Backing up your vacuum furnace PC is just as important as backing up any other computer with valuable data on it. Vacuum furnace backups can save time and money if you experience a hardware failure, power failure, human error, or natural disaster. Below are two step by step guides to back up your CompuVac® or VacuProf® vacuum furnace data.
CompuVac® Data Backup
Wonderware Project – The project contains historical cycle data as well as the recipes.
The easiest method for backing up the files is to perform a rolling backup. Make several backups, and when a new backup is made, delete the oldest one. This way several backup records are always on hand.
Note: Make sure the Ipsen furnace is not “In-Cycle” during this process.
- Exit out of “WindowViewer” and the “HistData” program.
- Navigate to the C:\ drive on the furnace’s PC. There will be a main project directory, which corresponds to the furnace number “BMXXXX WW” or “VFXXXX WW”, where “XXXX” represents the furnace number. In the instructions below, the term project directory is used in place of “BMXXXX WW” or “VFXXXX WW”.
- Copy the entire project directory, (“BMXXXX WW” or “VFXXXX WW”) from the C:\ drive to a target location of your choice.
Note: Please do not open or modify the encrypted files in the “Historical Log Files” sub-directory, as it will render them useless. - After copying the project directory, restart the HistData and WindowViewer programs or simply reboot the PC.
Maintenance Configuration Settings – There is setup data which is entered in various screens under the “Maint” tab. The data contained in the screens listed below is not actually stored in the furnace’s PC; instead, it is stored on the furnace PLC and only displayed on the PC. Make screen captures of each screen for future reference. (The screens will vary by furnace type.)
- Hour Meters
- Leak Test
- Survey
- PID Tuning, if applicable
- DigiTrim®
- Parameters
- TC Corrections
VacuProf® Data Backup
SQL Data Files – These files contain the Historical Cycle data as well as the Recipes.
Ipsen recommends doing a rolling backup of your furnace SQL data files and configuration settings. Make several backups. Then when a new backup is made, delete the oldest one. This way several backup records are always on hand.
- The SQL files to be backed up are located in the “C:\VP4\DbBackup” sub-directory.
- Copy the entire DbBackup directory to a secure location via Ethernet or USB drive. The amount of data can oftentimes reach >10-20 GB in size. This data contains all of the historical run cycle and recipe data.
Note: Do not attempt to modify or open the files located in the directory, as they will be corrupted and rendered useless.
Maintenance Configuration Settings – There is setup data which is entered in various screens under the “Maintenance” tab. The data contained in the screens listed below is not actually stored in the furnace’s PC; instead, it is located on the furnace PLC and only displayed on the PC. Make screen captures of each screen for future reference.
- Operating hours counter
- PID parameter temperature controller
- Edit PID parameters
- DigiTrim®
- Thermocouple calibration
If you need advice or technical help with your vacuum furnace backup please reach out to Ipsen’s Technical Team.