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Two new WedgeLink AT capabilities: consistent decimal formatting and automatic date/time capture for every reading.
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Measurement data is only as useful as the record it leaves behind. If a gage transmits “1.2” one cycle and “1.2000” the next, or if a spreadsheet has no way to tell an auditor when a reading was taken, that variation in formatting becomes a data integrity question during an ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or AS9100 audit, even when the underlying measurement was never out of tolerance.
This release adds two capabilities to the WedgeLink AT that address both problems directly: configurable decimal rounding on the incoming measurement string, and automatic date/time stamping as data is sent to Excel or any other application.
WedgeLink AT can now round the first numeric value found in the incoming data string to a set number of decimal places, anywhere from 0 to 9. This is a true round (standard round-half-up), not a truncation, and the output is zero-padded to hold the requested precision.
Why this matters: Inconsistent decimal formatting from gage to gage is a common source of apparent, but not real, process variation on a control chart or in an SPC data set. If one instrument reports 1.2 and another reports 1.2000 for the same nominal reading, downstream software may treat those as different levels of resolution, which complicates Cp/Cpk calculations, GR&R studies, and record review. Standardizing decimal places at the point of data collection removes that ambiguity before it ever reaches your quality records.
Input Value | Decimal Places Set | Output |
|---|---|---|
1.234 | 4 | 1.2340 |
1.2 | 4 | 1.2000 |
1.23456 | 2 | 1.23 |
1.2 | 0 | 1 |
42.7 | 0 | 43 |
-3.5 | 0 | -4 |
0.987 | 2 | 0.99 |
A few points worth calling out:
This gives you a single, configurable point of standardization for decimal precision: set once at the WedgeLink AT, and every reading that passes through arrives in your SPC software, Excel sheet, or ERP field in the same format, regardless of what the source instrument natively outputs.
WedgeLink AT can now prepend or append the current date, time, or both to each measurement before it’s sent to your application. You choose whether the stamp goes in the prefix (before the measurement) or the suffix (after it), which gives you control over how the data lands across cells in Excel. For example, date and time in the two columns ahead of the measurement, or trailing it if your layout is built the other way.
Why this matters: A raw measurement value with no timestamp is difficult to defend as a traceable quality record. Adding a date/time stamp at the point of collection, rather than relying on a manual entry or a file-modified timestamp, gives you a defensible, automatically generated audit trail tied to each individual reading. That supports traceability requirements under ISO 9001 §8.5.2 and IATF 16949, and strengthens the record integrity expectations found in AS9100 and 21 CFR Part 820 environments.
How it works under the hood: WedgeLink AT isn’t generating its own clock signal or pulling time from the gage. It’s using Excel’s own built-in date/time functions to pull the value at the moment the data lands in the cell. That means the timestamp reflects the local date and time of the host PC running Excel, not a timestamp generated by the WedgeLink AT hardware itself, and not the gage. If your PC’s system clock drifts or isn’t synced to a reliable time source (NTP server, domain controller, etc.), the recorded timestamp will drift with it. For audit purposes, this is worth documenting in your data collection procedure: the timestamp reflects workstation system time, and workstation clock accuracy should be part of your IT controls or periodic verification, not treated as an independently calibrated time source.
Both features require WedgeLink AT Firmware 1.38 and WedgeLink AT Setup 1.1.0.22 or later. Update your unit’s firmware from the WedgeLink AT firmware updates page, then configure it using the current WedgeLink AT Setup utility. No new hardware is required. This is a firmware and configuration update to your existing unit.
Rounding is set per parsing group alongside your existing match, mask, and prefix/suffix settings, and the date/time stamp option is a checkbox in the same prefix/suffix configuration screen.
If you’re not sure which decimal setting matches your current SPC software’s expected input format, or want help deciding where in the prefix/suffix a timestamp should land for your Excel layout, our team can walk through your configuration with you at no cost.
Questions about configuring these features for your setup? Contact the MicroRidge support team.
Does the timestamp come from the WedgeLink AT or from my computer? From your computer. WedgeLink AT triggers Excel’s built-in date/time functions at the moment the data lands in the cell, so the timestamp reflects your PC’s system clock, not a clock inside the WedgeLink AT hardware or the gage itself. Keep your PC’s system time synced to a reliable source if the timestamp needs to hold up under audit.
What happens if I round to 0 decimal places? The decimal point is dropped entirely. A reading of 1.2 becomes 1, not 1.0. At any setting from 1 to 9, the output keeps the decimal point and is zero-padded to fill the requested precision.
Do I need new hardware to use these features? No. Both are firmware and configuration updates to your existing WedgeLink AT unit.
What firmware and setup software versions do I need? WedgeLink AT Firmware 1.38 and WedgeLink AT Setup 1.1.0.22, or later.
Can the date/time stamp go before or after the measurement? Either. You choose prefix (before the measurement) or suffix (after it), so the stamp lands wherever your Excel column layout expects it.
Riley Tronson is President and owner of MicroRidge Systems, a role held since 2023. Riley brings a strong technical foundation to leadership in measurement solutions. An experienced entrepreneur, Riley has founded and grown multiple software companies, including a venture focused on developing iPhone applications, blending engineering expertise with innovative product development.