 – 7.5
8 5.5 – 8.0
9 7.8 – 9.0
10 7.8 – 9.0
The Speed parameter, too, is interpreted differently according to the type of marking head.
When using an electric head, this parameter has no effect. If the marking head is pneumatic,
this parameter is meaningful only when the marking density setting is Auto. In this event, the
lower the speed, the greater the marking density, resulting in higher quality marks to the
detriment of the marking time.

7.7. POSITION & SHAPE Overlapping Window

change the position and shape parameters for the active file.
Picture 49 – POSITION & SHAPE overlapping window
These are the modifiable parameters for each line of the file:
· X-axis coordinate: Position of the lower left corner of the first text character along the
X-axis. Changing this parameter's value, by turning the rotary pushbutton, results in a
movement of the marking head to the specified coordinate. This is very useful to check
the marking coordinate on the workpiece in the marking position.
· Y-axis coordinate: Position of the lower left corner of the first text character along the
Y-axis. As this occurs with the X-axis Coordinate parameter, by changing the
parameter's value with the rotary pushbutton, the marking head will move to the
specified coordinate. If you select value "-" for any line other than the first line, this line
will not take the value of the previous line, but its value will be automatically increased
by the character height to prevent superimposing the texts of two lines.
· Angle: This is the text inclination angle as measured from a horizontal line. Picture 50
shows 5 text lines marked at angles of 0º, 45º, 90º, 180º and 270º.
Picture 50 – Marking at different inclination angle

· Diameter: Diameter of the circle around which arc marking takes place. If this diameter
is zero, the text is not arc marked. For further information on arc marking, refer to
example 6.7.Arc Marking.
· Concave/Convex: These parameters define the type of arc when diameter is not zero.
The next picture shows convex arc marking on the left and concave arc marking on the
right.
Picture 51 – Convex arc marking and Concave arc marking
· Horizontal mirror-symmetry: This function allows symmetric-marking of a text along

the horizontal line.
Picture 52 – Horizontal mirror-symmetric marking
· Vertical mirror-symmetry: This function allows symmetric marking of a text along the
vertical line.
Picture 53 – Vertical mirror-symmetric marking
7.8. INSERT Screen

To retrieve this screen, press short-cut key F2 in the EDITION screen. It permits inserting
special marks in the marking contents. When marking really takes place, specific data will
replace those special marks.

Picture 54 – INSERT Screen
You can easily recognise a special mark, since it appears in bracket-like symbols:
The following Insert options are available:
· F1 – Insert Shift: Inserts a special mark for marking the relevant shift in the marking
contents. Actual marking will replace the special mark with the identifier of the current
shift. In the SHIFTS window retrievable from the CONTROLLER PARAMETERS
screen, you can define up to four shifts with one marking identifier for each.
· F2 – Insert Calendar: This function opens a window allowing you to select the temporal
data you want to insert in the contents. Actual marking will replace this special mark
with the relevant data. These are the selectable temporal data:
- Hour (hh)
- Minutes (mm)
- Hour-Minutes (hh-mm)
- Day of the week (d)
- Day of the month (dd)
- Day of the year (ddd)
- Week of the year (ss)
- Month of the year (mm)
- Year (aa)
- Year (aaaa)
- Year-month-day (aaaa-mm-dd)
- Day-month-year (dd-mm-aaaa)
ISO 8601, which specifies that the first week of the year is that which contains
the first Thursday, applies to determining the week of the year.
F3 – Insert Object: This function enables you to insert a special mark associated with a
logotype or a file from the logos and files lists in the controller memory. Actual marking
will replace the special mark with the selected logo or file contents.

· F4 – Insert Counter: This function allows you to insert a special mark relating to one of
the two independent counts available per file. A counter is a number made up of one to
ten digits, which increases or decreases automatically after a user-definable number of
markings have been reached. The parameters that define the performance of each
counter are modifiable in the COUNTERS screen accessible from the CONTROLLER
PARAMETERS screen.
· F5 – Insert Movement: This function opens a window that permits inserting a

