Blogs
How to Implement a Complete Digital Closed Loop Control System
Co-authored by Don Welch, Director of Engineering and Business Development Cory Bufi, Software Engineer Isaac Abbott,Product Innovation Engineer – PBS Group Request Whitepaper Today’s electronic designs often call for reasonably fast and precise positioning of miniature components for process deposition elements such as ink jet nozzles, 3D printing elements etc. And as process control moves from mm positioning to micron to sub-micron positioning it becomes necessary to monitor and control positioning actuators such as piezo flexure stage and voice coil motors. Open loop control of the positioning stage may have been adequate in non-precision applications but piezo electric [...]
Measuring Brake Rotor Thickness Variation with Capacitive Sensing
Brake rotor thickness variation, or disc thickness variation (DTV), causes uneven wear to brake rotors, disc-shaped automotive parts that are squeezed between brake pads to slow or stop a vehicle’s wheels. When a brake rotor has areas of different thickness, the amount of clamping force that’s applied across the rotor’s surface varies. These differences in clamping force lead to difference in torque, and the results may include brake shuddering, pulsating, or vibration. Even under normal driving conditions, brake rotors are subjected to extreme conditions that can cause performance-related issues. To ensure that brake rotors can perform properly without problems such [...]
Aircraft Engine Test Cell is World’s Largest
The world’s largest aircraft engine test cell is in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), home of the upcoming MRO Americas 2019 show for the commercial air-transport maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry. Delta TechOps, a division of Delta Airlines and a full-service MRO, recently opened a $100 million test cell at its Atlanta facility that’s capable of running a jet engine at 150,000 lb. thrust. That’s more thrust than the GE Aviation GE90 engine, which powers Delta’s Boeing 777-200 LR fleet, can produce. “This test cell is a vote of confidence in Delta TechOps,” said Ed Bastian, Delta Airlines CEO, in [...]
Proforma 300i SA Video Shows Semiconductor Metrology
MTI Instruments, a worldwide leader in precision measurement solutions, has released a YouTube video that shows how its Proforma™ 300i SA semi-automated measurement tool measures silicon carbide wafers for semiconductors. George Relan, MTI’s Global Director of Sales, demonstrates how the desktop metrology system provides non-contact full wafer scanning and 3D mapping of measurement features such as thickness and shape. MTI’s video also shows how the Proforma 300i SA interfaces with an external computer and provides powerful Windows-based software for analysis and reporting. By utilizing MTI push/pull technology, the Proforma 300i SA doesn’t require the semiconductor wafers to have a [...]
Navy Orders Avionics Test and Measurement Systems
The U.S. Navy wants new avionics test and measurement systems. Under the terms of a $109-million award, the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, New Jersey will buy 41 electronic consolidated automated support systems (eCASS) from Lockheed Martin. This test and measurement equipment helps soldiers and Marines troubleshoot and repair aviation electronics while at sea. Avionics, the electronics used in aircraft, support essential navigation and communications functions. With military aircraft, avionics typically include electro-optical, infrared, and other types of sensors for airborne radar, weapons systems, and heads-up displays. Military avionics also need to support electronic warfare systems, [...]
Fiber Optic Sensors Help Stop Subway Shutdown
Fiber optic sensors will help keep commuters moving between Manhattan and Brooklyn this year and beyond. Recently, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) would not close the L train tunnel for a planned 15-month repair project. Instead, the MTA will use technology-driven solutions to keep the tunnel open and operational for weekday riders. In a joint statement, a panel that included engineering experts from Columbia and Cornell explained that "The L Train Tunnel project gives us the opportunity to integrate technologies and methods that have never been used before in a [...]
3D Integrated Circuits Use Capacitive Sensing to Ensure Coplanarity
Three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (ICs) feature silicon wafers and dies that are stacked vertically for improved device performance. By using the Z-axis, 3D ICs can overcome the power and footprint limitations associated with two-dimensional (2D) integrated circuits. Yet 3D ICs need coplanar surfaces to contact all of the pads, pins, and pillars. To determine coplanarity, semiconductor manufacturers measure the angle and gap between two planes. Bonding tool actuators use these measurements to adjust components and ensure that all device pins and solder balls reside on the same geometric plane. This process, active parallelism compensation, promotes proper bonding without residual [...]
Oiling System Uses Capacitive Sensing to Detect Water Contamination
Water contamination can reduce the life of lubricants and increase the frequency of maintenance and repairs. If corrective action isn’t taken before an out-of-limit incident occurs, operational costs can escalate. When unplanned maintenance disrupts operations, productivity suffers and technicians may focus on a quick fix instead of the root cause. To detect water contamination in oil systems, in-line capacitance probes can be used. These flexible, off-the-shelf devices provide automatic and continuous monitoring. Yet checking moisture levels isn’t just about enhancing reliability or eliminating corrosion. In-line capacitance probes improve operations by supporting a proactive approach to maintenance. How In-Line Capacitance Probes [...]
Offshore Wind Supply Chain Uses MTI Capacitance Sensors
Capacitance sensors from MTI Instruments are an important part of the supply chain for offshore wind (OSW) in New York State. According to a recent report from the Center for Economic Growth (CEG), New York’s Capital Region is home to MTI Instruments and dozens of other manufacturers who support this growing form of wind power. The Capital Region also offers essential infrastructure for OSW. As the CEG report explains, the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) has assessed 54 waterfront sites for OSW-related projects such as component staging, manufacturing, and fabrication. Two of the most promising sites [...]
Digital Accumeasure Gen 3 Reduces Noise and Increases Resolution
MTI Instruments is announcing a third-generation digital capacitance displacement gauge with lower noise and an industry-leading resolution. The Digital Accumeasure DSeries Gen 3 provides up to 0.01% FST linearity and is designed for measuring gap, vibration, and positioning. In both analog and digital systems, noise is an unwanted disturbance that distorts or interferes with a desired electrical signal. MTI’s Digital Accumeasure Gen 3 is a lower-noise amplifier than the Gen 2 and features sub-nanometer resolution for highly-precise measurements. Using state-of-the-art technology, the Digital Accumeasure DSeries Gen 3 converts a highly-reliable capacitive electric field measurement (displacement) directly into a highly-precise [...]








