Inrared Meter Can Be Pulsed At 180Hz With 50% Modulation Depth
Cal Sensors announces the launch of PIREPlus, a high-output, high-pulse rate emitter that can be pulsed as a source of blackbody radiation for near-to-far infrared applications at 180Hz with 50% modulation depth. With a pulsing speed 18 times faster than alternative technologies, the PIREPlus maximizes signal to noise performance, expanding the measurement dynamic range and resolution for trace gases with very low parts per million. The solid state emitter offers high output (4×10-2 watts/cm2 at 1 inch from filament) and includes integrated drive electronics.
The PIREPlus is suited for a variety of applications, including industrial and medical gas analysis, environmental monitoring, process control instrumentation, spectroscopy and plastics sorting. The pulsable emitter offers enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, is compatible with a wide range of detector technologies, and comes in an industry-standard T0-5 header package.
The radiating element in PIREPlus is an ultra-thin specially designed metallic foil configured to ensure radiation from both sides of the heated foil is efficiently directed out of the package along the optic axis. The foil material has an emissivity of 0.88 and closely emulates a blackbody source in spectral distribution. PIREPlus emitters are designed to operate at a rated maximum foil temperature of 1000° Kelvin and are offered with a standard integrated reflector to provide near collimated and uniform radiation output. A variety of elliptical reflectors with varying focal lengths are also available for coupling into optical fibers and other applications.
The PIREPlus comes with integrated drive electronics in an industry standard 14 pin-dip IC package. The user-friendly drive electronics are voltage variable and allow users to select from a wide range of frequencies between 1Hz and 500Hz according to their specific application needs. A special feature of the drive electronics is the ability to provide peak pulse temperatures independent of the pulse frequency. This ensures the highest output for any application.
Compatible with a wide range of IR detector technologies, the PIREPlus emitter can be paired with Cal Sensor´s new MIRA4 four-color lead selenide (PbSe) sensor that provides industry-leading sensitivity of 1.5E10 Jones in the detection of up to four distinct gases in the 1.0 to 5.5 µm infrared region. The PIREPlus emitter and MIRA4 detector can be purchased together as an integrated module for quick integration and efficient design and performance.
The PIREPlus represents the latest generation of PIRE pulsable emitters that Cal Sensors officially launched at booth 2600 of the SPIE-sponsored Photonics West exhibit held January 26-28 in San Francisco, California. Cal Sensors exhibited a full line of innovative IR detector and emitter technologies at the event.
Laser Beam Analyzer Runs on Microsoft® Vista or Windows 7
January 25, 2010 by admin
Filed under Calibration, Meters & Testers, Sensing
At PhotonicsWest 2010 Ophir Spiricon announced BeamGage Professional, its newest addition to the company’s laser beam analysis systems.
BeamGage Professional builds on the features included in BeamGage Standard: Beam-Maker beam simulator, automatic camera control for ease of use, and comprehensive set of beam analysis algorithms. The Professional version adds such new capabilities as partitioning of the camera output for separate analysis of multiple laser beams from sources such as fiber, a .NET interface for full remote control when integrating beam analysis into an automated application, and camera sharing.
Analysis of individual Beams
BeamGage Professional now supports partitioning of the camera output. This enables analysis of individual beams when multiple beams impinge on the camera simultaneously. This is particularly useful when analyzing multiple fibers in a single bundle. Individual partitions can be viewed in the 2D display window one at a time or all at once. The 3D display shows all at once.
.NETAutomation Interface
Applications can now be automated by interfacing through BeamGage Professional’s .NET controls for embedded or remote operation. Users can control the software using Active X or National Instruments’ LabVIEWcontrols. Features that can be automated include launch and termination of the application, camera settings, data capture, and image capture. Examples are provided in LabVIEW, Excel, Visual Studio.Net C#, and Visual Studio.NET VB.
Accurate Measurements
BeamGage Professional is based on UltraCal™, Ophir-Spiricon’s patented baseline correction algorithm that helped establish the ISO 11146-3 standard for beam measurement accuracy. Beam-Gage provides high accuracy results, guaranteeing the data baseline (zero reference point) is accurate to 1/10th of a digital count on a pixel-by-pixel basis.
BeamGage allows you to configure as many measurements as needed; it includes over 55 separate measurement choices, including many based on ISO standards, such as Centroid X and Y, Ellipticity, Eccentricity, Peak Fluence, and more.