Movement. During actual marking, on reading this mark, the controller performs the
related action or movement. These are the selectable Commands:
- Wait for signal: The MC 2000T² controller will wait for an input signal to its
MARK or AUTOMAT Input connector before proceeding with the marking
operation. For its detection by the MC 2000T² controller, this input signal must
be +24VDC or –24VDC. Inputs to the MARK connector are reserved for special
applications developed by COUTH. Signals to the AUTOMAT Input connector
are allocated as follows: signal 1 to the connector's terminal 1; signal 2 to
terminal 2, signal 3 to terminal 3. The voltage value of all those signals refers to
terminal 12 of said connector.
When 24VDC signals are not available, but potential-free signals (relays) are
used, the 24VDC voltage can be obtained from terminals 13 and 14 of the
AUTOMAT Output connector.
This command is useful to avoid starting the marking (or part of it) unless an
external item is ready and this item sends the confirming signal to the controller.
- Line Origin Coordinate: The marking head moves to the origin coordinate of the
line that contains the command, before marking continues. This command
serves to force the marking head to follow a certain path before or after a
marking in such cases where the workpiece presents an obstacle the marking
head must overcome. It is possible to insert several commands of this type in
different lines of a file in order to achieve complex markings. A line containing
this command will usually include nothing else.
- Wait for communications: The MC 2000T² controller wait for the marking
contents (or part of it) to be transmitted through the RS232 serial interface. It is
possible to connect port COM 2 to a barcode reader or port COM 1 to an
automaton, PC or PLC.
- Activate output: Before proceeding with the marking, the MC 2000T² controller
will activate one of the available outputs of the MARK or AUTOMAT Output
connector. These are potential-free signals (relays). The outputs of the MARK
connector are reserved for special applications developed by COUTH. Signals
from the AUTOMAT Output connector are allocated as follows: output 1 relates
to terminals Q1 of said connector; output 2 to terminals Q2; output 3 to
terminals Q3; output 4 to terminals Q4.
If 24VDC instead of potential-free signals are needed, those 24VDC signals can
be obtained from terminals 13 and 14 of the AUTOMAT Output connector.
This command is useful to actuate an external item (through a electric valve, for
instance) before starting or proceeding with a marking.
- Deactivate output: Before proceeding with the marking, the MC 2000T²
controller will deactivate one of the available outputs of the MARK or
AUTOMAT Output connector.
This command serves to deactivate an output that has been previously
activated by inserting the "Activate output" command. In any case, all the
outputs are automatically deactivated at the end of the marking process.
- Timer: The MC 2000T² controller waits for a time set by the selected timer,
before proceeding with the marking. Programming the dwell times in the three

existing timers is done in the TIMERS screen accessible from the

CONTROLLER PARAMETERS screen.
This command is useful to avoid starting the marking (or part of it) unless an
external item is ready and this item can’t send the confirming signal to the
controller. For this purpose, it is necessary to define the maximum time this item
will take to be ready, from the moment it starts actuating till it finishes its job,
and to program this time in a timer. It is however safer to wait for an external
signal than a set time; therefore we recommend inserting the command "Wait
for signal" whenever possible.
- Plate Feeder: This command instructs the MC 2000T² controller that a COUTH
plate feeder has been fitted and must be coordinated with the marking process.
· F6 – Insert codification: With this function, you can insert a special mark for
generating a square or rectangular DataMatrix code. After inserting the special mark,
you can edit the text to be encrypted, by moving the cursor in the parenthesis that the
DataMatrix special mark contains. It is also possible to insert other special marks (such
as the current date or a serial number, if they are to be encrypted in the DataMatrix
code) within the DataMatrix special mark.
The table below lists the Insert options available with the respective special marks that are
inserted in the file:
Insert Option Special mark

Shift T
Calendar: Hour(hh) C(HH)
Calendar: Minutes(mm) C(MM)
Calendar: Hour-Minutes(hh-mm) C(HH-MM)
Calendar: Day of week(d) C(d)
Calendar: Day of month(dd) C(dd)
Calendar: Day of year(ddd) C(ddd)
Calendar: Week of year(ww) C(ww)
Calendar: Month of year(mm) C(mm)
Calendar: Year(yy) C(yy)
Calendar: Year(yyyy) C(yyyy)
Calendar: Year-month-day(yyyy-mm-dd) C(yyyy-mm-dd)
Calendar: Day-month-year(dd-mm-yyyy) C(dd-mm-yyyy)
Object: Logotype L(XXXXXXXX.LOG)4
5
Object: File F(XXXXXXXX.TXT)
Counter: Conter 1 CT1(XXXXXXXXXX)6
Counter: Counter 2 CT2(XXXXXXXXXX)7
Command: Wait for signal 1 (AUT) MWS1A
4
XXXXXXXX stands for the name of the selected logo
5
XXXXXXXX stands for the name of the selected file
6
XXXXXXXXXX stands for the value of the file's counter 1
7
XXXXXXXXXX stands for the value of the file's counter 2

Command: Wait for signal 1 (MARK) MWS1M
Command: Wait for signal 2 (MARK) MWS2M
Command: Line Origin Coordinate MGC
Command: Wait for data MWSC
Command: Activate output 1 (AUT) MAS1A
Command: Deactivate output 1 (AUT) MDS1A
Command: Activate output 1 (MARK) MAS1M
Command: Deactivate output 1 (MARK) MDS1M
Command: Activate output 2 (MARK) MAS2M
Command: Deactivate output 2 (MARK) MDS2M
Command: Timer 1 MT1
Command: Plate feeder MPF
Square DataMatrix Code DMS(XXX8)
Rectangular DataMatrix Code DMR(XXX9)
The next picture shows a file containing a fixed text, a special calendar mark and a special
DataMatrix mark, as well as a preview of the marking.
8
XXX stands for the text to be encrypted.
9
XXX stands for the text to be encrypted.
Picture 55 – Edit and Preview screens of a marking containing fixed text, special calendar mark
and DataMatrix Code
7.9. PREVIEW Screen

To open the PREVIEW screen, press the Simulation key in the EDITION or INSERT screen.
The PREVIEW screen shows a scale simulation and performs a dry run of the marking in the
marking area of the marking unit.
Picture 56 – PREVIEW Screen
On the picture, you can see a 50mm wide x 17mm high white marking area on a grey
background, which contains the simulated marking of an arc-marked text and a logo.
Should a marking exceed the limits of the marking area, an error message would pop up on the
PREVIEW screen, as follows:

