G
ETTING
S
TARTED
Key Definitions/Functions
Basic Function Keys
[+] [–] [x] [÷] [=]
Arithmetic operation keys.
[%]
Four-function percent key.
[0] – [9] and [ • ]
Digits used for keying-in numbers.
[Off] — Off Key
Turns all power off, clearing all non-permanent registers.
[On/C] — On/Clear Key
Turns on power. Pressing once clears the display. Pressing twice clears all temporary values.
[Conv] — Convert Key
Used with the dimensional keys to convert between dimensions or with other keys to access special functions.
4 — Construction Master IV
[ ] — Square Root Key
Used to find the square root of a non-dimensional or area value.
[Conv] [ ] — x
2
Function
Finds the square of a linear or nondimensional value.
[M+] — Memory Key
Adds the displayed value to Memory. Clears when the calculator is shut off.
[Conv] [M+] — Memory Minus (M–)
Subtracts the displayed value from
Memory.
[Rcl] — Recall Key
Used with other keys to recall stored values and settings.
[Rcl] [x] — Imperial/Metric Mode
Changes the defaults of the calculator by setting to Imperial (English) or Metric mode. Note: This setting is not affected by the ALL
CLEAR function.
[Conv] [Rcl] — Memory Clear
Clears Memory without changing current display.
User's Guide — 5
Dimension Keys
[Weight] — Weight Key
Enters or converts (a volume value) to tons, pounds, metric tons or kilo-
grams. Repeated presses will cycle through these units.
[Conv] [%] — Weight/Volume
Enters or converts the Weight per
Volume setting as Tons/Yard³,
Lbs/Yd³, Lb/Ft³, Metric Ton/m³ or
kg/m³. Repeated presses will cycle through these settings.
[Cu] — Cubic Key
Defines a volume (5 [Cu] [Yds]).
[Sq] — Square Key
Defines an area (5 [Sq] [Feet]).
[Yds] — Yards Key
Enters or converts to yards.
[Feet] — Feet Key
Enters or converts to feet as whole or decimal numbers. Also used with the [Inch] and [/] keys for entering
Feet-Inch values (6 [Feet] 9 [Inch] 1
[/] 2). Repeated presses toggle between Feet-Inch and Decimal Feet.
6 — Construction Master IV
[Inch] — Inch Key
Enters or converts to inches. Entry can be whole or decimal numbers.
Also used with the [ / ] key for entering fractional inch values (9
[Inch] 1 [ / ] 2). Repeated presses during conversions toggle between
Fractional and Decimal Inches.
[ / ] — Fraction Bar Key
Used to enter fractions. Fractions can be entered as proper (1/2, 1/8,
1/16) or improper (3/2, 9/8). If the denominator (bottom) is not entered, the calculator's fractional accuracy setting is automatically used.
[m] — Meter Key
Enters or converts to meters.
[cm] — Centimeter Key
Enters or converts to centimeters.
[mm] — Millimeter Key
Enters or converts to millimeters.
[Bd Ft] — Feet Key
Enters or converts cubic values to
board feet. One board foot is equal to 144 cubic inches (1 foot x 1 foot x 1 inch).
User's Guide — 7
Right Triangle/Rafter Keys
[Pitch]
This key is used to enter or calculate the pitch (slope) of a roof (or right triangle). Pitch is the amount of "Rise" over 12 inches (1 meter, if metric) of "Run." Pitch may be entered as: a dimension an angle
9 [Inch] [Pitch]
30 [Pitch] a ratio 0.75 [Conv] [Pitch] a percentage 75 [%] [Pitch]
A pitch entry will remain in permanent storage until revised or reset. A solution will be replaced by its entered value once the calculator is cleared.
[Rise] — Rise Key
Enters or calculates the rise or vertical leg (height) of a right triangle.
[Run] — Run Key
Enters or calculates the run or horizontal leg (base) of a right triangle.
8 — Construction Master IV
[Diag] — Diagonal Key
Enters or calculates the common or diagonal leg (hypotenuse) of a right triangle. Typical applications are
“squaring" slabs or finding common rafter lengths.
[Conv] [Diag] — Raked Walls
This function finds the decreasing stud sizes in a raked wall based on computed or entered values for pitch, rise and/or run. Repeated presses display stud sizes from longest to shortest.
The on-center spacing of a raked wall can be permanently stored by entering a dimension prior to solving for stud sizes (12 [Inch] [Conv]
[Diag]). Default on-center spacing is 16 inches (Metric Mode: 600 mm).
[Hip/V] — Hip/Valley Rafter Key
Finds the regular or irregular hip/ valley rafter length. If an irregular pitch is entered, the irregular hip/ valley rafter length is displayed, otherwise the regular (45º) hip/ valley rafter length is displayed.
User's Guide — 9
[Conv] [Hip/V] — Irregular Pitch
Enters and displays the irregular pitch value used to calculate lengths of the irregular hip/valley and jack rafters.
[Jack] — Jack Rafter Key
Finds the jack rafter sizes – from largest to smallest – for both regular and irregular pitched roofs. The initial jack rafter values displayed are from the regular pitched side.
After showing the minimum value, the calculator will display the sizes for the irregular pitched side. An on-center spacing can be entered by pressing [Jack] (i.e., 12 [Inch]
[Jack]). The default spacing is 16 inches (Metric Mode: 600 millimeters).
[Conv] [Jack] — Irregular Side Jacks
Operates same as [Jack], but displays the irregular pitched side jack rafters first. The calculator uses the same on-center spacing as the regular pitch sided jack rafters unless a new on-center spacing is entered (19.2 [Inch] [Conv] [Jack]).
10 — Construction Master IV
Stair & Circle Keys
[Stair] — Stair Key
A multi-function key that enters a
desired riser height and uses the rise and run values to compute and display the following:
Press Result
7
8
5
6
1
2
3
4
Number of Risers
Actual Riser Height
Riser Overage/Underage
Number of Treads
Actual Tread Width
Tread Overage/Underage
Stringer Length
Inclination Angle
Default value is 7-1/2 inches (Metric Mode: 185 millimeters).
[Circ] — Circle
Displays the following values, given an entered diameter:
1) diameter,
2) area, and
3) circumference.
[Conv] [Circ] — Arc Length
Calculates the arc length based on an entered diameter and angle.
User's Guide — 11
Additional [Conv] Key Functions
When used in conjunction with the following keys, the [Conv] key gives access to these additional functions:
[Conv] [ ÷]
Reciprocal, or 1/x function.
[Conv] [ x ] — All Clear
Clears all values including Memory.
Resets all permanent settings to defaults. Note: Will not change the
Imperial/Metric mode setting. [Rcl]
[x] changes this setting.
[Conv] [ + ] — Pi (
π
)
Constant = 3.141593.
[Conv] [ – ] — Sign (+ / –) Toggle
Toggles the sign of the displayed value.
[Conv] [ = ] — Paperless Tape
Accesses the paperless tape mode.
[Conv] [ • ] — Per Function
Allows you to compute a total material cost given a unit dimension and
12 — Construction Master IV
