Solenoid Door Latches
Solenoid Door Latches Aviation/ Aerospace Solenoid Door Latches Displacement Description A key supplier to the aerospace industry who manufactures many types of solenoid door latches was faced with the requirement to measure the motion of the lock plunger. Since the solenoid latch needs to complete the locking or unlocking cycle in as quickly as 13 milliseconds, it was critical to accurately track the fast motion of the plunger with a measurement system having a frequency response in excess of 100kHz. Because of the limited access to the interior of the [...]
Using Laser Technology to Detect Fatigue Cracks
Using Laser Technology to Detect Fatigue Cracks Aviation/ Aerospace Jet Turbine Blade Vibration Amplitude Description In order to simulate real world conditions turbine blades are vibrated in a sound chamber at a variety of elevated temperatures. A siren directs a blast of pulsed air at the leading edge of the turbine blade creating a tremendous amount of force. This force excites the turbine blade at its resonant frequency, inducing strain in the blade structure. To accurately monitor vibration amplitude and frequency, a non-contact measurement sensor is required. Non-contact eliminates any “mass [...]
Interfacing to Offset IF Radar Altimeter
Interfacing to Offset IF Radar Altimeter Customer Case The customer is using an offset IF radar to map forest terrain density. The equipment will be mounted in an aircraft, which will also be carrying a Global Positioning System (GPS) for reference. The plane will fly at an altitude of 10,000 feet. A 512 ns radar pulse will be sent out and a return pulse will be received about 20 uS later, from which 10,000 samples will be acquired. After the pulse is received, there will be a relatively long re-arm time of about 250 to 300 uS for the [...]
Brake Rotors
Brake Rotors Automotive Brake Rotors Surface Description Introduction Under normal operating conditions brake rotors are subjected to extreme temperatures and forces, which can cause rotor distortion and potential failure. To make certain it can withstand these conditions; extensive laboratory testing is performed to optimize design for longevity, short stopping distance, and vibration free operation. Extensive on-vehicle testing is done under real life conditions to test prototype units and engineering designs. Test vehicles are driven for long periods of time while brake performance is monitored by a variety of sensors and [...]
Tire Tread Measurement
Tire Tread Measurement Automotive Tire Tread Inspection Depth Description Tire manufacturers and Used Tire Reuse Centers want to satisfy their customers, and protect themselves from liabilities. Manufacturers are moving to 100% tire inspection for tread depth, defects and abnormality detection. Defects not only cause potential safety issues but they can also introduce unwanted vibration into the vehicle suspension system and cause excessive road noise. Belts can be overlapped, or not cover the complete tire surface, causing weak or bubbled areas and imbalances. The tread depth can be too shallow, leading to [...]
Piezoelectric Device Amplitude
Piezoelectric Device Amplitude Research & Development Piezoceramic, 1-3 Pzt / Polymer Composite And Pvdf Film Amplitude Description Measuring Piezoelectric device amplitude including piezoceramic, 1-3 PZT/polymer composite and PVDF film A “PZT ” is a piezoelectric device which generates motion when a voltage is applied across the crystal. The motion can be anywhere from DC to ultrasonic and the motion is typically very small. PZT devices are used to generate sound and to convert voltage to motion. MTI's MTI-2100 controller in conjunction with a High resolution fiber optic probe such as [...]
Angle Measurement And Monitoring
Angle Measurement And Monitoring Industrial Angle measurement and monitoring Robot Guide Introduction What do sheet metal, speakers, and wine bottles all have in common? They all require precise angle measurement to ensure product consistency and quality. Whether you're working in metal fabrication or consumer product packaging, an angle measurement sensor is essential for measuring critical angles and profiles with high precision. Precision Angle Measurement in Sheet Metal Press Brake Applications Many industrial applications, especially in sheet metal fabrication, rely on angle measurement sensors to monitor and control bends. For example, in [...]
Piezoelectric Stack Motion
Piezoelectric Stack Motion Research & Development Piezoelectric Stack Motion Displacement Description Fotonic sensors are ideal for making dynamic measurement of very small oscillatory motions. Using the MTI-2100 with a spectrum analyzer, angstrom level measurements are possible. Would you like to know more? Okay let’s set up some basic equipment and get started. Piezoelectric crystals expand and contract when voltage is applied across the stack. By controlling the amplitude of the applied signal we control the magnitude of the displacement. The test setup A Spectrum Analyzer A Signal Generator to drive piezo device [...]
Thickness and TTV of Semiconducting Wafers
Thickness and TTV of Semiconducting Wafers Semiconductor Thickness And TTV Of Semiconducting Wafers Thickness Description Introduction:  Silicon wafers are ordinarily highly conductive and easy to measure with standard capacitive displacement sensors (See MTI’s Proforma 300i). Measuring the thickness of GaAs wafers that have high bulk resistivity (>10k Ohm/cm) is a little more difficult because the wafers act as non-conductive insulators in a capacitive sensors measuring field. Fortunately, MTI has a solution to this problem. Solution:  It’s possible to measure the thickness and TTV of high resistivity semiconducting wafers (like GaAs) [...]
Hopkinson Bar Testing (Stress Pulse Reaction Testing)
Hopkinson Bar Testing (Stress Pulse Reaction Testing) Customer Case This customer is involved in testing materials for how they react to stress pulses. The idea is to introduce a stress pulse into the Material Under Test (MUT) and monitor it as it travels through the material. This method of material characterization is also known as "Hopkinson Bar" testing. Multiple sensors pick up the reaction of the material and provide outputs which need to be digitized. These outputs are transient signals of approximately 2 Volts and have a rise time of approximately 600 nanoseconds. The resulting system must be programmable [...]