Blogs
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 Instruments’ PBS-4100+ Series Training Eligible for FAA Training Credit
MTI Instruments' PBS-4100+ Series Training Now Eligible for Credit Under William (Bill) O'Brien Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Awards Program ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MTI Instruments, Inc. (MTI Instruments), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (OTCQB:MKTY), today announced that its training course on the PBS-4100+ engine vibration measurement and balancing system is now credit-eligible under the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) William (Bill) O'Brien Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Awards Program. With the new credit designation, MTI Instrument's course, "Vibration Analysis and Engine Balancing Using the PBS-4100 System," can earn an eligible individual up to 16 hours of credit towards AMT Awards issued through the FAA [...]
Nuclear Reactor Tube Testing
Nuclear Reactor Tube Testing Customer Case The customer needs to test specialized alloy tubing used to carry water within a nuclear reactor for possible damage. This tubing is located in a closed area where there is ambient radiation. Therefore, this test will be performed by a robot arm using ultrasonic non-destructive testing. They need to sample at 500 MHz on a single channel and save 2,000 samples for each acquisition at a Pulse Repeat Frequency (PRF) of 20 KHz. The ultrasonic transducer generates an ultrasound signal at 10 MHz. They must continuously capture a minimum of 500,000 records, which [...]
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 [...]
The Growing Need for Industry 4.0 Testing and Validation Tools
Industry 4.0 means that manufacturers need to test and validate more sensors. MTI Instruments 1510A portable signal generator can help. Industry 4.0 is spurring a dramatic increase in the number of sensors that manufacturers need to install, test, validate, and maintain. Although these industrial sensors are packaged to withstand harsh environments, they’re still susceptible to performance-related problems. Whether it’s to support predictive maintenance, asset monitoring, or process automation, proper testing and validation is required to keep systems running smoothly. Otherwise, the data that sensors collect won’t enable the operators of smart factories to make the right decisions. Smart [...]
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 [...]
Press Release: Vitrek Highlights Updated & Expanded Sections of their Website
Vitrek Highlights Updated & Expanded Sections of their Website The innovative high voltage testing and measurement company offers numerous resources for their customers on their website vitrek.com. […]
MTI Instruments Fulfills Historic Order for the United States Air Force
ALBANY, N.Y., November 16, 2020 — MTI Instruments, Inc. (“MTI Instruments”), the operating subsidiary of Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (OTC Pink: MKTY), announces the completion of its historic order for the United States Air Force, a $3.3 million contract awarded publicly in May 2020 that includes 52 PBS-4100+ engine vibration measurement and balancing systems. This order was made pursuant to the multi-year contract entered into by MTI Instruments and the United States Air Force in July 2016 and marks the single largest order of PBS-4100+ Systems received by MTI Instruments to date. MTI fulfilled the order in its entirety with [...]






