Pilots in flight simulators need the "feeling of acceleration". This creates a very realistic condition and the pilot feels every correction of the flight attitude immediately. In simulated emergency situations, the pilot is additionally put under stress. The forces are generated by a large number of hydraulic cylinders that move the cell of the flight simulator very dynamically. Inductive displacement transducers (LVDT) are installed directly in the hydraulic cylinders and provide a feedback signal to the control unit for positioning. [read more]
Machines for the production of corrugated board emboss the corrugated shape through corrugating rolls several meters wide into the paper and glue it to the top layer. In order to ensure uniform glue application, the roller spacing must always be controlled with high precision, as glue application depends on many parameters. If there is too much glue on the paper layers, the setting time is too long, if too little glue is involved, bad adhesion can occur. By using eddy current sensors, the roller distance during production process can be precisely measured and permanently controlled. [read more]
For the production of continuous cast profiles, liquid steel is filled into a mould. The mould is a copper mould which is vertically oscillated by a hydraulic cylinder. This moves the steel and prevents it from sticking to the mould. For the oscillation huge hydraulic cylinders are necessary to move the weight of approx. 25 tons. Pressure-tight inductive sensors (LVDT) are used to measure the stroke of the oscillating cylinders. [read more]
Yoghurt cups are sealed with an aluminium lid in automated filling and packaging machines in the sealing station. At the end of the process an in-line cup tightness check is carried out and each individual yoghurt cup is subjected to a separate tightness test.
The tightness test is carried out by briefly heating the air in the cup and bulging the lid. This deformation is detected by inductive sensors from eddylab and used to check the tightness. [read more]
Gearbox test benches demand quite a lot from their test samples and simulate all operating conditions a gearbox in a motor vehicle must be able to withstand, from normal operation to possible misuse loads. It depends very much on how the main and auxiliary shafts as well as the differential wheel shift axially and radially under the given load. High torques pull at the shafts and the housing and deform them. Vibrations in the drive train generate additional load peaks that can exceed multiple of the nominal engine torque. The eddy current sensors installed in the gearbox reliably and precisely measure shaft displacements and vibrations in environment filled with oil. The measurement data are used to verify the computer simulations. [read more]
Pipes carrying hot steam or cooling water in power plants are exposed to strict monitoring regulations. In the event of a fault, it must be clear which pipes are broken, displaced or still intact so that safety valves can be closed immediately to prevent media leakage. LOCA (loss of coolant accident) or water hammer in saturated steam pipelines are extremely critical failures requiring immediate action. As a result it is highly important to be able to correctly assess the functionality of the existing piping system. For this purpose, displacement transducers are attached to the pipelines according to the inductive measuring principle of a full bridge (LVDT) and measure the position of the steam and cooling water pipes in a power plant. [read more]
In order to increase the efficiency of turbochargers, the gap between the turbo housing and the turbine/compressor impeller must be as small as possible. At the same time, the turbo rotor (shaft with turbine and compressor impeller) of a turbocharger moves in its axial and radial position during operation. In order to find out the correct gap distances, it is necessary to know the displacement of the rotor in order to determine the dimensions and tolerances of the housing and the turbine and compressor impellers. Eddy current sensors measure the shaft displacement with high resolution and dynamics directly on the turbo rotor at a speed of 300,000 rpm. [read more]
The milling spindle of a machining center is the most important component regarding quality of produced workpieces. The spindle is mounted with bearrings absolute precise and clearance-free and picks up different tools from the tool changer for machining. The concentricity is in the submicrometer range. However, the Z-direction of a milling spindle changes due to operational conditions and any movement causes an error in the dimension of the workpiece to be machined. Eddy current sensors measure linear expansion of the spindle reliably and with very high dynamics. The output signal can be used for length correction in the machine control unit and for increasing the accuracy of the machining center. [read more]
A loud bang and the concrete block splits under the extreme force of the punch of the material testing machine. Such machines are used in testing laboratories to determine material-specific characteristic data and load the test sample until it breaks. This is extremely important for an assessment of the performance capability in order to find out which force can be loaded to building structures and which safety reserves are available. Force and displacement are measured in the machine and summarized in a force-deflection graph. Magnescale transducers are used for displacement measurement because the sensor element is made of break-resistant material and the shock due to the sudden material failure cannot damage the transducer. [read more]
Today, complex metal parts are produced quickly and cost-effectively with using 3D printing processes, where previously complex machining or vacuum casting processes were used. Prototypes as well as serial parts are 3D-printed and the materials have almost the same properties as conventionally manufactured parts. This simplifies availability and significantly shortens the time between design planning and the first component. Powerful linear axes work inside the 3D metal printer to place the laser head. To produce metal parts with highest precision, it is necessary to place the linear axes with the highest accuracy over the entire working area. eddylab supplies Magnescale magnetic rulers for the world's largest 3D metal printers. [read more]
Soft contact lenses are made of silicone hydrogel, a water-silicone compound with very high oxygen permeability for high wearing comfort. The lenses are manufactured by injection molding and the material is cured by a UV light source. The material shrinkage in the hardening process partially distorts the lens shape and a refractive error occurs, which is noticeable in terms of visual acuity. The smaller the deviation of the lens shape from the ideal contour, the higher the quality of the contact lens. Eddy current sensors are used in the injection mold to control mold closure with micrometer precision, thus minimizing the extent of material shrinkage. [more]
