Designed & Made in the USA Since 1983
The WedgeLink AT is a configurable hardware keyboard wedge that converts RS-232 serial output from gages, scales, hardness testers, and other instruments into clean keystrokes — with full data parsing before output. Connect to any USB port, connect your RS-232 device, and data is typed directly into whatever application is active: Excel, Minitab, SPC platforms, web-based inspection systems, or custom databases.
Auto Baud Detection eliminates comm parameter guesswork. Parsing functions strip headers, extract numeric values, replace delimiters, and add prefix/suffix strings — delivering only the data your application needs. One-time configuration via Windows setup program — fully deployable with no software requirements for operation after setup.
Interface – RS-232 Serial — DB9 Male (standard PC serial port pinout)
USB – Keyboard Output – USB HID keyboard (“Wedge” port on rear panel; no driver required)
USB – Configuration / Serial Output – USB Virtual COM Port — FTDI (“RS-232 & Prog” port on rear panel; FTDI driver required)
Baud Rate – Auto-detect or user-selectable: 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 14.4K, 19.2K, 38.4K, 57.6K
Comm Parameters – All combinations of None/Even/Odd parity × 7 or 8 data bits × 1 or 2 stop bits
Data Parsing – 3 independent parse groups; each group supports: match strings, character position, find first numeric field, prefix/suffix, and EOP character
Character Processing – Character removal (by group or individual) and character replacement
Read Trigger – Built-in front-panel send button; 2.5mm external switch jack (foot switch / hand switch)
LED Status – Bi-color red/green — indicates initialization, baud detection, and operational status
Keyboard Layouts – US/Canada (default), Mexico/Latin America, UK/Australia, French, Belgium, German
Keyboard Transfer Rate – User-adjustable: Fast (~72 char/sec, default), Medium (~30 char/sec), Slow (~8 char/sec)
Firmware Updates – Field-upgradable at no charge
Setup Software – Windows 7, 10, and 11 compatible
Origin – Designed & Made in the USA
$275.00
The WedgeLink AT is a hardware keyboard wedge that delivers the core functionality of keyboard wedge software — RS-232 data collection, data parsing, operator-triggered reads — in a standalone unit with no software footprint on the host PC. No background process, no COM port management, no driver required for operation, no per-seat license. Configure it once via the Windows setup program, deploy it anywhere.
Connect to any USB port, connect your RS-232 instrument to the DB9 front panel, and the unit operates independently — typing parsed measurement data into whatever application is active, exactly as a keyboard would. It’s the correct solution when keyboard wedge software isn’t viable: locked-down enterprise PCs, production floor environments where software installation is restricted, or multi-station deployments where managing software across machines creates unnecessary overhead.
Unlike simple RS-232-to-USB keyboard converters, the WedgeLink AT includes a full data parsing engine. The raw serial packet is processed before output, not passed through verbatim — meaning instruments that transmit verbose packets (scales with status flags, instruments with timestamps and units labels, DROs with coordinate prefixes) can be stripped to just the numeric value before anything is typed.
The most common RS-232 integration failure point is comm parameter mismatch. The WedgeLink AT’s Auto Baud Detection resolves this automatically by identifying the baud rate and communication parameters of the connected device — no manual lookup required.
Supported baud rates: 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 14.4K, 19.2K, 38.4K, 57.6K
Supported comm parameters: All combinations of None/Even/Odd parity × 7 or 8 data bits × 1 or 2 stop bits (12 combinations)
Auto Baud procedure:
Note: Auto Baud requires the device to transmit on demand via a Send or Print button. Continuously transmitting devices should use manual parameter selection in the Setup Program.
Many RS-232 instruments transmit more than just the measurement value. Scales output stability flags, units, tare weight, and timestamps. Hardness testers include test mode and scale identifiers. A raw keyboard wedge passes the entire packet — your application receives everything.
The WedgeLink AT processes the incoming packet before output using a layered parsing architecture.
