Largest force sensor.

Kistler's Type 9397C 3-component force sensor, with a measuring range of up to 450kN in the Z axis and 100kN in the X and Y axes, offers a unique measuring capacity. This, the largest sensor of its type in the world, is the ideal choice for large-scale measurement tasks such as capturing impact forces in crash tests. The Swiss pioneer of piezoelectric measurement technology specializes in ready-to-use custom solutions that can also cope with extremely high measurement ranges.

Kistler piezoelectric 3-component force sensors are used to measure dynamic and quasistatic tensile and compression forces, especially where small variations need to be detected. Being very rigid, the high natural frequencies makes the measurement of the smallest dynamic changes to very large forces in all three directions with high precision and excellent reliability. The sensors are fully calibrated and pre- loaded on delivery and can be installed straight from the box.

The unique Type 9397C 3-component force sensor from Kistler simplifies high impact and vibration testing in a wide variety of applications including Aircraft Landing Gear, High Speed Train Crash Walls and Spacecraft Payload.

Landing gear

#Kistler #transport

Measuring engine emissions.

As a developer and manufacturer of gas analysers since 1977, Signal Group staff possess a high level of knowledge in the sampling and analysis of gases in industrial processes and emissions. The company is therefore able to help in the development of international test standards, and was recently invited to make submissions to the SAE E-31 Aircraft Exhaust Emissions Measurement committee.

James Clements
MD Signal Group

Signal Managing Director James Clements travelled to Germany in response to an invitation from the committee to deliver a presentation on the measurement of engine emissions. Specifically, he was asked to discuss the advantages of hot vacuum chemiluminescence in comparison with cold non-vacuum chemiluminescence and other techniques.

Heated vacuum chemiluminescence is the reference method for monitoring NOx (combined NO and NO₂), and James described the advantages of this technique in comparison with others. In particular, he explained that chemiluminescence under vacuum offers higher sensitivity with minimal quenching effects, and a heated reaction chamber facilitates the processing of hot, wet sample gases without condensation. The detection method is continuous with a fast response time making it ideal for real-time reporting applications.

Over 1,800 SAE standards are used in the development of a typical aircraft, helping to improve product performance and safety; promote global market acceptance of new technologies; reduce costs; and decrease time to market. The SAE E-31 Aircraft Exhaust Emissions Measurement committee addresses all facets of aircraft exhaust emissions measurement – tools, methods, processes, and equipment. It is responsible for standardizing measurement methods of emissions from aircraft, including isolated combustor systems. The group is comprised of four subcommittees dedicated to creating, preparing, and maintaining all relevant specifications, standards, and requirements for aircraft exhaust emissions measurement.

Following the presentation, the committee will decide which method would be ideal for NOx measurement (hot-wet, or cold-dry chemiluminescence) and include it in the next standard for aircraft engine emissions measurement. James was also invited to be part of the committee and to take part in future discussions.

 @GasAnalysers #PAuto @SAEIntl  @_Enviro_News 

Everything you should know about Aircraft Structural Testing!

As airframe structures must be thoroughly tested to ensure top performance through its operational life, ‘Everything you should know about Aircraft Structural Testing’, a webinar from HBM, is suitable for structural engineers who are working on the development of modern aircraft.

Webinar scheduled for June 27^th 2017 at 9am (GMT)

When it comes to aircraft design, extensive stress, quality and safety testing are all necessary to make sure the design will work, as even the tiniest defect can cost lives.

Split into four comprehensive categories, this webinar will start with looking at some of the reasons and common drivers behind aircraft structural testing and will move on to high-channel count testing. The webinar will then look at typical requirements of the testing engineers and a sketch of the workflow. Following this, it will conclude with a short introduction of CP52, the communications processor and participants will be shown a live demonstration with Catman Enterprise software suite, MGCplus data acquisition system and a wing model.

The MGCPlus from HBM supports a wide spectrum of sensors, transducers, fieldbus connections and standard PC interfaces, making it a suitable choice for aircraft structural testing. In addition, its modular design ensures that it can be easily expanded or modified should requirements change.

Structural tests, even on a prototype design, can often require the monitoring of many thousands of measuring points and this is where reliable, secure and flexible software is important.

