Overview
The technology described in this article was successfully used in the Ground Recorder System to achieve a very high measurement of dynamic range for a recent NASA project. This technology is now integrated into the CoCo-80X portable hardware platform by Crystal Instruments.
How to control a vibration test in EDM using a Labview MQTT Client
Implementing MQTT in EDM allows users to remotely monitor and operate environmental tests (vibration, temperature, humidity) and take measurements using EDM DSA.
Read moreDynamic Stiffness Measurement or Conversion
Frequency Response Function (FRF) is widely used in structural testing. Accelerometers are typically used and the acceleration vs. excitation force is measured as FRFs.
Read moreAcoustic Testing at Roam Robotics Using Spider-20E Analyzer
Roam Robotics is a San Francisco-based company expanding human mobility with wearable robotics focused in three areas: recreation support, medical orthotics, and military applications.
Each application requires a thorough investigation to ensure user safety and comfort. Crystal Instruments is proud to provide the four channel Spider-20E dynamic signal analyzer for Roam to perform acoustic testing on their products.
Read moreNASA CI-GRS (Ground Recording System) Feedback
NASA’s response to Crystal Instruments addressed items NASA found beneficial, items NASA wanted changed, and items NASA benchmark tested on the prototype units. The Crystal Instruments prototype GRS systems were delivered according to a contractual agreement and performed well when tested for each listed specification with some areas of improvement.
Read moreMicro-vibration Measurements with CoCo-80X
The accurate measurement of micro-vibrations is the first step of successful vibration contamination control. According to generic vibration criteria for vibration sensitive equipment, the RMS velocity of vibration criterion is from 50 to 3.1 μm/s (2000 to 125 μin/s). To measure such small amplitudes, high sensitivity and low frequency sensors must be used. Crystal Instruments provides the Wilcoxon WR 731 and PCB 393B31 accelerometers with the CoCo-80X data analyzer for this application.
Read moreRecord Time Waveform and Save its Spectra on CoCo-80X
The CoCo’s Save and Record functions are generally only discussed in the context of separate measurements. Although the Save and Record functions cannot be executed simultaneously, the CoCo is still able to store both the time waveform and FFT from the same set of original data. By exploiting the fact that FFT/block signals are always being buffered in the CoCo’s RAM, we can acquire the FFT signals while simultaneously recording the time waveforms to the SD card.
Read moreSpider LabVIEW Utility
LabVIEW is a visual programming workbench provided by National Instruments. It is used in a variety of applications for distributed testing, measurement, and control systems. When combined with powerful data acquisition systems like Crystal Instruments Spider systems, it can accept a wide range of inputs from a wide range of sensors to perform real time spectral processing. This combination also enables the deployment of large scale custom industrial and production systems.
Read moreSynchronized Data Acquisition of Spider-20E/Spider 20HE and Spider-80X/Spider-80Xi Systems
Crystal Instruments EDM 9.0 release combines the advantages of the Spider-20 product line’s small form factor and portability with the powerful modular and scalable Spider-80X/Xi systems during a single data acquisition application.
Read moreNew Ultra-compact Spider-20H, Spider-20HE, & Spider-20i with 256 kHz Sampling Rate
Featuring the highest sampling rate provided in the industry at 256 kHz. Handheld battery powered system with wired & wireless network options and 20V input range. Sync between multiple devices. Choose the convenient portable model or industrial model for permanent mounting.
The Spider-20H, Spider-20HE, and Spider-20i received a hardware upgrade to support an impressive 256 kHz samping rate on all 4 input channels. It is the highest sampling rate offered in the market of compact analyzers. The high sampling rate is especially beneficial for measuring high orders and transient capture in blast tests, pyroshock events, drop shock tests, crash tests, etc.
In addition to the high samping rate, the input range is expanded to 20V to capture larger signals.
Read moreSpiders with 256 kHz Sampling Rate
Crystal Instruments EDM 9.0 release introduces new additions to the Spider product line featuring support for sampling rates up to 256 kHz.
The new Spider-80Hi and Spider-80Ci are scalable versions of the Spider system featuring the impressive new 256 kHz sampling rate. Recording can also be performed at sampling rates up to 256 kHz for all input channels, up to 512 channels per Spider system.
The compact, ultra-portable four channel version of the Spider has also been developed to support a 256 kHz sampling rate. Currently, three variations of the compact Spiders supporting the 256 kHz sampling rate are available: Spider-20H, Spider-20HE, Spider-20i.
Read moreVibration Visualization
It is difficult to imagine the actual vibration level and distribution from the numerical display or signals, which are basically a mathematical representation of the vibration experienced by the structure under test. Animating the structure’s deformation provides users with a clearer representation of the intensity from vibration.
Read moreSimplify the User Interface and Manage Different Levels of Users
EDM’s Account Management program controls the accessibility of features from different users. This provides a structure for managing the privileges for different groups of users. The Account Manager can be used to prevent lower-level users from adjusting parameters or display settings. It also allows users to customize the toolbars for a simplified user interface. By hiding certain features, the UI can be made much easier to use.
Read moreVibration Visualization
The EDM Vibration Visualization feature is available in all modules of EDM software (VCS, DSA and Modal). This option provides fast and efficient structural model generation and full 3D visualization of the online vibration pattern on the structure under test
Read moreVariable Sampling Rate for Synchronized Data Acquisition
The Spider-80Xi platform gives users the immense flexibility to combine the Spider-80Xi, Spider-80SGi or Spider-80Ti devices into one system with synchronized data acquisition. The Spider-80SG and Spider-80SGi can work as general-purpose data acquisition systems that not only supports strain measurement but also supports several sensor types requiring precision excitation voltage, including MEMS and strain gage based sensors. The Spider-80Ti on the other hand can acquire temperature data along with any other type of measurement quantity by using it with any combination of Spider-80Xs and Spider-80SGs.
Read moreSound Power on CoCo-80X
The CoCo-80X’s latest software release includes a new signal analysis project for Sound Power applications. The Sound Power CSA features a graphic interface to show the test point status. There are multiple test room types and microphone arrangements. When the test is complete, a report is generated.
Read moreIntroducing New Software EDM 5.1
The new Engineering Data Management software release from Crystal Instruments, EDM 5.1, improves ease of use, performance, and scalability of the associated hardware. The updated software version, introduced approximately 7 months from the previous 5.0 release, features enhancements to the high channel count configuration, as well as Multi-Sine control, Multi-exciter single-control for Sine, Fatigue Damage Spectrum (FDS) in Random, and Transient Random control. The release also supports the brand-new handheld dynamic signal analyzer, Spider-20.
Read moreCrystal Instruments Introduces Compact, Portable Dynamic Signal Analyzer to “Spider” Series
The Spider series of dynamic signal analyzers by Crystal Instruments welcomes its newest product, the Spider-20, which at 5 x 4 inches and 18 ounces is the most compact instrument in the product line.
Read moreSpider-80X Receives Russian Certification
Crystal Instruments continued to achieve relevance in wider global markets when the Spider-80X dynamic measurement system received certification from the Russian State Register of Measuring Instruments. The certification was obtained in partnership with Dipaul, Crystal Instruments' Spider-80X Russian distributor, and allows the highly scalable vibration controller and dynamic signal analyzer to be sold in Russia.
Read more8th Annual Maintenance and Reliability Conference Brief
The table top conference, put on by the Society of Maintenance and Reliability Professionals, was attended by about a dozen other maintenance and reliability companies whose specialties ranged from oil analysis to machine condition monitoring using handheld vibration data collectors. The exhibits attracted about 100 practitioners.
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