Before any parse group runs, the WedgeLink AT can strip or substitute characters globally:
Operation | Options |
|---|---|
Character Removal | All control characters, all alpha, all numeric, all non-numeric, all extended (ASCII 127+), or up to 20 individually selected characters |
Character Replacement | Commas to tabs, commas to carriage returns, carriage returns to tabs, or any character to another. Useful for distributing multi-field packets into separate Excel columns. |
Each of the three parse groups runs sequentially and supports:
Funciton | Use Case |
|---|---|
Match String | Activate, skip, or delete the packet based on a specific string — up to 20 characters, case-sensitive. Enables conditional parsing for multi-field packets |
Character Positions | Restrict parsing to a specific range of positions within the packet |
Find First Numeric Field | Extracts the first valid numeric value from the specified range — ideal for scales, balances, and any instrument with verbose output |
Prefix / Suffix | Appends defined text (including function keys F1–F12) before or after the output |
End-of-Packet Character | Specifies the terminating character appended to each output string (Tab, CR, custom) |
Parse groups can be chained — Parse #1 can extract one field and pass to Parse #2 for the next, enabling multi-value extraction from a single input packet into separate application fields.
The WedgeLink AT includes a built-in front-panel send button and a 2.5mm subminiature jack for connecting a MicroRidge hand switch (HNDSW-MPLG) or foot switch (FTSW-MPLG). Both include 6′ cables.
Both switches are independently configurable. Each can send a device-specific serial command to trigger a measurement, accept the next packet from a continuously transmitting device, or toggle a DTR handshake line for instruments that require it. This enables operator-paced data collection: press the trigger, the WedgeLink AT commands the instrument, and the parsed response is typed into the target application.
Initial configuration uses the WedgeLink AT Setup Program (Windows 7, 10, and 11) with the FTDI VCP driver — one-time setup via the “RS-232 & Prog” USB port on the rear panel. Once configuration is complete, switch to the “Wedge” port for production operation. No software runs during data collection.
Configuration files can be saved and loaded into additional units for consistent fleet deployment. Firmware updates are available at no charge from the MicroRidge website and are applied via the Prog port connection — no return service required.
The ComTestSerial diagnostic program is included with the setup software. It connects through the Prog port and displays exactly what the RS-232 device is transmitting — the right tool for identifying baud rate, packet format, and field positions before configuring parsing.
Both are hardware keyboard wedges — no software required for day-to-day operation. The decision point is the complexity of the RS-232 output and whether comm parameters are known.
WedgeLink SP | WedgeLink AT | |
|---|---|---|
Baud Rate | Fixed per unit (order to match device) | Auto-detect or user-selectable (9 rates, 600–57,600) |
Comm Parameters | Fixed per model | All parity/data bit/stop bit combinations |
Data Parsing | Not available | Full parsing — strip, extract, replace, prefix/suffix, match strings |
Read Switch | Not available | Built-in read button + optional foot/hand switch |
Setup Software | None required | Windows setup program (one-time configuration) |
LED Status | Not available | Bi-color red/green LED |
International Keyboards | Not available | 6 layouts supported |
Firmware Updates | Not field-upgradable | Field-upgradable at no charge |
Price | $180 | $275 |
Best For | Clean RS-232 output, known fixed baud rate, simplest deployment | Complex output; parsing required; unknown or variable baud rate |
Choose the WedgeLink SP when the device outputs a clean, consistently formatted packet at a known fixed baud rate and you need the simplest possible deployment. Choose the WedgeLink AT when the output packet requires any modification, the baud rate is unknown, or you need a read switch for operator-triggered collection.
→ Compare: Hardware vs. Software Keyboard Wedge — Which Is Right for You?
WedgeLink AT | WedgeLink Standard | |
|---|---|---|
Software on Host PC | None for operation | Yes — runs as background process |
COM Port Required on Host | No (HID keyboard output) | Yes |
Parsing | 3 parse groups + remove/replace | Full parsing + math functions + date/time stamp |
Remote Commands | Yes — configurable via read switch | Yes — up to 50 serial commands |
Locked-Down PC Compatible | Yes (USB HID; no install needed) | Requires software installation |
Multiple Devices | 1 RS-232 device per unit | Up to 2 simultaneously |
Best For | Production floor, locked-down PCs, operator-facing, standalone deployment | Office/lab, COM port accessible, math or timestamp required |
Q: Does the WedgeLink AT require software or drivers to collect data?
— No. The Wedge port operates as a USB HID keyboard — Windows, macOS, and Linux recognize it natively without driver installation. The Windows setup program and FTDI driver are only needed for initial one-time configuration.
Q: What is Auto Baud Detection and when should I use it?
— Auto Baud Detection automatically identifies the baud rate and communication parameters of the connected RS-232 device. It supports 9 baud rates (600 through 57.6K) and 12 combinations of parity, data bits, and stop bits. It requires the device to transmit on demand when a button is pressed. Continuously transmitting devices should use manual parameter selection in the Setup Program instead.