Picture 57 – Error message on the PREVIEW screen
After displaying the marking contents, the controller instructs the marking unit to make a dry run,
tracing all the dots with the stylus inactive. This permits the operator to check for marking
accuracy on the workpiece itself. During this dry run, the operator can press the internal start-
stop pushbuttons or the controls on the external start-stop push box in order to stop, resume or
cancel the marking10.
Three (3) seconds after completion of the dry run, the PREVIEW screen closes and the
EDITION is retrieved.
7.10. MARKING Screen

This screen is accessible by selecting option 2 –MARKING in the MAIN menu and it serves to
mark files. The keyboard is automatically blocked to prevent careless mistakes from spoiling the
marking. To unblock it, press the ESC key for three seconds.
Picture 58 – MARKING screen
10
To interrupt a marking or dry run, press the stop button once. To resume an interrupted marking, press
the start button once. To cancel an interrupted marking, press the stop button again. To cancel an active
marking, press the stop button twice.
This screen shows the contents of the file to be marked, the filename and a scrolling message
prompting you to press the ESC key in order to unblock the keyboard.
After unblocking the keyboard, you can call up the MAIN menu (F1), the EDITION screen (F2)
or the FILES screen (F3).
In addition, you can press the internal start and stop pushbuttons at any time in order to start,
interrupt, continue or end a marking. You can also display the Font characteristics (holding
down F4), the Force and Speed parameters (holding down F5) or the Position and Shape
specifications (holding down F6) in relation to the selected file.
7.11. FILES Screen

To open this screen, press short-cut key F3 in the EDITION screen or in the MARKING screen.
You will then be able to manage the files system of the MC 2000T² controller.
Picture 59 – FILES screen
A list of the marking files (TXT-suffixed) and logo files (LOG-suffixed) stored in the controller's
internal memory appears in the text area. If you turn the rotary pushbutton, you will be able to
select one of those files. Alternatively, it is possible to select a file quickly if you know its name.
In this event type the filename. You need not enter the complete filename; indeed, if you type
letter E for instance, the system selects the first file whose name starts with an E. As you
complete the filename, the selection will be more accurate. If no key is pressed within two
seconds or more, the next keystroke will be considered as the first letter of the filename
searched.
After selecting a file, there are several actions possible, namely:
· New file: Press short-cut key F2 to create a new, empty file. In this event, the monitor
displays the EDITION screen. It is obviously not necessary to select any file in order to
create a new file.
· Open file: Press short-cut key F3 to open the selected file. The MC 2000T² controller
then displays the EDITION or MARKING screen. You can also open the file by pressing
shortly the rotary pushbutton. When the selected file is a logotype, no action takes
place.
· Save file: If you press short-cut key F4, the system adds a new file named
00000000.TXT below the last filename in the list. A blinking cursor under the first
character of the filename invites you to change the default name for a name of your

choice. When you have finished editing the new filename, press the rotary pushbutton
to save the currently opened file with this name. Should the filename already exist, you
will be prompted to confirm whether you want to overwrite the existing file.
If you want to save changes to an existing file, type in the same filename and confirm
the 'overwrite original file' option.
· Delete file: If you press short-cut key F5, you will be prompted to confirm whether you
really want to delete the selected file. If you do, the system will delete the selected file
permanently from the controller's internal memory and there will be no possibility of
recovering it.
· Display file: When holding down short-cut key F6, the MC 2000T² controller displays
the contents of the selected file in the text area. If the selected file is a logo, no action
takes place. After releasing key F6, the controller displays the FILES screen again.
· Rename file: In order to rename a file, you should press the rotary pushbutton for a
long while. After 2 seconds, a blinking cursor appears under the first character of the
filename, allowing you to change the name.
Once you have finished working in the FILES screen, press the ESC key to return to the
previous screen or short-cut key F1 to recall the main menu.
All the above described operations are feasible if you open the FILES screen from the EDITION
screen. By contrast, if you call the FILES screen from the MARKING screen, several of those
operations will be disabled. As the next picture shows, you can only go back to the main menu
(F1), return to the MARKING screen (F2), open a file (F3) or display the file contents (F6). In
this event, renaming files is not possible.
Picture 60 – FILES screen opened from the MARK screen
7.12. PARAMETERS Menu
To open this menu, select option 3 – PARAMETERS in the MAIN menu. It gives access to the
MC 2000T² controller's parameters setup screens.

Picture 61 – PARAMETERS Menu
The following options are available:
1 - MENU: Retrieves the MAIN menu.

2 – MECHANICS PARAMETERS: Opens the MECHANICS PARAMETERS screen.
3 – MARKING PARAMETERS: Opens the MARKING PARAMETERS screen.
4 – EDITION PARAMETERS: Opens the EDITION PARAMETERS screen.
5 – CONTROLLER PARAMETERS: Opens the CONTROLLER PARAMETES screen.
You can select the desired option by pressing the relevant figure on the numerical keypad, or by
pressing the short-cut keys F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 or by moving the highlighted line (no shown
on the picture for clarity's sake) with the rotary pushbutton and pressing this button to confirm
the selected option.
7.13. MECHANICS PARAMETERS Menu
To open this screen, select option 2 – MECHANICS PARAMETERS in the PARAMETERS

menu. It leads to the different parameter setup menus of the COUTH marking machine.
Incorrect changes to the mechanical parameters of the marking unit may lead to deficient
markings. The MC 2000T ² controller is correctly factory-set for the marking machine it will
control. You should not change the mechanical parameters of the marking unit unless you are
going to use the MC 2000T² controller with a COUTH marking unit different from that supplied
with the controller.