Enhanced Interface
Running on Microsoft® Vista orWindows 7, BeamGage Professional operates in 32-bit mode for faster processing. Enhanced 3D graphics improve data rendering. The software supports a selection of cameras with FireWire (1394) and USB interfaces that cover wavelengths from 190 to 3000nm.
Digital Multimeter Has USB & Cable Adapters
January 18, 2010 by admin
Filed under Bench Test, Meters & Testers
Fluke Corporation announced enhancements to its bench digital multimeters. The Fluke 8808A 5.5 digit Digital Multimeter and the 8845A/8846A 6.5 digit Multimeters will now include a USB to RS232 Cable Adapter as well as FlukeView Forms Basic software.
Leadership in Engineering
January 15, 2010 by admin
Filed under New Articles
Leadership in Engineering
This is the 3rd annual Leadership event announcing the winners in the 2009 Leadership Awards Program. The Design World User Community have cast their votes and we are pleased to announce the winners.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
Da/Pro Rubber is a custom manufacturer of precision rubber, TPE, and plastic molding products. The proprietary Da/Pro process adjusts for rubber compound and rubber part configuration variables so that it can produce high tolerance parts of consistent quality. The company offers complete in-house capabilities from design for moldability, rubber compound development, lab testing, mold construction, subassembly, and quality assurance.
Digital Manufacturing
Proto Labs’ quick-turn Protomold® injection molding and First Cut® CNC machining services are the fastest in the world at providing design engineers with real parts based on their 3D CAD models. We achieved this unique ability by applying proprietary software and parallel processing technologies to the automation of standard manufacturing processes, so engineers can finally have it all : real parts in as little as one day.
Electrical & Electronic
Since 1976, Glenn Taylor’s vision of an enterprising engineer has been our guiding force. Our goal is to design and manufacture standard industrial control products that meet or exceed customer and industry specifications for quality and operation. We engineer more features, more functions and more flexibility into our products, and we are able to offer a lifetime warranty for them.
Fastening & Joining
Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.’s original product was a plastic ring with a groove to house a coiled spring. Today, the company’s patented canted coil spring energized PTFE is at the core of its product offerings. Bal Seal offers custom-engineered sealing, connecting, conducting, and shielding products for medical electronics, medical device aerospace/defense, energy management, automotive, and industrial applications.
Fluid Power
Norgren’s vision is to create competitive advantage for its customers. By exploiting the potential of motion and fluid control technologies. For Norgren customers this means better results, faster/more efficient machines, improved machine performance, increased reliability/uptime and lower cost of ownership. Application specific solutions frequently involve integrated or modular combinations of actuator, control valve and air preparation technologies. Within the field of motion control Norgren develops solutions for automation applications and within the field of fluid control Norgren combines proven brands to offer solutions for handling air, water, oil and other fluids.
Mechanical
Arrow Gear Company is among the most technologically advanced gear manufacturers in the world. With a facility of over 145,000 square feet, Arrow is equipped for a full range of precision gear machining, heat treating and inspection capabilities for spiral bevel gears, spur and helical gears, curvic couplings – as well as complete gearboxes.
Arrow has earned a reputation for providing high precision gears to the global market for a wide variety of aerospace and commercial applications.
Arrow’s advanced technologies reach beyond machine tools alone. Arrow is equipped with design and development capabilities that are on the leading edge of the industry. Utilizing Gleason CAGE, GAGE, MINIGAGE, Finite Element and Fully Loaded TCA software, Arrow engineers can create computer models which accurately predict gear design performance. This process for contact pattern development is dramatically more efficient than conventional methods.
Motion Control
PBC Linear is a leader in providing linear and rotary solutions, specializing in everything from out-of-the-box components, to mechanical sub-assemblies, to complete linear systems. PBC Linear’s team of expert engineers draws experience from years of mechanical and design engineering both in the classroom and in the field. Their skilled staff, sophisticated tools, and innovative products create long lasting solutions for the toughest motion control problems.
Software
COMSOL Group provides software solutions for multiphysics modeling. A fast growing engineering software company with a proven track recor, Comsol was founded in July 1986 in Stockholm, Sweden, and has offices in Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, India, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and U.S.A.
