Case-In-Point: High-Accuracy Capacitive Thickness Measurement Optimizes Li-Ion EV Battery Plate Qualities
High-Accuracy Capacitive Thickness Measurement Optimizes Li-Ion EV Battery Plate Qualities EV Battery manufacturers need to measure EV battery plate thickness with a high degree of precision (repeatable <2um accuracy and resolution) to optimize manufacturing efficiencies while maintaining uniform cell capacity and minimizing waste. The MTI Accumeasure System provides an effective means of monitoring plate thickness achieving sub 2um accuracy with high repeatability Introduction The rapidly expanding demand for electric vehicles is driving advances in the production of rechargeable cells that comprise the first stage in the composition of EV battery packs. Individual Li-Ion cells are combined to form [...]
A Comprehensive Guide to Non-Contact Sensors and Their Applications
Sensors, both contact and non-contact, are crucial devices that allow the monitoring, detection, and reaction to conditions in an environment or within a process or piece of equipment. While myriad types of sensors exist and are designed to monitor varying conditions, all of them can be characterized as being one of two types — contact sensors and non-contact sensors. We’ll focus on the latter, diving into different technologies, types, and applications of non-contact sensor technology; but first, let’s explore what differentiates contact and non-contact sensors. Contact vs. Non-Contact Sensors: What’s the Difference? Measuring, monitoring, or detecting a particular condition [...]
TESTING CHARGE AMPLIFIER GAIN AND FREQUENCY RESPONSE WITH A SIGNAL GENERATOR
[Application Note 40518] Piezoelectric transducers produce small electrical charges in response to pressure. Their sensitivity, ruggedness, and stability at high temperatures make them an essential building block of many accelerometers and pressure sensors. Applications include turbine vibration measurement (accelerometers) and combustion dynamics monitoring (pressure sensors). Typically, the high-impedance charge output produced by a piezoelectric transducer must be conditioned and amplified before transmission across system cabling to the data acquisition and measurement instrumentation. This conversion is accomplished with a device called a charge amplifier. Problem Over time, a charge amplifier’s signal response can drift. Damage to the charge amplifier or associated [...]
THICKNESS INFORMATION OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Composite materials consist of two or more materials which include a substrate or base material such as paper, cotton cloth, or glass cloth along with a resin or adhesive such as epoxy, melamine, or silicone. To make a thermoset laminate, the base material is coated with the adhesive so that layers of material can be pressed under heat and pressure into sheet form. The Problem: Composite material thickness needed to be verified prior to forming or machining. Due to the size of the sheets typical measurement techniques were not suitable. A consistent method to accurately measure the board thickness [...]
TIRE TREAD INSPECTION WITH 1D LASER SENSOR
Tire manufacturers wants to satisfy their customers, and protect themselves from liabilities, manufacturers are moving to 100% tire inspection for defects and abnormalities. Defects not only cause potential safety issues but they can also introduce unwanted vibration into the vehicle suspension system. 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 decreased service life. An uneven tire can cause excessive runout and vibration. MTI was approached by a major manufacturer requesting a solution to measure tread depth, runout and blistering. They [...]
FIBER OPTIC PROBES MEASURE STATOR BAR VIBRATION
[Application Note 11718] One of the primary concerns in large generator design is vibration. Excessive vibration can lead to premature breakdown of insulation and other materials, ultimately resulting in early failure of the generator itself. The Problem A leading manufacturer of power generating equipment required a sensing system able to measure stator bar vibration in a partial generator mockup. Specifically, the company’s multi-day testing program demanded a sensing system that was immune to the large magnetic field generated by live stator bars capable of withstanding high heat built up from prolonged testing, and compatible with a proprietary stator bar [...]
Aircraft Vibration Analysis and Measurement Techniques
Aircraft engine vibration is a critical indicator of engine health and overall flight safety. While some level of vibration in aircraft is expected during normal operations, excessive or abnormal vibrations often signal underlying mechanical issues that demand immediate attention. With modern jet engines becoming more complex, real-time vibration monitoring and precise balancing tools are essential for both aircraft maintenance teams and aviation diagnostics specialists. Aircraft vibration measurement tools detect and quantify these issues, enabling maintenance teams to take corrective actions before minor imbalances escalate into major faults. Types of Aircraft Vibrations There are two main categories of aircraft vibrations: [...]
How Capacitive Measurement Can Help Reduce Packaging Waste
Product packaging is often made of lightweight polymeric foams or plastic sheets and films. These materials are relatively inexpensive, but manufacturers still want to minimize waste and maximize yields. Across high volumes of low-cost materials, even a small per-unit savings can become significant, especially as the price of petroleum – a key ingredient in many polymers – continues to rise. For companies with environmental sustainability efforts, there are other important considerations as well. The excessive use of packaging materials can contribute to environmental pollution, especially with polymers that are slow to degrade. Yet, materials such as plastic sheets and [...]
Non-Contact Displacement Sensors for Detection and Measurement
Non-contact displacement sensors are designed to detect or measure physical properties such as linear displacement, thickness, proximity, and distance without physically touching the target. By emitting various forms of energy, such as capacitance, fiber optic, or laser triangulation, these sensors capture highly accurate readings without physically touching the object. This contrasts with traditional contact sensors, which rely on direct mechanical contact to gauge displacement or other physical properties. Benefits of Non-Contact vs. Contact Displacement Sensors Compared to contact sensors, non-contact displacement sensors offer faster response times, higher sampling rates, and minimal interference with the object being measured. They are [...]
Advantages of Measuring Semiconductor Thin Film Thickness with Capacitance
Thin Film Thickness Measurement Using Capacitance in the Semiconductor Industry In the semiconductor industry, the precise measurement of thin film thickness is crucial for ensuring the quality and functionality of wafer coatings. Thin films are deposited onto silicon and other wafer materials one atomic layer at a time, and the thickness of these coatings significantly impacts the wafer’s electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. Thin film thickness measurement is particularly important for semiconductor wafers, which may have either conductive metallic films or non-conductive metal oxide films deposited onto them. Common deposition methods include chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and physical vapor [...]