Picture 62 – MECHANICS PARAMETERS screen
This menu screen contains the following options:
1 – MARKING AREA: Opens the MARKING AREA screen.

2 – TRANSMISSION: Opens the TRANSMISSION screen.
3 – HEAD: Opens the HEAD screen.
4 – MOTOR: Opens the MOTOR screen.
5 – PORTABLE MACHINA: Opens the PORTABLE MACHINE screen.
6 – QUICK CONFIGURATION: Opens the QUICK CONFIGURATION screen.
You can select the desired option by pressing the relevant figure on the numerical keypad, or by
moving the highlighted line (no shown on the picture for clarity's sake) with the rotary
pushbutton and pressing this button to confirm the selected option.
By pressing short-cut key F1 you will retrieve the MAIN menu, F2 the PARAMETERS menu, F3
the MECHANICS PARAMETERS screen, F4 the MARKING PARAMETERS screen, F5 the
EDITION PARAMETERS screen, and F6 the CONTROLLER PARAMETERS screen.
7.14. MARKING AREA Screen
To open this screen, select option 1 –MARKING AREA in the MECHANICS PARAMETERS
screen. It permits changing the marking area of the COUTH marking machine.

Picture 63 – MARKING AREA screen
A marking area is stated as an X-axis travel and a Y-axis travel, both in millimetres. It is
essential that the programmed marking area reflects the actual marking area of the marking
machine; otherwise, the controller may generate incorrect markings.
7.15. TRANSMISSION Screen
To open this screen, select option 2 –TRANSMISSION in the MECHANICS PARAMETERS

screen. There, you can change the gear ratio for the X-axis and Y-axis movements of the
marking machine.
Picture 64 – TRANSMISSION screen
The next table lists adequate values for various COUTH marking units according to their drive
system.

DRIVE TYPE Transimission – X-axis Transmission – Y-axis

Screw 100 100
Belt 200 200
Superfast x17 320 340
7.16. HEAD Screen
To open this screen, select option 3 – HEAD in the MECHANICS PARAMETERS screen. It
allows you to change various parameters of the COUTH marking head.
Picture 65 –HEAD screen
The Type parameter, as its name suggests, serves to define the type of marking head used,
which can be any of the following:
· Pneumatic marking head

· S3 solenoid (electromagnetic) marking head
· S6 solenoid (electromagnetic) marking head
· Impact marking head
· Scratching marking head
The Input Time parameter defines the time it takes the stylus to reach the contact point with the
workpiece from the dwell position.
The Output Time defines the time it takes the stylus to reach the dwell position from the contact
point with the workpiece.
Tabulated below are appropriate values for different types of marking heads:

MARKING HEAD TYPE Input Time Output Time

N7 Pneumatic 7 10
N10 Pneumatic 10 10
N14 Pneumatic 10 10
N20 Pneumatic 15 10
N34 Pneumatic 18 35
R14 Scratching 20 28
I08 Impact 20 20
I17 Impact 20 20
I30 Impact 20 20
I40 Impact 20 20
I50 Impact 20 20
7.17. MOTOR Screen
To open this screen, select option 4 – MOTOR in the MECHANICS PARAMETERS screen. It
serves to change the parameters affecting the power load and speed of the marking machine's
motors.
Picture 66 – MOTOR screen
The Consumption x and Consumption y parameters specify the maximum current that can be
fed to respectively the X-axis and Y-axis travel motors. As a result, the MC 2000T² controller will
limit the current fed to each motor, which contributes to extending its useful life.
The Full Speed parameter specifies the maximum number of rotary steps per second of the
motors. The Acceleration parameter specifies the percentage of acceleration for motors

running on no load (i.e. no marking being made), since the motors must start running at a given
speed, but can accelerate their rotation after overcoming inertia.
7.18. PORTABLE MACHINE Screen
To open this screen, select option 5 – PORTABLE MACHINE in the MECHANICS

PARAMETERS screen. It allows you to change the parameter that specifies whether the
marking machine used is portable or not.
Picture 67 – PORTABLE MACHINE screen
Since COUTH portable marking machines incorporate start-stop pushbuttons, the MC 2000T²
controller needs the Portable Machine parameter setting to determine whether the signals it
receives come from those built-in start-stop pushbuttons.
7.19. QUICK CONFIGURATION Screen
To open this screen, select option 6 – QUICK CONFIGURATION in the MECHANICS

PARAMETERS screen. It allows you to change all the machine parameters by simply entering
two values.

Picture 68 – QUICK CONFIGURATION screen
The first changeable value is the Machine Model. It appears on the rating plate of the marking
machine, as well in the documentation supplied with COUTH marking machine.
The second changeable value is the Header Model. It automatically adjusts the parameters that
can affect a marking depending on the type of marking head used (time in and time out of the
marking head).
7.20. MARKING PARAMETERS Screen

To retrieve this screen, select option 3 –MARKING PARAMETERS in the PARAMETERS
screen. It serves to set various parameters of the MC 2000T² controller that affect the marking
process.
Picture 69 – MARKING PARAMETERS screen
Reset specifies whether the marking contents must be deleted after marking, when the
controller operates as a slave (controlled by an automaton, PLC or computer). This would avoid
marking the same contents more than once, in order to guarantee, for instance, that a
computer-defined serial number will not be marked on different parts.

