Blogs
Improving Performance of Gas Compressors
Improving Performance of Gas Compressors Customer Case A customer who is a manufacturer of natural gas compressors is seeking to improve the efficiency of their 12-cylinder diesel engines. These diesel engines are used to drive the gas compressors. The performance of the engines is analyzed from the position of the engines' shaft, which is detected by an optical encoder. The output from the encoder is a 12 kHz jittery clock with variable pulse width. The jitter has high frequency components and the jitter variation can go down to 0.1 microsecond and varies systematically with wear, load, fuel and other [...]
How Aircraft Operators Reduce Downtime While “Sweating the Assets”
In a recent article called “UPS Gives Old Jets New Life,” Bloomberg reports how United Parcel Service (UPS) is replacing the cockpit computers on its Airbus SE freighters in order to reduce downtime, increase productivity, and avoid large capital expenses. Known as “sweating the assets,” this business strategy is also benefitting the two aviation maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) organizations that are performing the computer upgrades. “Doing such work,” writes Bloomberg’s Thomas Black, “is a huge potential market.” As the article explains, UPS purchased flight computers for over 50 Airbus A300-600 jets some twenty years ago. However, the memory [...]
MTI’s Accumeasure HD Amplifier vs. Laser Interferometer
Achieving high resolution and accuracy for very small displacement measurements is generally an expensive and complex undertaking. The typical instrument of choice for achieving the accuracy required (picometer resolution with nanometer accuracy) is a laser interferometer. However, MTI Instruments Accumeasure D200HD Amplifier provides exceptional accuracy and stability while coming in at significant cost savings with ease of use. We decided to pit the AccumeasureHD vs a Laser Interferometer and compare results. Specifically, this comparison focuses on minimum expected resolution and the effects of noise on accuracy. Micro positioning applications include measuring the mask height of semiconductor wafers during lithography. The [...]
Webinar Recap: Electrical Safety Testing for the Appliance & Consumer Product Industries
Vitrek is proud to hold educational webinars for our customers in various industries with information and products that are relevant to their applications. One such industry that relies on some of the technology that we offer is the appliance and consumer products industry, which requires extensive electrical safety testing in order to bring their products to market. All products that will be sold to consumers need to be tested by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) in order to earn the proper safety certification. […]
Wafer Backgrinding and Semiconductor Thickness Measurements
Wafer backgrinding is the first step in semiconductor packaging, the process of encasing one or more discrete semiconductor devices or integrated circuits (IC) for protection. Known also as wafer thinning or wafer lapping, backgrinding reduces wafer thickness to allow stacking and high-density IC packaging. Wafer thickness also determines package height, an important consideration as smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices become thinner. With MEMS, wafer thinning also controls the proof mass for devices such as accelerometers or the diaphragm thickness for pressure sensors. Etching the surface of the wafer produces the IC but grinding the backside is what produces [...]
Silicon Carbide vs. Silicon in EV Power Electronics
Compare silicon carbide vs. silicon for electric vehicle (EV) power electronics and learn about SiC wafer measurement. As demand for electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow, manufacturers are comparing two semiconductor technologies, silicon carbide and silicon, for power electronics applications. Silicon carbide (SiC) provides the high temperature resistance, low power consumption, rigidity, and support for smaller, thinner designs that EV power electronics need. Examples of SiC’s current applications include on-board DC/DC converters, off-board DC fast chargers, on-board battery chargers, EV powertrains, and automotive lighting for LEDs. According to Automotive World, SiC technology could also drive future EV innovations [...]
Film Sound Quality Control
Customer Case In performing quality control of the sound quality on film, the customer requires a fairly slow sampling and very high vertical resolution. Because the customer does not produce the actual film, there is a need to double-check the sound quality before it hits the theatres. Being sound, the highest frequency component is 20 KHz and they will probably oversample by a factor of 20. The customer would like to control the card via LabVIEW. GaGe Case Solution The CompuScope 1450 was suggested for its high resolution and ability to sample over a wide range of frequencies. Should [...]
White Paper: Electrical Safety & Compliance Testing for Appliance & Consumer Product Manufacturers
Introduction Electrical appliances, computers and peripherals, power tools and other devices found in the home and office environments must be tested to confirm adherence to a plethora of stringent certification standards. The vast array of consumer devices for the home and office — from blenders and ovens to computers and high-definition LED TVs — are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Refrigerators, once basic electrical appliances, now often include adjustable speed motor controls, digital displays and Bluetooth communications. While the complexity and functionality found in this class of devices varies extensively, there is one thing they all have in common when [...]
Press Release: Vitrek Announces New SE Series High Voltage Safety Enclosures
Vitrek Announces the SE Series of High Voltage Safety Enclosures The SE Series offers the utmost in operator safety for high voltage testing with solid aluminum frame construction, a durable acrylic cover and a magnetic interlock safety switch. […]
EV Batteries Need Thickness Gauging for Lower Costs and Higher Performance
EV batteries need to cost less and last longer. Until the e-mobility industry solves these challenges, electric vehicle (EV) adoption won’t match the hype that’s driven by Tesla, the established automakers, and a host of startups who are attracting investors. According to Axios, the expense of owning an electric vehicle will exceed that of owning a conventional one until EV batteries cost less than $100/KWh to produce. Unfortunately, the EV industry isn’t expected to hit that target for another ten years. Yet, there is some encouraging news. Less expensive and better performing EV batteries are just a few years [...]





