Designed & Made in the USA Since 1983
The GageWay SMR connects a single Digimatic compatible gage to any system with a standard 9-pin RS-232 DB9 serial port — no USB required. It outputs gage measurements as standard RS-232 serial data at 9600-N-8-1, pre-configured from the factory. The receiving system sees the GageWay SMR as a standard RS-232 serial device.
The SMR is the correct interface when your data collection system, PLC, HMI, CNC controller, data logger, or industrial PC has a native DB9 serial port and does not support USB input. Powered directly by the serial port handshake lines — no external AC adapter required.
Compatible with any gage that provides a standard Digimatic compatible output, or gages with MicroRidge-designed cables that convert the gage’s output to a compatible format — including Mitutoyo, Federal Maxum, CDI, Kroeplin, and others. Powered directly by the serial port handshake lines — no external AC adapter required.
Interface Type – RS-232 DB9 serial
Gage Connection – Mitutoyo Digimatic 10-pin (Type D Male)
Pre-Configured Comm Parameters – 9600-N-8-1
Driver required – No
Power – Serial port handshake lines (DTR pin 4 / RTS pin 7) — no AC adapter
Interface Cable Length – 18 inch, 6 ft.
Read Switch Port – 2.5 mm subminiature phone jack
Read Modes – Single, continuous (operator switchable)
Gage Detection – Automatic
Compatible Gages – Mitutoyo, Mahr Federal, CDI, Kroeplin, others
Origin – Designed & Made in the USA
$180.00
The GageWay SMR is a single-gage interface with a native RS-232 DB9 output. It connects a Digimatic compatible digital gage to any system with a standard 9-pin serial port — delivering gage measurements as RS-232 serial data at 9600-N-8-1, pre-configured from the factory.
RS-232 with a DB9 connector remains the standard serial interface across a wide range of industrial systems: PLCs, HMIs, CNC machine controllers, data loggers, serial device servers, industrial PCs, and legacy instrumentation. Where USB is unavailable, unsupported, or undesirable in a validated or controlled environment, the GageWay SMR provides a direct, deterministic serial connection between the measuring gage and the receiving system with no additional hardware or software layer required.
The GageWay SMR is the correct interface in three situations:
Your receiving system has a native DB9 serial port. PLCs, HMIs, CNC controllers, data loggers, industrial PCs, and many serial device servers expose RS-232 DB9 ports for direct serial device connection. The GageWay SMR plugs directly into these ports with no adapters, no USB hub, and no driver installation on the receiving system.
Your environment restricts USB connections. In some manufacturing, regulated, or safety-critical environments, USB device connections are restricted by IT policy, validation requirements, or process control system architecture. RS-232 serial connections via DB9 can carry no such restrictions and require no driver installation on the host.
You are integrating gage data into a PLC, HMI, or control system. PLCs and HMIs commonly expose DB9 RS-232 ports for serial device input. The GageWay SMR delivers gage measurements as a simple RS-232 serial string that any system capable of reading a COM port or serial input can receive and process.
Any system with a standard RS-232 DB9 serial input can receive data from the GageWay SMR. Common industrial applications include:
PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) — Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Omron, and other PLC platforms commonly expose RS-232 DB9 ports for serial device input. The GageWay SMR delivers gage data as a clean numeric string the PLC program can receive and process via standard serial communication function blocks.
HMIs (Human Machine Interfaces) — Touchscreen panels and operator interface terminals commonly include RS-232 DB9 ports for connecting external serial devices. The GageWay SMR allows gage measurement data to be fed directly into an HMI display or process workflow.
CNC Machine Controllers — Many CNC controllers include RS-232 serial ports for external device input, tool offsets, and inspection data. The GageWay SMR can deliver in-process or post-process gage data directly to the controller.
Industrial PCs and Legacy Windows Systems — Industrial PCs and older workstations frequently include native RS-232 COM ports. The GageWay SMR connects directly without requiring a USB VCP driver — particularly useful in locked-down or validated environments where driver installation is restricted.
Data Loggers and Serial Device Servers — Data acquisition systems, serial-to-Ethernet device servers, and data loggers with DB9 inputs can receive GageWay SMR output and forward it to network-connected systems, SCADA platforms, or cloud-based data collection applications.