For the MC 2000T² controller to recognise the Reset parameter, it is essential to program the
operating mode: slave or file. This is done setting the Marking Mode parameter. Besides, when
selecting the slave operating mode, it will not be possible to select the file manually in the
MARKING screen nor use the internal Start and Stop pushbuttons.
It is worth noting that the MC 2000T² marking machine can work in a slave condition at
any time, even when the Marking Mode parameter specifies the file mode of operation. This
parameter is taken into account only for the purposes of using the Reset parameter.
7.21. EDITION PARAMETERS Screen

To open this screen, select option 4 – EDITION PARAMETERS in the PARAMETERS screen. It
permits you to change the marking parameters to be used by default in the EDITION screen.
Picture 70 – EDITION PARAMETERS screen
If you do not enter a value for any of the parameters in the FONT, FORCE & SPEED or
POSITION & SHAPE overlapping window, the system will use the value set through this screen.
Programming default values is particularly useful when most of the files require using the same
value for one or several parameters, since you enter them only in this screen instead of setting
them separately in all and any of those files. Then, you only set values in the files that need a
different value.
In addition to the parameters of the a.m. overlapping windows, it is possible to set another two
parameters: Selfcentering (x) and Selfcentering (y). Both parameters are usable with any
COUTH marking machine, but they are specially intended for portable machines, since they
ensure automatic centring of the marking contents along the X-axis or the Y-axis inside the
marking area. The next picture shows the result of marking with the X and Y self-centring
options enabled in a 50mm x 17mm area.
The self-centring options are disabled when the marking parameters specify marking
coordinates or when arc or oblique marking any part of the contents.

Picture 71 – Text selfcentering along the X and Y axes
7.22. CONTROLLER PARAMETERS Screen
To open this screen, select option 5 –CONTROLLER PARAMETERS in the PARAMETERS

menu. It gains access to different windows that permit you to set the parameters of the MC
2000T² controller.
Picture 72 – CONTROLLER PARAMETERS screen
These are the options available in the Control Parameters screen:
1 - SHIFTS: Opens the SHIFTS window.

2 - CALENDAR: Opens the CALENDAR window.
3 - COUNTERS: Opens the COUNTERS window.
4 - COMMUNICATIONS: Opens the COMMUNICATIONS window.
5 - STATISTICS: Opens the STATISTICS window.
6 - LANGUAGE: Opens the LANGUAGE window.
7 - PASSWORD: Opens the PASSWORD window.
8 - CONTROLLER: Opens the CONTROLLER window.
9 - TIMERS: Opens the TIMERS window.

You can select the desired option by pressing the relevant figure on the numerical keypad or by
moving the highlighted line (no shown on the picture for clarity's sake) with the rotary
pushbutton and pressing this button to confirm the selected option.
By pressing short-cut key F1 you will retrieve the MAIN menu, F2 the PARAMETERS menu, F3
the MECHANICS PARAMETERS screen, F4 the MARKING PARAMETERS screen, F5 the
EDITION PARAMETERS screen, and F6 the CONTROLLER PARAMETERS screen.
7.23. SHIFTS Screen

This window is accessible by selecting option 1 - SHIFTS in the CONTROLLER PARAMETERS
screen and it permits changing the marking parameters when a special shift mark has to be
inserted in a marking contents.
Picture 73 – SHIFTS Screen
As the above picture shows, it is possible to define up to four shifts Shift Number. For each
shift, you must specify the time it starts (parameter Starting Time) and the identifier (parameter
Marking character) that shall be marked instead of the special shift mark.
Shifts can be different in duration and it is not necessary to specify the finish time, since the
system considers as such the start time of the next shift.
7.24. CALENDAR Screen

This screen is accessible by selecting option 2 – CALENDAR in the CONTROLLER
PARAMETERS screen. It enables you to change the date and time parameters of the controller
as well as the parameters needed when inserting a special calendar mark in the marking
contents.

Picture 74 – CALENDAR Screen
Parameters Date and Hour serve to set the current date and time.
Parameter Automatic hour change instructs the controller to change or not summer time and
winter time automatically, if desired. When entering the "European" time changeover, the clock
will go forward from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. on the last Sunday of March and backward from 3 a.m. to 2
a.m. on the last Sunday of October.
Parameters Week day, Month and Month day serve to define the characters to be marked
instead of the special marks Day of the Week, Month of the Year and Day of the Month,
respectively. You can select a different character for each day of the week (bearing in mind that
Monday is the first day of the week), for each month of the year and for each day of the month.
If you select no character, the system inserts a hyphen and the marking machine will mark the
number of the day or month instead of the special mark.
Finally, with parameter Separating character you can define the character that separates the
different constituents of a special mark, such as the Day-Month-Year special mark. This
character shall be marked between the characters standing for the day and month and between
those standing for the month and year.
7.25. COUNTERS Screen

This screen is accessible by selecting option 3 –COUNTERS in the CONTROLLER
PARAMETERS menu. It enables you to change the parameters that shall be marked when
inserting a special counter mark.

