Wireless Measurement of Very Small Gap Changes Inside Rotating Machinery
Solar, Semiconductor Measurement of Ungrounded Targets Thickness, Metrology Description Description This application note describes how to use capacitance for the non-contact, wireless measurement of very small gap changes (distances) between a device and a grounded target. It uses the textile industry as an example, but any industry that uses machinery with continuously rotating drums or motors can benefit from this approach to remote measurement. Capacitance is highly accurate and can support the use of probes that are wireless. In our example, a capacitive sensing system from MTI Instruments eliminated concerns about establishing and maintaining [...]
MTI’s Accumeasure HD Amplifier vs. SmarAct’s PicoScale Interferometer GalleryMTI’s Accumeasure HD Amplifier vs. SmarAct’s PicoScale Interferometer
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MTI’s Accumeasure HD Amplifier vs. SmarAct’s PicoScale Interferometer
MTI's Accumeasure HD Amplifier vs. SmarAct's PicoScale Interferometer Research & Development Piezoceramic, 1-3 Pzt / Polymer Composite And Pvdf Film Amplitude Description This application note compares MTI's Accumeasure HD amplifier to SmarAct's Picoscale interferometer in terms of resolution and accuracy for very small displacement measurements. Specifically, this comparison focuses on minimum expected resolution and the effects of noise on accuracy. High resolution interferometers are widely regarded as the instrument of choice for the type of measurements described in this application note, but MTI's technology provides exceptional accuracy and stability. Moreover, the [...]
Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization
Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization Customer Case This customer's application is Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization. Their ultrasonic sensors transmit 16 signals. The customer's requirement is to capture 512 points on the 16 channels, average them together, and then store the data in a buffer, with the system running continuously. They would like to be able to update the average buffer and recapture data as fast as possible. They would then like to log the data to disk or process the data and display an image on the screen. Since the signals coming in from their ultrasonic sensors are very weak, the customer [...]
Ideal Charge Amplifier for Piezoelectric Sensor
Ideal Charge Amplifier for Piezoelectric Sensor Aviation (Turbine Engines), Automotive Research and Development, Industrial Manufacturing Vibration Monitoring: Turbine Engines; Vehicle Testing Pressure Monitoring: Combustion Engines; Pumps, Turbines Amplitude Measurements:  Acceleration, Vibration, Pressure Description Ideal Charge Amplifier for Piezoelectric Sensors Piezoelectric sensors, such as accelerometers for turbine vibration measurement and pressure transducers for combustion dynamics monitoring (CDM), generate a high-impedance charge output. This output requires proper conditioning and amplification before it can be transmitted over system cabling to measurement instrumentation. This is where a charge amplifier for piezoelectric sensors also known [...]
Digitizing Ultrasonic Signals
Digitizing Ultrasonic Signals Customer Case The customer has an ultrasonic signal that he wants to digitize with either 8 or 12-bit resolution. The sampling rate required for this application is a minimum of 16 MSPS (20 MSPS is acceptable). Finally, the data must be acquired for a full 10 seconds. The data is not coming in continuously: it is arriving in bursts one millisecond apart (PRF = 1 KHz). For each trigger the customer wants to capture approximately 200 us of data. Once this data is acquired, the customer wants it saved to the hard drive as a standard [...]
Vibration and Balancing Systems: The Spectrum Plot
The Spectrum Plot: Types of Aircraft Vibration One of the least understood features of the PBS series of vibration analyzers is the spectrum function. The spectrum functionality is a more difficult function to understand, but once mastered, technicians can quickly develop an extremely in-depth understanding on what is going on in an engine during a test. Figure 1, below, shows a basic spectrum from the PBS system. On the x-axis is frequency, measured in Hz (per second). On the y-axis is amplitude, measured in units of velocity, inches per second pk, or IPS pk. Figure 1: Basic Spectrum [...]
Capacitive vs. Eddy Current Sensors: A Comparison for Non-Contact Measurement
Capacitive vs. Eddy Current Sensors: A Comparison for Non-Contact Measurement Capacitive vs. Eddy Current Sensors: A Comparison for Non-Contact Measurement Manufacturing Ev Battery Production Thickness, Distance This application note from MTI Instruments compares two widely used types of non-contact sensors: eddy current sensors and capacitive sensors. It covers their basic operating principles, provides a quick comparison, and offers guidance for selecting the right sensor for your application. Capacitive Sensors: Operating Principles and Applications Capacitive sensors use electric fields to measure the distance between the sensor face and the target surface. These sensors are particularly effective [...]
Thickness Measurement of Dielectric Materials
Thickness Measurement of Dielectric Materials Manufacturing EV Battery Production Thickness, Distance --- Description --- Introduction Many applications, both in manufacturing and research, require precise material thickness measurements. This becomes especially difficult if the material is moving, is non conductive and/or translucent to clear. The specifics of your application may make accurate measurements difficult; many circumstances prohibit contact measurement, and make laser measurements difficult or impossible, for example with thin clear materials such as glass, sapphire, plastic . In cases such as these, capacitance measurement provides a highly accurate and cost-effective solution. [...]
Foam Density Measurement: Capacitance Sensors vs. Nuclear Gauges
Foam Density Measurement: Capacitance Sensors vs. Nuclear Gauges Foam Density Measurement Manufacturing EV Battery Production Thickness, Distance This application note from MTI Instruments compares two technologies for measuring foam density: capacitance sensors and nuclear gauges. It examines the basic operating principles of each technology and explains why capacitance measurement is recommended for in-line measurement during foam manufacturing. Capacitance Sensors Capacitive probes are non-contact devices that use electric fields to measure foam density. In combination with a thickness value, a density measurement may be calculated. These probes consist of a capacitance [...]
Connecting Encoders to MTI’s Digital Accumeasure
Connecting Encoders to MTI's Digital Accumeasure MTI's Digital Accumeasure D has the ability to accept one or two digital quadrature encoders. The encoders can be linear slide-type or rotary. Digital encoders allow for tracking the position of capacitive probes such that you can synchronize a probe's position with the probe's displacement data. Two common examples are: Rotary shaft runout: shaft (radial) displacement vs. angular encoder position X/Y position of probes measuring wafer thickness (map wafer thickness) Accumeasure software (basic and measurement) allows the display of instantaneous encoder counts as well as probe displacement data; however, [...]