Switches & Sensors
MTS Sensors, a division of MTS Systems Corp., is the global leader in the development and production of magnetostrictive, linear-position and liquid-level sensors. Using MTS’s patented Temposonics® technology, the Sensors Division is continually developing new ways to apply magnetostrictive sensing technology to solve critical applications in a variety of markets worldwide, including steel, wood, plastics, metalworking, automotive, and off-highway. It also applies megnetostrictive technology to the packaging, oil, gas, food and beverage, and medical industries. MTS Sensors Division has facilities in the U.S., Germany, and Japan, and is an ISO 9001 certified supplier committed to providing innovative sensing solutions that deliver customers with reliable, cost-effective position-feedback devices.
Test & Measurement
Omega is a major US company that manufacturers more than 80% of its product offerings in house ─ and this percentage is continuously increasing. At a time when “outsourcing” seems to be the foundation of many US manufacturers, Omega Engineering, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, remains a notable exception. Omega enjoys this leadership position because it strongly advocates process automation to achieve high productivity and create quality products. When commercial equipment is used, in-house automation handles the input and output processes. Omega’s automation engineers are among the most talented, and it has invested substantially in the model shops and labs needed to support them. Working with an equally talented staff of software engineers, they produce a wide range of custom automation equipment.
NAVY Uses New Salt Detection Kits For Its Ships’ Surfaces
January 15, 2010 by admin
Filed under Featured, Meters & Testers, Test Equipment
CHLOR*RID International, Inc. have teamed up with NAVFAC, United Coatings Corporation, and American Stripping. United Coating Corporation, and American Stripping are said to use CHLOR*RID salt removal and CHLOR*TEST salt detection kits for surface preparation to apply coatings to U.S. Navy ships (including SPECWAR counter-terrorism ships), the U.S. Coast Guard, and NAVFAC fuel tanks, towers, water tanks, and pipelines.
NAVFAC (Naval Facilities Command) is the division responsible for the Navy’s land-based assets, including fuel tanks, towers, water tanks, and pipelines, etc; they use CHLOR*RID also. It has incorporated the use of CHLOR*RID and CHLOR*TEST into their specifications since in the mid 1990’s. According to Daniel Zarate, NAVFAC Paintings & Coatings, SME, “Prior to 1995, it is estimated that at least 3 out of 4 contractors suffered major failures during projects or shortly thereafter. Most coatings did not survive more than 5 to 7 years. Now with changes, including CHLOR*RID, we have an approximately 70 to 90% reduction in lifecycle costs, have reduced premature coating failures and increased service life.”
No Need for Repeated Surface Blasting – Follows NAVSEA Specifications for Chloride Cleanliness
American Stripping also uses CHLOR*RID to remove salts from Navy ships and vessels. Previously, to comply with NAVSEA “Standard Items” FY-00 Specification for chloride cleanliness, American Stripping had to repeatedly wash and blast steel surfaces. Now by using CHLOR*RID, they conform to standards without the need to constantly wash and blast, and have completed hundreds of military projects with less cost. CHLOR*RID has been successfully used for salt removal on surfaces of U.S. Navy ships and vessels, including the USS Roosevelt, USS Washington, USS Stennis, USS Reagan, USS Tempest, USS Grasp and the USS Philippine Sea. “NAVSEA has a winner in CHLOR*RID. The United States taxpayer is benefiting from our use of CHLOR*RID’s great products,” said Todd Randall, President American Stripping (ASCO).
CHLOR *RID Reduces Salts Causing Corrosion and Improves Adhesion
ONR funded research at Carderock, MD by Bowles and Schifler and at CTC, Johnston, PA, by Schultze and Pang concluded that:
• CHLOR *RID is a very effective salt mitigator using a cold wash at 65 degrees F, and 2000 psi pressure washing and in comparison with other surface cleaning methods tested.
• Washing with CHLOR*RID results in a 20 to 25% increase in coating adhesion strength relative to DI water washing.
• CHLOR*RID is effective in the removal of surface oils (test surfaces had been brushed with 10W oil during the screening of various processes for surface preparation).
Other Applications for CHLOR*RID and CHLOR*TEST to Remove Salts from Surfaces:
• Bridge Structures
• Mining Facilities
• Storage Tanks
• Public Utilities
• Electronics
• Offshore Drilling Rigs
• Process Equipment
• Pulp and Paper Mills
• Power Generation Plants
• Natural Gas Facilities
• Water treatment
• Petrochemical Installations
• Pipelines
• Cooling Towers
• Railcars
• Aircraft