Picture 75 – COUNTERS Screen
A counter is a 1 to 10 digit number that increases (or decreases) automatically after a preset
number of markings. With the MC 2000T² controller, there are two counters available and
although their parameters are identical, the value of each counter is saved independently with
each file. This means that, if counter 1 were used in two files, the value of counter 1 can be,
say, 1111 in the first file and, say, 2222 in the second file.
These are the parameters underpinning the performance of each counter:
· Increase: This is a value ranging from –100 to +100 that specifies the amount by which
the counter value increases. To change from a positive to a negative value, or vice
versa, just press any key when the cursor is under the + or – sign.
· Repetition: This setting that can take any value from 0 to 100 indicates the number of
times the counter value must be repeated (in addition to the initial marking) before this
counter increases or decreases automatically. Setting 0 implies that there is no
repetition of the marking and, therefore, after the machine has marked the counter
value once, the counter changes to its next value; setting 8, for instance, implies that
the marking will be repeated 8 times; thus, the machine will mark the same counter
value 9 times, before the counter increases or decreases.
· Digit number: Indicates the number of digits to be marked. If the counter value has
fewer digits than those to be marked as specified here, the machine will add zeros to
the left.
· Minimum and Maximum: These parameters specify the minimum and maximum
permissible values of the counter. On reaching the maximum (high) value, a counter
with a positive increment will restart from its minimum (low) value. By contrast, on
reaching the minimum (low) value, a counter with a negative increment will restart
decrementing from its maximum (high) value.
· Reset: This parameter serves to specify a condition under which the counter with a
positive increment shall reset to its low value and a counter with a negative increment
will reset to its high value. The following options are programmable:
- None: No condition is established.
- Year: The counter resets when year changes.
- Month: The counter resets when the month changes.
- Week: The counter resets when the week changes, considering Monday as the first
day of the week.
- Day: The counter resets when the day changes. .
- Shift: The counter resets at each shift changeover.

- External: Counter resetting depends on an external signal. Input I8 of the AUTOMAT

Input connector is available for connecting the signal necessary to reset the
counters.
7.26. COMMUNICATIONS Screen
This screen is accessible by selecting option 4 –COMMUNICATIONS in the CONTROLLER

PARAMETERS screen. It enables you to change the parameters that define communications
with the MC 2000T² controller through the RS232 serial interface.
Picture 76 – COMMUNICATIONS Screen
Parameter Baudrate defines the transmission rate in bits per second between the controller
and the external equipment communicating with it.
Parameter Protocol defines the communications protocol to be used. We recommend using the
MC 2000T² protocol, since it permits making the most of all the features of the MC 2000T²
controller. Other usable protocols are MC 2000T and MC 2000L, but these protocols should be
used only when the MC 2000T² controller shall operate jointly with an MC 2000T or MC2000L
controller that already use one of these two protocols.
Parameter Error checking defines the type of error detecting algorithm to be included in the
communications. COUTH recommends using always CRC because it provides serial
communications with greater security.
Parameter Topology specifies whether the external equipment (automaton, PLC or computer)
communicates only with this controller (point to point topology) or will communicate with several
MC2000T² controllers at the same time (network topology). In this latter case, the controller will
stop using asynchronous transmission for some messages in order to avoid possible collision
with messages sent by other controllers.
Finally, parameter Address defines a unique communication address for the controller in order
to identify it unequivocally when there are several networked controllers.
7.27. STATISTICS Screen
This screen is accessible by selecting option 5 –STATISTICS in the CONTROLLER

PARAMETERS menu. It shows statistical data of the markings made with the MC 2000T²
controller.

Picture 77 – STATISTICS Screen
These are the data displayed in this window: the total time the controller has been on so far
(POWER ON hours), the total time (in hours) the controller has been busy making markings to
the current moment (Marking hours), the total number of markings made by the controller so
far (Number of markings) and the time it took the controller to make the last marking (Time of
last marking).
7.28. LANGUAGE Screen
This screen is accessible by selecting option 6 – LANGUAGE in the CONTROLLER

PARAMETERS menu. It permits you to select the working language of the MC 2000T²
controller.
Picture 78 – LANGUAGE Screen
7.29. PASSWORD Screen

This screen is accessible by selecting option 7 – PASSWORD in the CONTROLLER

PARAMETERS screen. It serves to set a password for acceding to the different menus of the
MC 2000T² controller.
Picture 79 – PASSWORD Screen
On leaving the factory, the MC 2000T² controller incorporates a default password that the user
can change by editing the New parameter in this window.
On the other hand, parameters Marking, Edition and Parameters specify whether a password
will be requested in order to access the MARKING, EDITION and PARAMETERS screens
respectively. If you set the Marking parameter to YES, you will also be prompted to enter the
password in order to exit the MARKING screen.
To avoid unauthorised changing of passwords, the PASSWORD screen has a permanent
protection that is irremovable.
Picture 80 – Password prompting window
The default password of the MC 2000T² controller is 000000. Once changed, this
password will not serve as a master password; therefore, be sure to be able to remember your
new password or keep it in a safe place.

