Product category:
Inspection and testing (non-metrology)
News Release from: Anthony Best Dynamics | Subject: PLATO version 5.33
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 November 2004
Objective powertrain NV analysis
expanded
An objective noise/vibration measurement and analysis system for powertrain and power-steering testing for end-of-line, off-line audit has been developed further.
An objective noise/vibration measurement and analysis system for powertrain and power-steering testing for end-of-line, off-line audit has been developed further ABD advises that its PLATO version 5.33 is due for imminent release
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Apr 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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Shaft-speed synchronised data capture
The "DyBal" add-on software option from ABD allows imbalance measurements to be fully-integrated into fast NVH test cycles.
Brochure overviews operation of NVH testing
A 16-page brochure overviews the operation of objective NVH measurement and analysis system - specifically, when operating in conjunction with test stands (end-of-line, audit and R and D).
The company saus it has been working hard 'behind the scenes' in England to further strengthen PLATO's position as a world-leading objective noise/vibration measurement and analysis system for powertrain and power-steering testing for end-of-line, off-line audit, R and D, durability and in-vehicle.
The following is a list of some of the highlights from the new version: * Production Test Cycle Result Caching - We know when you finish the physical testing of your product that you want the NVH results quickly! We've therefore modified the way in which the key NVH results are delivered to ensure it's fast and perhaps as important, consistent.
We've also made sure that when you fire a multitude of different product types at the system, the result delivery time is also consistent across those types.
Further reading
Vehicle suspension and inertia measured
A suspension parameter measurement machine can measure both axles of a vehicle simultaneously and measure the centre of gravity and inertial properties of vehicle bodies.
Production line NVH powertrain testing advanced
Athony Best Dynamics has been developing NVH systems further, particularly for 'end-of-line' and 'off-line' audit for powertrain and power steering testing systems for production.
Powertrain testing system updates quicker
Anthony Best has re-coded and optimised the areas that access the Results Database during the 'Processing results' stage at the end of production test cycles on its Plato testing system.
* Second Destination for HTML Test Reports - In response to customer feedback, we included the option to send PLATO's HTML Test Report to two (2) separate locations.
For example, this gives you flexibility to write reports for all products tested to a central server but only write reports for products that fail to a re-work area.
* Improved Test Report Formatting - Again in response to customer feedback, we done something very simple! We've included what PLATO calls the "controlling grade" in the green/red pass/fail summary boxes of the HTML Test Report.
Now you can instantly see the degree of pass/fail without having to scroll down the report for detail.
* Improved Display Sorting for Statistical Trend Flagging (STF) Action - Without getting too technical, once a pre-defined number of each product type has been tested, the STF-action sits at the end of each test cycle and continuously updates five (5) Weibull distribution parameters for each expected noise/vibration parameter defined for each test stage and for each product configuration (e.g drive/coast, ratio etc).
Depending on the complexity of your product and how it's being tested, this can result in hundreds of separate statistical charts being updated.
Up until now, we simply lined these up in a single set of tabs, but now we sort these into a hierarchy of test configurations and test stages, making it much easier to navigate to the one you're interested in.
We've also made sure that if you're using the warning/alarm features of this action, the higher level tabs inform you of whether any trace below that tab is in a warning and/or alarm state.
(We've also done the same modification to the lesser used Special Disposition Determination (SDD) Action.
For those who don't know what the SDD-action can do for them, it can automatically flag "best" and "worst" in class products as they are tested, so that you can segregate them, strip them down and learn invaluable root-cause lessons).
* Automatic Limit Setting for STF Warnings and Alarms - We've also noticed that when the STF-action is used for testing of complex products, your initial settings for warning and alarm will invariably need refinement.
Now, after STF has been active (and updating trend charts) you can opt to have it automatically reset limits based on historical results.
This really does save a lot of data entry work.
* New Test Conditions View - We know that meaningful NVH (dynamic) results are only obtained when the (static) test conditions are repeatable from test to test.
By default, PLATO has always recorded the exact instantaneous reference shaft speed with all its N/V results and it has always had the capability to log parameters such as reference shaft torque, power-steering static pressure etc Now you can open up these non-dynamic results in a new Test Conditions view.
It's ideal for ensuring your test set-up is as per specification and it's perfect for summarising test stand repeatability.
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