This update adds Calculated Value Tags (CVTs) to the MyStacks Tag Management widget. Calculated Values are a simple but powerful new tool that lets you quickly transform raw data signals into analysis-ready metrics:
- Start with your existing data. Select any existing raw or calculated tag in your MyStacks account.
- Apply a formula. We provide prebuilt formulas for the most commonly used data transformations: Sum, scale, average, etc.
- Name and save the new CVT. CVTs behave like any other tag across MyStacks. Apply visualizations, or add the new tag to your existing reports.
You can access this new feature from the Stack Management Widget. Select ‘Manage Tags’ from the action menu, choose a tag, and open the Calculated Values tab to browse our prebuilt CVT calculations.
What you can build
Where a raw data tag answers “What is this sensor reading right now”, a CVT can answer “What does this mean for my operation”:
1. Convert raw signals into useable units for operators, engineers, and managers:
- Amps × Volts = kW
- Flow sensor pulses ÷ K-factor = Gallons
- Counts ÷ Time = Production Rate
2. Create tags for metrics that can’t be measured directly:
- Runtime ÷ Available Time = Utilization %
- Total Energy ÷ Units Produced = Energy Cost per Part
- Rejected Parts ÷ Total parts produced = Scrap Rate
3. Add sophisticated alerts that trigger on complex conditions:
- Throughput Low: Parts-per minute CVT drops below target
- Excessive machine stops: Times a machine enters the ‘Off’ state exceeds a maximum threshold per 30 minute window
- Waste alert: Material consumed this shift exceeds baseline by more than 10%
One-click CVT activation for improved reporting
Under a tag’s State Properties, you can easily enable a preset CVT that makes report generation much faster by checking the box shown below.
This will automatically aggregate your state information in 30 minute increments, greatly speeding up report generation. Your state property fields will be locked while this is enabled– Please ensure that your state thresholds are established and unlikely to change before enabling this feature.
This update gets you more value from the sensors already deployed in your workflow, making it easy to track advanced metrics and create more sophisticated alerts. As always, we’re here to help you get the most out of the Interstacks platform. Reach out to discuss your project any time with your support engineer, customer success team member, or email info@interstacks.com.
Thanks for building with us!
– The Interstacks team