7.30. CONTROLLER Screen
This screen is accessible by selecting option 8 – CONTROLLER in the CONTROLLER

PARAMETERS menu. It serves to enter the settings of two parameters specific to the MC
2000T² controller.
Picture 81 – CONTROLLER screen
The first of these two parameters, Internal Start/Stop, determines whether the controller's
internal start and stop pushbuttons are active or not. In certain cases where the controller
operates as a slave, it is advisable to disable the internal start and stop pushbuttons to avoid
possible human errors.
The second parameter, Beep, states whether the controller shall or shall not beep each time the
user strikes a key.
7.31. TIMERS Screen

This screen is accessible by selecting option 9 – TIMERS in the CONTROLLER PARAMETERS
menu. It allows you to set the values of the three timers the MC 2000T² controller incorporates.
Picture 82 – TIMERS screen

Timer values are stated in milliseconds and they serve to force a dwell time during the marking
process. A timer may have any value from 0 to 60000 milliseconds (1 minute).
7.32. MEMORY CARD Screen
To retrieve this screen, select option 4 – MEMORY CARD in the MAIN menu. It permits you to
copy parameters, character sets, files and logotypes from the controller's memory to a memory
card and vice versa.
Picture 83 – MEMORY CARD screen
Turn the rotary pushbutton to select the desired Copy option. Then, press the rotary pushbutton
to start copying data.
You can also start copying the desired data by pressing the short-cut keys F2, F3, F4, F5 and
F6.
In order to change the data transfer direction (from the controller's memory to the memory card
or from the memory card to the controller's memory), select the icon at the bottom of the text
area with the rotary pushbutton and then press the rotary pushbutton.
If you press ESC or short-cut key F1 or the rotary pushbutton with the MENU option selected,
you will close the MEMORY CARD screen and return to the MAIN menu.

8. BARCODE READERS
The MC 2000T² controller makes it possible to use barcode or 2D-code readers in order to edit
the marking contents. This avoids mistakes that editing the marking contents manually might
cause.
8.1. Connection
For connecting a barcode reader to the MC 2000T² controller, use the RS-232 interface with the
following communications parameters:
· Baud rate: .............................9600 bits per second.

· Parity:....................................Odd.
· Data bits: ..............................8
· Stop bits: ..............................1
· Flow control: ........................None.
Barcode readers and other external devices must always be connected to the controller
through the COM2 port at the rear of the controller. The COM1 port is reserved for connecting a
PC, PLC or automaton.
Both COM1 and COM2 ports of the MC 2000T² controllers are prepared for a direct connection
to a PC through direct pin-to-pin cables. Since barcodes readers with an RS-232 interface are
usually designed for direct connection to a PC too, connecting them to the MC 2000T² controller
will require the use of a NULL MODEM type of cable, crossing terminals 2 and 3 at both ends of
the cable.
If in doubt, remember that data transmitted by a barcode reader is received through terminal 3
of the COM2 port of the MC 2000T² controller.
The MC 2000T² controller provides a 5Vdc voltage across terminals 6 and 5 of the COM2 port.
You can use this voltage for powering up barcode readers that operate on a current not greater
than 250mA.
Finally, for the barcode reader to be operative with the MC 2000T² controller, you must
configure it in such a way that it transmits hexadecimal character 10 (decimal 16) prior to the
text string and hexadecimal character 0A (decimal 10) followed by twice the hexadecimal
character 03 (decimal 03) after the text string it reads. By way of example, if 123-456 is the
barcode read by the reader, transmission of the complete string will be as follows:
Hexadecimal 10 31 32 33 2D 34 35 36 0A 03 03
Decimal 16 49 50 51 45 52 53 54 10 03 03
ASCII Unprintable 1 2 3 - 4 5 6 Unprintable Unprintable Unprintable

8.2. Use
It is currently possible to use a barcode reader with the MC 2000T² controller in either of two
ways:
· EDITION Screen: With the barcode reader connected to the COM2 port of the MC
2000T² controller, scan the barcode and its contents will appear on the line where the
cursor lies at that moment. Any text that might already be on that line will be
overwritten. Scanning a barcode will not affect the text on any other lines that remain
unchanged.
· MARKING Screen: To use a barcode reader from the MARKING screen, the file to be
marked must contain a special command: Movement(Wait for communications). This
special command may be placed anywhere in the file, preceded and followed by text.
On receiving the Start order, the MC 2000T² controller will start marking the active file.
On detecting the special command, the MC 2000T² controller will stop the marking
machine until it receives the remaining marking data. At this time, use the barcode
reader connected to the COM2 port to transmit the marking data. The MC 2000T²
controller will resume marking after receiving the contents of the scanned barcode.

9. BINARY IO MARKING
Binary IO marking is one of the operating modes the MC 2000T² controller offers. This mode of
operation – usable from the MARKING screen – permits marking a file selected by means of the
inputs of the AUTOMAT Input connector. To be exact, inputs 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are available for
selecting one among 31 files for its marking in this mode. Input 4 is assigned the least
significant bit of the file number, input 8 the most significant bit.
Since the files are identified by a filename, and not by a file number, in the MC 2000T²
controller, the filename must contain a number from 001 to 031 (including zeros on the left) if
this file is to be selected in the binary mode.
Suppose you want to work with two files in binary mode. You can use two numbers from 1 to 31
to identify them. So, you opt for numbers 2 and 28. Therefore, one file must contain the 002
character group in its name, the other the 028 character group. Any of the following filenames
would be valid for this purpose:
FILE_002.TXT, A0020000.TXT, 002ZZZZZ.TXT, ABC002DE.TXT...