Q: Can the WedgeLink AT extract just the numeric value from a scale’s serial output?
— Yes. The Find First Numeric Field function scans the incoming packet and extracts the first valid numeric value, discarding surrounding text, units, stability flags, and other non-numeric content. This is the most commonly used parsing function for scales, balances, and instruments with verbose packet formats.
Q: What is the difference between the two USB ports on the WedgeLink AT?
— The “Wedge” port (right rear) is the keyboard wedge output port — it presents as a USB HID keyboard; no driver required. The “RS-232 & Prog” port (left rear) is used during initial setup and can also send parsed data to a virtual COM port on the PC. After configuration, move the USB cable from the Prog port to the Wedge port for keyboard wedge functionality.
Q: Does the WedgeLink AT work with foot switches and hand switches?
— Yes. The 2.5mm subminiature jack on the front panel accepts a MicroRidge hand switch (HNDSW-MPLG) or foot switch (FTSW-MPLG). Both include 6′ cables. The built-in send button and external switch are independently configurable and can be programmed with different commands.
Q: Can I configure multiple WedgeLink AT units with the same settings?
— Yes. The Setup Program supports saving the current configuration to a file and loading it into additional units — the standard approach for fleet deployments where all units interface with the same instrument type.
Q: Can the WedgeLink AT handle instruments that output multiple values in one packet?
— Yes. The three parse groups can be chained to extract multiple fields from a single input packet. Each group uses a match string to identify its target field, extracts the numeric value, and appends a Tab or CR before passing to the next group — placing each value into a separate cell or field in the target application.
Q: Does the WedgeLink AT support non-US keyboard layouts?
— Yes. Six keyboard layouts are supported: US/Canada (default), Mexico/Latin America, UK/Australia, French, Belgium, and German. The layout configured in the WedgeLink AT must match the keyboard selected in Windows for correct character output.
Q: Can the WedgeLink AT update its firmware in the field?
— Yes. Firmware updates are available at no charge from the MicroRidge website and are applied via the RS-232 & Prog USB connection. Units do not need to be returned for service.
Need a plug-and-play Hardware Wedge?
— WedgeLink SP — the simpler, lower-cost hardware wedge for RS-232 devices that output clean, consistently formatted data at a known fixed baud rate. No setup required.
Need a software wedge?
— WedgeLink Lite / Standard | Software keyboard wedge for Windows with COM port access. Standard edition includes dual-port input, data parsing, and date/time stamping.
RS-232 Gage Cables
— Browse RS-232 Gage Cables | Compatible OEM RS-232 interface cables for Olympus, Mahr, Mitutoyo, and other manufacturers. Connects directly to the WedgeLink SP DB9 input.
DB9 Accessories
WLNK-AT Specs | |
|---|---|
Interface | RS-232 Serial — DB9 Male (standard PC serial port pinout) |
USB – Keyboard Output | USB HID keyboard (“Wedge” port on rear panel; no driver required) |
USB – Configuration / Serial Output | USB Virtual COM Port — FTDI (“RS-232 & Prog” port on rear panel; FTDI driver required) |
Baud Rate | Auto-detect or user-selectable: 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 14.4K, 19.2K, 38.4K, 57.6K |
Comm Parameters | All combinations of None/Even/Odd parity × 7 or 8 data bits × 1 or 2 stop bits |
Data Parsing | 3 independent parse groups; each group supports: match strings, character position, find first numeric field, prefix/suffix, and EOP character |
Character Processing | Character removal (by group or individual) and character replacement |
Read Trigger | Built-in front-panel send button; 2.5mm external switch jack (foot switch / hand switch) |
LED Status | Bi-color red/green — indicates initialization, baud detection, and operational status |
Keyboard Layouts | US/Canada (default), Mexico/Latin America, UK/Australia, French, Belgium, German |
Keyboard Transfer Rate | User-adjustable: Fast (~72 char/sec, default), Medium (~30 char/sec), Slow (~8 char/sec) |
Output Mode | USB HID keyboard (Wedge port) or USB serial port (RS-232 & Prog port) |
Firmware Updates | Field-upgradable at no charge |
Setup Software | Windows 7, 10, and 11 compatible |
Power | Powered via USB; includes 6′ USB cable |
Dimensions | 2.65″ × 2.61″ × 1.20″ |
Compliance | RoHS 2 compliant; REACH compliant |
SKU | WLNK-AT |
Origin | Origin |
