There are many advantages to digital measurement technology
When it became necessary to upgrade one of the calibration machines, the decision was made at Ketten Wälder to convert the measurement technology to
modern digital technology. They now use a
digital amplifier of the MP85A type, from HBM.
A
ring force transducer of type
KMR, with a nominal (rated) force of 400 kN, measures the force applied by the hydraulic cylinder. The force transducer complies with high degree of
protection IP67, and is therefore also
suitable for use in harsh environmental conditions. The stainless steel housing makes it resistant to environmental influences. Because the transducer is
ring-shaped, it is ideal for integration into the
machine force flow. The good reproducibility of the force measurement
ensures safe and reliable results.
The
MP85A amplifier is specifically designed for quality control applications in the production process, and has a
microprocessor and relevant algorithms, so that measured values are already
analyzed internally. The amplifier records the force response during the process, and checks whether the maximum force achieved lies within a given window, using this as the basis for making the
“OK/Not OK” decision. If there is an error, because the maximum force is too low, for example, the amplifier stops the process immediately.
“It was particularly important to us when retrofitting the calibration machine that we were also able to
log the measured force values”, said Reimar Bürkmayer, naming one of the main requirements that had to be met by the new measurement system. The amplifier has an
integrated Ethernet interface, over which the measured force values are transferred to a control PC, where they are displayed.
A
graphical realization of the force response while the chain section is being extended by force, illustrates at a glance whether the process is running correctly. The
maximum value that is reached each time is stored in a database. Saving these values is particularly important with regard to ensuring complete traceability. It would not have been difficult to save the entire force response, either. “But this is not necessary for our application”, explains Reimar Bürkmayer. “We keep the
volume of data to a minimum, by
only saving the maximum value each time.”