FILE_028.TXT, A0280000.TXT, 028ZZZZZ.TXT, ABC028DE.TXT...
Of course, to avoid confusion, neither the 002 nor 028 character group may be present in any
other filename.
Finally, you decide to name your files FILE_002.TXT and FILE_028.TXT.
To mark those files, you should bear in mind that the binary form of number 2 is 00010, while
number 28 is stated 11100.
Accordingly, in order to mark the file FILE_002.TXT, inputs 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the AUTOMAT
Input connector must be given the following values:
Input Logical value Voltage value

Automat Input 4 0 0V
Automat Input 5 1 ±24Vdc
In order to mark the file FILE_028.TXT, inputs 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the AUTOMAT Input
connector must be given the following values:
Input Logical value Voltage value


Below is a table with the logical values of the inputs of the AUTOMAT Input connector for the
31 selectable file numbers.
File
Input 4 Input 5 Input 6 Input 7 Input 8
number
1 1 0 0 0 0
2 0 1 0 0 0
3 1 1 0 0 0
4 0 0 1 0 0
5 1 0 1 0 0
6 0 1 1 0 0
7 1 1 1 0 0
8 0 0 0 1 0
9 1 0 0 1 0
10 0 1 0 1 0
11 1 1 0 1 0
12 0 0 1 1 0
13 1 0 1 1 0
14 0 1 1 1 0
15 1 1 1 1 0
16 0 0 0 0 1
17 1 0 0 0 1
18 0 1 0 0 1
19 1 1 0 0 1
20 0 0 1 0 1
21 1 0 1 0 1
22 0 1 1 0 1
23 1 1 1 0 1
24 0 0 0 1 1
25 1 0 0 1 1
26 0 1 0 1 1
27 1 1 0 1 1
28 0 0 1 1 1
29 1 0 1 1 1
30 0 1 1 1 1
31 1 1 1 1 1

5.2.1. Menu and Parameters Screens 18 5.2.2. EDITION and INSERT Screens 20 5.2.3. Overlapping Windows 21

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5.2.1. Menu and Parameters Screens 18 5.2.2. EDITION and INSERT Screens 20 5.2.3. Overlapping Windows 21

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COUTH MC 2000T² MC 2000 T²

Instruction Manual Controller

5.1. Components of the MC 2000T² Controller 14

5.2. Browsing the Screens 17

6.1. Simple Marking 26

6.2. File Management 27

6.3. Marking Several Lines 28

6.4. Marking Special Characters 29

6.5. Changing the Marking Parameters 30

6.6. Angle Marking 31

6.7. Arc Marking 32

6.8. Marking Special Functions 34

6.9. DataMatrix Marking 35

6.10. Logotype Marking 37

7.1. HOME PAGE Screen 38

7.2. TEST Screen 39

Rev. A– Nov 2007 PAGE - 1

7.3. MAIN Menu 39

7.4. EDITION Screen 40

7.5. FONT Overlapping Window 43

7.6. FORCE & SPEED Overlapping Window 43

7.7. POSITION & SHAPE Overlapping Window 45

7.8. INSERT Screen 46

7.9. PREVIEW Screen 51

7.10. MARKING Screen 52

7.11. FILES Screen 53

7.12. PARAMETERS Menu 54

7.13. MECHANICS PARAMETERS Menu 55

7.14. MARKING AREA Screen 56

7.15. TRANSMISSION Screen 57

7.16. HEAD Screen 58

7.17. MOTOR Screen 59

7.18. PORTABLE MACHINE Screen 60

7.19. QUICK CONFIGURATION Screen 60

7.20. MARKING PARAMETERS Screen 61

7.21. EDITION PARAMETERS Screen 62

7.22. CONTROLLER PARAMETERS Screen 63

7.23. SHIFTS Screen 64

7.24. CALENDAR Screen 64

7.25. COUNTERS Screen 65

7.26. COMMUNICATIONS Screen 67

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7.27. STATISTICS Screen 67

7.28. LANGUAGE Screen 68

7.29. PASSWORD Screen 68

7.30. CONTROLLER Screen 70

7.31. TIMERS Screen 70

7.32. MEMORY CARD Screen 71

A.1. Overall Dimensions 76

A.3. Electrical schematics 79

Rev. A– Nov 2007 PAGE - 3

Picture 1 – HOME PAGE.......................................................................................................... 8

Picture 44 – Special symbols window ..................................................................................... 41

Rev. A– Nov 2007 PAGE - 5

Rev. A– Nov 2007 PAGE - 6

Rev. A– Nov 2007 PAGE - 7

To install the MC 2000T² controller correctly, do the following:

3. Plug the power cable into the MC2000T controller. To do this

a. first connect the power cable to the MC 2000T² controller; and

4. Switch MC 2000T² controller on.

Picture 1 – HOME PAGE

Rev. A– Nov 2007 PAGE - 8

Picture 2 – TEST screen