The QuicKey Leveler Program is a simple to use MICROSOFT EXCEL application specifically written for key leveling.  It is used in conjunction with the key leveling apparatus.  Purchasers recieve a CD that contains the application that they can access using MICROSOFT EXCEL 2003 or higher.  The technician may save the data at any time while working, giving the data a unique file name and saving it just like any other application file.  This allows the technician to retrieve the data at a later date for completion, to create “what-if” scenarios, or to re-print the reports. Once the application is opened the Technician Worksheet will be available.

The technician enters in business and customer data in the grey fields labeled “Prepared By” and “Prepared For”.  General Key Leveling data is entered in the “General Analysis Information” information field where units of measure may be selected (inches or millimeters) and general dimensional data for all keys is given. The technician enters the amount of Arc Height desired.  If no arc height is desired, and the technician would prefer that the keys be leveled in a straight plane, the value of 0.000 is entered. The technician may require that no keys be lowered during the key leveling procedure; if this is the case the technician would enter “D” or “d” in the “allow shim reduction at balance rail” field. Position data from the key leveling apparatus is entered into the program in the “Rest” and “Dip” fields for both the white and the black keys.  The program automatically calculates the amount of shim addition or removal required for each key at the front and balance rail.  The program accounts for apparatus miss-alignment and keys that could be out of the measurable range of the indicator. Upon completion of the Technician Worksheet, the data is saved and calculations are performed based upon the data entered.

A Customer Report is automatically generated.  This report may be printed via the web browser and given to the customer to use as a sales tool. Note that no additional data entry is required for this report and the “Prepared by” and “Prepared for” fields will be automatically populated. This key leveling report also features a graph that gives the customer a visual representation of how unlevel their piano’s keys are at the time of service.

A Technician Report is also generated for printing.  This report is more detailed than the Customer Report. The Technician Report reiterates most of the data entered on the Technicians Worksheet and gives the Optimal Arc Height. The main function of the Technician Report is to tell the technician exactly how the punchings under the balance rail and front rail needs to be adjusted to bring the key to level at the arc height the technician sets. Positive values in the “BRS” and “FRS” fields indicate the amount of shim addition needed; negative values indicate the amount of shim that needs to be removed. The Optimal Arc Height is the height by which the least amount a key adjustment needs to be made; this value represents the least amount of disruption to the action while still bringing the keys into level. The technician must return to the Technician Worksheet and enter the Optimal Arc Height in the Arc Height Field in order to produce the data needed to level the keys to the Optimal Arc Height as shown in the example above.

© Copyright 2007-2008 The Leveler Company, "QuicKey Leveler" is a Trademark of The Leveler Company and is Patent Pending