Capacitance Sensors Track Brake Rotor Thickness Variation
[Application Note 51018] Today’s cars and trucks offer unprecedented fuel efficiencies and handling characteristics – thanks, in part, to vehicle lightweighting. Applied to all vehicle components, lightweighting lowers stress and strain to improve mileage and boost overall performance. In keeping with this trend, today’s brake rotors are thinner and lighter than those of just a few years ago. In addition, many feature cooling vents to further improve performance. These changes, however, reduce available braking surface, forcing automotive engineers to consider alternative materials and designs. Problem Because the extreme temperatures and forces generated during braking can easily lead to rotor [...]
Thermal Expansion on Automobile Engine
For years the sole purpose of the oil pan was to act as a reservoir for the engine lubricant. Some modern engines now utilize the pan as a structural component. It is machined from a rigid steel or aluminum casting and designed to support the lower portion of the crankshaft bearings and rear main seal. This development has introduced a potential problem area that must be analyzed. As engines go through heating and cooling cycles it is essential that the engine block and oil pan expand and contract at nearly the same rate. If not, stresses can be introduced [...]
CAPACITANCE SENSORS FACILITATE 3D IC CONSTRUCTION
[Application Note 70518] To boost device performance, today’s semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturers are building three-dimensional integrated circuits featuring vertically-stacked silicon wafers and dies. The rationale is simple. Exploiting the Z-axis avoids the power and footprint penalties associated with two-dimensional processes. Implementing the rationale, however, is not so simple. Going vertical requires coplanar surfaces to make contact with all pins, pads, and pillars. Problem Typically, manufacturers measure the angle and gap between two planes to determine coplanarity. Bonding tool actuators rely on these angle/gap measurements to adjust components and make sure all device pins and/or solder balls reside on the [...]
MONITOR ROLLER GAPS AND PARALLELISM
Easy Roller Gap Measurement Ensures Calendering Success Many roll-to-roll finishing processes typically use a calender, or series of hard pressure rollers, to deliver smooth, high-quality products of plastic, textile, or paper (Fig 1). Ensuring a consistent material thickness, however, depends on the ability to monitor, and maintain, a precise gap between rollers. This application note describes a quick and easy means for roller gap measurement. Problem Establishing a roller gap and checking for parallelism across roller width can be a slow and cumbersome procedure. Manual measurement requires multiple sized feeler gauges which can introduce errors. Misinterpreting feeler gauge drag, [...]
ANGLE MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING
Introduction So what do sheet metal, speakers, and wine bottles all have in common? They represent the many angles and profiles that can be measured with laser sensor head. Angles: Numerous applications call for measuring angles such as sheet metal Press Brake applications. As the Press Brake bends the sheet metal, the controller reads the actual bend angle from the sensor head and can control under/over bending to reduce product waste and time. Sensor measurements can easily be interfaced with Press Brake control systems and allow an operator to: detect the bend angle monitor distortion of the punch and dies [...]
ADDING A DIGITAL PANEL METER TO MTI ANALOG OUTPUT PRODUCTS
How To Use Digital Displays with Analog OutputsMTI Microtrak 3 Lasers and some of our Accumeasure amplifiers such as the Accumeasure 9000 only have analog outputs. If you wish to add a digital display, then the Lascar Panel pilot © makes a nice cost effective (~ $110) addition – Fig 1. These Digital panel meters have both 1 & 2 channel display capability and the user can customize the display with a variety of interesting formats. The meter can operate off 4-30VDC which is compatible with the MT-3 power supply and the panel meter inputs can handle 0-10V which is compatible with [...]
PRECISION LASER MEASURING TOOLS
If you are looking for high quality, reliable precision laser measurement tools and devices then you are in the right place. MTI Instruments is a manufacturer of precision tools, systems and solutions for clients requiring the precise measurement and control of products and processes, and for the development and implementation of automated manufacturing, assembly, and complex machinery operation. Our product solutions are used in: Engine vibration analysis systems for military and commercial aircraft applications Industrial manufacturing/production markets Research, design and process development market. Non-Contact Measurement Turbine Balancing & Vibration Analysis Semiconductor/Solar Metrology Systems Signal Generator Applications When it comes [...]
GRINDING PROCESS
A cylindrical grinding process finishes most wheel spindle surfaces. It is essential that this grinding process leave a surface finish that is smooth and free of defects with minimal runout. No grinder produces a perfect surface. Grinder wheel runout, improperly dressed wheels and fixture vibrations can cause chatter on the spindle surface finish. Chatter is a series of microscopic, repetitive imperfections, or waves, in the surface of the material being machined. The required production environment sensor must have small spatial resolution, high frequency response and large standoff distance for easy loading and unloading of parts. Additionally, the measurement accuracy had to be [...]
NUCLEAR HEAT EXCHANGER VIBRATION
Power plants, particularly nuclear power plants, require heat exchangers to cool down the primary working fluid for the power plant. Excessive vibration can lead to cracking and premature failure of the heat exchanger. Problem: A major power plant company approached MTI looking for a sensor that could measure vibration of a heat exchanger assembly that was immersed under water. Additionally, the water could reach 250 F and up to 220 PSI; the probe had to be sealed with a gland at a bulkhead feed through area. Solution: MTI developed a special fiber optic probe based on the MTI-2125H probe configuration. The [...]
MRO NBAA 2022 Show Page
Two New Product Introductions at MRO Americas and NBAA Maintenance Conference Redefining a premier product family to improve jet turbine vibration analysis and balancing Join us at the MRO Americas show in Dallas, TX on April 26-28, or the NBAA Maintenance Conference in San Antonio, TX on May 3-5 to experience the MTI PBS family of products and see how our two new products can help your company with: Expanded functionality Improved usability focused on ease of learning and ease of use Faster performance Greater portability Better [...]