Serial-Input SPC and Quality Software on Legacy Systems — SPC software running on industrial PCs with native COM ports connects directly to the GageWay SMR without any USB infrastructure.
The GageWay SMR draws power from the serial port handshake lines — specifically DTR (pin 4) and RTS (pin 7) on the standard 9-pin DB9 port. No external AC adapter is required. One or both of these pins must be in the high state for the unit to operate.
In practice, most applications automatically set these lines to the high state when opening a serial port. Power up and power down of the GageWay SMR is controlled by the application managing the serial port — when the port is closed, the unit powers down. This behavior is normal and expected in PLC and HMI integrations where the control application manages the serial connection.
GageWay SMR supports any gage with a standard Digimatic compatible output — regardless of manufacturer. Mitutoyo gages use this output natively, but many other manufacturers produce gages with a compatible output that will work with GageWay SMR without any special cables. Standard cables are available from the gage manufacturer, any Mitutoyo dealer, or MicroRidge.
Some gages that do not natively output a compatible signal are also supported via MicroRidge-designed cables that convert the gage’s output to a compatible format. Contact MicroRidge to confirm compatibility for your specific gage.
Gage readings can be initiated three ways: the read button on the gage cable, an optional foot or hand switch connected to the read switch port on the side of the GageWay SMR, or a serial command sent from the host system. The computer command option supports automated and timed data collection workflows from PLCs, HMIs, or custom applications without operator input.
Hand Switch (P/N: HNDSW-MPLG) — 6 ft. cable, handheld momentary switch. Standard for bench inspection and measurement stations where the operator holds the part with one hand.
Foot Switch (P/N: FTSW-MPLG) — 6 ft. cable, floor-mounted pedal. Frees both hands for part handling. Commonly used in high-volume inspection and attribute data collection.
GageWay SMR accepts the following serial commands from the host system. Commands are not case sensitive and do not require a carriage return terminator:
Command | Function |
|---|---|
R | Read gage — single reading |
B | Begin continuous gage read |
S | Stop continuous gage read |
C | Begin continuous read while read switch is held |
D | Stop continuous read when read switch is released |
H | Display list of available commands |
L | Turn LED on for 50 ms (connection test) |
V | Display version information |
Z | Reset to power-up configuration |
GageWay SMR sends measurements left-justified, terminated with a carriage return. No leading, trailing, or embedded spaces are included. The string length varies based on the number of digits in the measurement. Examples:
1.3265
.1455
-.5725
13.26The output string contains only measurement digits (0–9), a minus sign for negative values, and a decimal point. No unit labels, status flags, or formatting characters are appended. The receiving PLC, HMI, or application reads the string and terminates on the carriage return.
GageWay KW, GageWay SM and GageWay SMR share the same gage compatibility and single-gage form factor. The difference is how they deliver data to your PC:
GageWay SMR | GageWay SM | GageWay KW | |
|---|---|---|---|
Output Type | RS-232 DB9 serial | USB Virtual COM Port (VCP) | USB HID keyboard wedge |
Driver Required | No | Yes (USB VCP driver) | No |
Host Connection | Native DB9 serial port | USB port | USB port |
Best For | PLCs, HMIs, CNC controllers, legacy industrial PCs | Modern PCs running COM port-aware software | Any app accepting keyboard input — Excel, SPC, ERP |
Power Source | Serial port handshake lines | USB | USB |
Power Control | Application-controlled (port open/close) | Always on when USB connected | Always on when USB connected |
Computer Command Control | Yes | Yes | No |
Available Lengths | 18 inch or 6 ft. | 18 inch or 6 ft. | Fixed (6 ft. USB cable) |
Choose GageWay SMR when the receiving system has a native RS-232 DB9 serial port — PLCs, HMIs, CNC controllers, data loggers, and legacy industrial PCs.
Choose GageWay SM when the receiving system is a modern PC or workstation running COM port-aware software such as a dedicated SPC platform, LIMS, or custom application.
Choose GageWay KW when your workflow feeds gage data directly into Excel, Access, a browser-based form, or any standard Windows application that accepts keyboard input.
