Blogs
Monitor Roller Gaps and Parallelism
Monitor Roller Gaps and Parallelism Industrial Printing, Calendering, Crushing Gap Easy Roller Gap Measurement Ensures Calendering Success Many roll-to-roll finishing processes typically use a calender, or series of hard pressure rollers, to deliver smooth, high-quality products of plastic, textile, or paper (Fig 1). Ensuring a consistent material thickness, however, depends on the ability to monitor, and maintain, a precise gap between rollers. This application note describes a quick and easy means for roller gap measurement. Figure 1: Calender Rollers where consistent gap across the rollers are vital [...]
Capacitance Probes Measure Gaps in Rotating Environments
Capacitance Probes Measure Gaps in Rotating Environments Textiles, Industrial Optimizing Performance of Rotating Cylinders Gap Description [Application Note 72518] Sensor environments are not always ideal. Across the various Gap sensor applications conditions may vary drastically. Some setups may have requirements of miniaturization, and others of wireless signal propagation. In rotating environments where cables cannot go, often there is a need for both. Problem Traditional sensing solutions can’t be used in environments requiring wireless propagation such as inside a rotating body. In these situations, the size and power requirements restrict the [...]
GAAS SUBSTRATE THICKNESS MEASUREMENT
Industry Semiconductor Applications Gaas Substrate Thickness Measurement Measurement Type Thickness Description Measuring Thickness of Wafers with Different Chemistries Introduction: Silicon wafers are ordinarily highly conductive and easy to measure with standard capacitive displacement sensors (See MTI’s Proforma 300i). Measuring the thickness of GaAs wafers that have high bulk resistivity (>10k Ohm/cm) is a little more difficult because the wafers act as non-conductive insulators in a capacitive sensor’s measuring field. Fortunately, MTI has a solution to this problem. Solution: It’s possible to measure the thickness and TTV of high resistivity semiconducting wafers (like GaAs) using non-contact capacitive [...]
Signal Generator Simulates Gas Turbine Speed Signals
Signal Generator Simulates Gas Turbine Speed Signals Aviation, Power Generation Simulation of Speed Signals Amplitude, Displacement Description [Application Note 61318] Gas turbine engines are complex machines comprised of two rotating sections, generally referred to as the low pressure compressor (N1) and the high pressure compressor (N2). These turbine sections feature separate shafts that produce unique tachometer signals. Gas turbine engines have multiple rotating sections generally referred to as the low pressure compressor (N1) and the high pressure compressor (N2). These turbine sections have separate shafts that produce unique tach [...]
Capacitance Sensor Measurement
High-Accuracy Capacitance Sensors Made in the US MTI’s capacitance sensors are essential measurement tools for process automation, quality control, and tool automation control. Used across a wide range of industries, in virtually any application where accuracy is paramount, MTI’s US-made capacitance sensor systems have set the standard for accuracy and reliability for over 50 years.
Signal Generator Tests Charge Amplifier Gain, Frequency Response
Testing Charge Amplifier Gain and Frequency Response with a Signal Generator Aviation/Aerospace, Industrial, Power Generation, Research & Development Charge Amplifier Gain and Frequency Response Testing Amplitude (Acceleration, Vibration, Pressure) Description [Application Note 40518] Piezoelectric transducers produce small electrical charges in response to pressure. Their sensitivity, ruggedness, and stability at high temperatures make them an essential building block of many accelerometers and pressure sensors. Applications include turbine vibration measurement (accelerometers) and combustion dynamics monitoring (pressure sensors). Typically, the high-impedance charge output produced by a piezoelectric transducer must be conditioned and amplified [...]
SPINDLE RUN OUT
Industry Automotive Applications Spindle Run Out Measurement Type Positioning Description Rotating targets frequently have an intermittent, uncertain or nonexistent ground path. This introduces unwanted noise, instability, drift and reduces accuracy of the measurement. MTI Instruments offers a unique “Push-Pull” capacitance measurement system that does not require a grounded target. It utilizes two probes, built into one body, that work together to complete the ground path. One probe pushes current into the brake rotor while the adjacent probe pulls the current out. The result is a “clean”, consistent electrical sensing path. As [...]
Capacitance Sensors Track Brake Rotor Thickness Variation
Capacitance Sensors Track Brake Rotor Thickness Variation Automotive, Aviation/Aerospace Brake Rotor Testing & Manufacturing Displacement, Amplitude Description [Application Note 51018]Today’s cars and trucks offer unprecedented fuel efficiencies and handling characteristics – thanks, in part, to vehicle lightweighting. Applied to all vehicle components, lightweighting lowers stress and strain to improve mileage and boost overall performance.In keeping with this trend, today’s brake rotors are thinner and lighter than those of just a few years ago. In addition, many feature cooling vents to further improve performance. These changes, however, reduce available braking surface, forcing [...]
Wireless Measurement of Very Small Gap Changes Inside Rotating Machinery
Solar, Semiconductor Measurement of Ungrounded Targets Thickness, Metrology Description Description This application note describes how to use capacitance for the non-contact, wireless measurement of very small gap changes (distances) between a device and a grounded target. It uses the textile industry as an example, but any industry that uses machinery with continuously rotating drums or motors can benefit from this approach to remote measurement. Capacitance is highly accurate and can support the use of probes that are wireless. In our example, a capacitive sensing system from MTI Instruments eliminated concerns about establishing and maintaining [...]
MTI’s Accumeasure HD Amplifier vs. SmarAct’s PicoScale Interferometer
MTI's Accumeasure HD Amplifier vs. SmarAct's PicoScale Interferometer Research & Development Piezoceramic, 1-3 Pzt / Polymer Composite And Pvdf Film Amplitude Description This application note compares MTI's Accumeasure HD amplifier to SmarAct's Picoscale interferometer in terms of resolution and accuracy for very small displacement measurements. Specifically, this comparison focuses on minimum expected resolution and the effects of noise on accuracy. High resolution interferometers are widely regarded as the instrument of choice for the type of measurements described in this application note, but MTI's technology provides exceptional accuracy and stability. Moreover, [...]