Catman software, which can be used for configuring, visualizing and analyzing measurement, is specifically developed for high-channel count measurements using the MGCPlus DAQ. Secure, flexible and reliable, Catman software is suitable for projects ranging from as few as 30 measuring points to large scale tests demanding up to 20,000.

Each webinar, which normally takes a maximum of one hour, can be easily accessed at a later date or simply used as a refresher course. As an added benefit, all registered participants will receive a link to the webinar, via email, after the presentation. All HBM webinars are free of charge. However, spaces are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis.

Reserve your space by booking here.

Aircraft lightning protection testing!

A major British manufacturer of aircraft engine control units recently awarded Pickering Interfaces a contract for a large quantity of High-Density PXI Multiplexers (model #40-651) as the switching solution for use in its new automated production test systems. These systems will be used to test FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Controller) lightning-strike protection components on Airbus’ A330 and A350 as well as Boeing’s Dreamliner aircraft.

The customer needed to test the transient-voltage-suppression diodes, or transorbs, used to protect the FADEC’s sensitive electronics from very fast voltage spikes induced on connected wires following a lightning strike on the aircraft. Due to the quantity of transorbs that needed to be tested (one on every I/O connection of the FADEC), a large number of high-power multiplexers were required to connect the UUT to the test instrumentation.

The customer required a compact, modular test architecture for scalability and ease of maintenance and selected PXI as their preferred platform. With no high-density PXI multiplexers of the required performance commercially available, the customer approached Pickering (a preferred PXI switch supplier) to discuss their options. Pickering’s engineers subsequently designed, built and tested a new PXI multiplexer to their specification. Following a successful trial of the initial prototype, Pickering worked closely with the customer to simplify the test system wiring by adding a second connector to the multiplexer for the MUX common connections. This led to a preliminary order for 84 multiplexer modules, with additional future requirements planned.

The 40-651 High-Density PXI Multiplexer is a COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) product and is available worldwide.

Flying high in business jet!

LynuxWorks tells us that LynxOS-178 is flying high. The recent announcement by Rockwell Collins that its Pro Line Fusion® integrated avionics system that uses LynxOS-178 is now in service on the Gulfstream G280™, marks the system’s debut in the super mid-size business jet market segment.

“This deployment is a major step in the continued widespread use of LynxOS-178 in avionics systems,” stated Robert Day, Marketing VP for LynuxWorks. “New market segments, such as the business jet market, further expand the reach of standards-based software and benefit from the software’s ability to reduce the time and cost of platform development and its subsequent certification.”

Earlier this year, LynuxWorks received Advisory Circular AC 20-148 approval from the FAA for reusable software components (RSC) authorized for the LynxOS-178 product used in the Rockwell Collins Adaptive Flight Display Runtime, Common Computing Module Runtime, Data Concentration Module Runtime and Synthetic Vision Module Runtime for Pro Line Fusion.

High temp gas turbine vibration monitoring

Meggitt Sensing Systems has announced the availability of the Endevco® model 6222S series, a high-temperature piezoelectric accelerometer family, designed for high-reliability vibration monitoring in helicopter Health & Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS); ground and onboard aircraft engine monitoring; and ground-based gas turbine engine monitoring applications.

Available in three models, with sensitivities of 20, 50 and 100 pC/g and choice of three ruggedized connector styles, the Endevco® model 6222S series offers high sensitivity and reliability in a low-profile package. Models feature the company's own proprietary Isoshear® construction, which significantly reduces transient temperature and base strain outputs, while maintaining a high mounted resonance and continuous operation in temperatures of up to +260°C (+500°F) with long Mean Time Before Failure (MTBF). The Endevco® model 6222S series comes with a standard ARINC three-point mounting configuration, three mounting bolts and is designed with a rugged two-pin 7/16-27 UNS-2A threaded receptacle with an available three-pin option. As a self-generating device, the sensors require no external power for operation.

The model 6222S series provides a balanced differential output, allowing them to be used with any industry differential charge amplifier. This unit is designed to be compatible with the Endevco® 6917B and 6917D series of shielded, softline cable assemblies.

This product family has proven industry pedigree, with more than 13,900 units shipped to date.