GageWay SMR | GageWay Pro | |
|---|---|---|
Gage Channels | 1 | 2, 4 or 8 |
Output Type | RS-232 DB9 serial | Keyboard wedge + USB VCP + DB9 serial port |
RS-232 Gage Support | No | Yes — via multifunction serial port or Level Converter Cable (GW-LC) |
Configuration | Pre-configured 9600-N-8-1 | Windows-based Setup Program |
Firmware upgradeable | Yes | Yes |
Choose GageWay SMR for single-gage RS-232 deployments where direct DB9 connection and zero configuration overhead are the priority.
Choose GageWay Pro for multi-gage fixturing, mixed protocol environments, or applications requiring the full Windows setup utility and multi-output flexibility.
Q: What is the GageWay SMR used for?
— The GageWay SMR connects a single Digimatic compatible digital gage to any system with a standard RS-232 DB9 serial port. It is commonly used to feed gage measurement data into PLCs, HMIs, CNC controllers, data loggers, industrial PCs, and serial device servers that do not support USB input.
Q: Does the GageWay SMR require a driver?
— No. The GageWay SMR outputs native RS-232 serial data via a standard DB9 connector. No driver installation is required on the receiving system.
Q: How is the GageWay SMR powered?
— The GageWay SMR draws power from the serial port handshake lines — DTR (pin 4) and RTS (pin 7) — on the DB9 port. No external AC adapter is required. Most applications set these lines to the high state automatically when opening a serial port.
Q: Can I connect the GageWay SMR directly to a PLC?
— Yes, provided the PLC has an RS-232 DB9 serial port and the port is configured to match the GageWay SMR’s pre-configured parameters of 9600-N-8-1. The GageWay SMR can be triggered by a computer command from the PLC program or by a foot or hand switch connected to the read switch port on the unit.
Q: Which gages are compatible with the GageWay SMR?
— GageWay SMR supports any gage with a standard Digimatic compatible output, regardless of manufacturer. Some gages are also supported via MicroRidge-designed conversion cables. Examples include Federal Maxum, CDI, and Ono Sokki. Contact MicroRidge to confirm compatibility for your specific gage.
Q: What is the difference between the GageWay SMR and the GageWay SM?
— Both connect a single Digimatic compatible gage to a serial interface at 9600-N-8-1. GageWay SMR outputs via a native RS-232 DB9 connector — no driver required, connects directly to PLCs, HMIs, and other industrial systems with DB9 ports. GageWay SM outputs via USB Virtual COM Port — requires an FTDI VCP driver, and is designed for modern PCs and workstations with USB ports.
Q: Can the GageWay SMR be triggered by a computer command?
— Yes. The GageWay SMR accepts serial commands from the host system to initiate single or continuous gage readings. This allows PLCs, HMIs, or custom applications to control data collection programmatically without requiring a physical read switch.
Q: What does the data output look like?
— The GageWay SMR sends a left-justified numeric string terminated with a carriage return — digits, a minus sign if negative, and a decimal point. No leading spaces, unit labels, or status flags are included. The receiving system reads the string and terminates on the carriage return.
Q: Can the firmware be updated in the field?
— Yes. GageWay SMR firmware is upgradeable via the serial port. Current firmware is available on the GageWay Firmware Updates page.
Q: Is the GageWay SMR RoHS compliant?
— Yes. GageWay SMR is RoHS 2 compliant. A Declaration of Compliance is available on the MicroRidge website.
Also in the GageWay Family:
Accessories:
Go Wireless:
GageWay SMR (GW-SM-R) Specs | |
|---|---|
Interface Type | RS-232 DB9 serial |
Interface Cable Length | 18 inch, 6 ft. |
Gage Connection | Mitutoyo Digimatic 10-pin (Type D Male) |
Data Output | Numeric string (digits 0–9, minus, decimal) + carriage return |
Read Switch Port | 2.5 mm subminiature phone jack |
Read Modes | Single and continuous |
Gage Detection | Automatic |
Compatible Gages | Mitutoyo, Mahr Federal, CDI, Kroeplin, others |
LED Indicator | Read confirmation, error blink, gage detection status |
Dimensions | 2.16″ × 0.80″ × 0.40″ |
RoHS compliance | RoHS 2 compliant |
Firmware Upgradeable | Yes — via serial port |
Warranty | 12 months from date of purchase |
Origin | Designed & Made in the USA |
