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Product category: Inspection and testing systems
News Release from: Anthony Best Dynamics | Subject: Balancing software
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 02 April 2007

Shaft-speed synchronised data capture

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The "DyBal" add-on software option from ABD allows imbalance measurements to be fully-integrated into fast NVH test cycles.

ABD has released the latest version of Plato: 5.50, Integrated Single-Plane Dynamic Balancing - the "DyBal" add-on software option allows imbalance measurements to be fully-integrated into fast NVH test cycles Shaft-speed synchronised data capture and a high-precision data resolving technique, guarantee accurate imbalance magnitude and phase results are returned swiftly to allow the test stand to make any necessary balance corrections

The option comes complete with on-line (in-cycle) processing actions which may also be run retrospectively to summarise multiple results.

OPC-compliant Software Based "Handshaking" - For customers who prefer to do away with 24V logic circuits, Plato can now be configured to communicate ("handshake") with test stand control systems set-up to provide OPC-compliant server.

Reduced hardware means reduced cost and increased reliability - a sleek and efficient winner all-round.

National Instruments DAQ Support - We now support industry standard National Instruments (NI) PCI-4474 and PCI-4472 DAQ hardware for applications that can start with constant delta-time sampled data (i.e those that have sufficient time for Plato's order-locked re-sampling to execute downstream).

Providing four (4) and eight (8) channels of 24-bit, fully alias-protected sampling at break-neck speeds, these plug-in PC boards are ideal for NVH analysis and a truly competitive route to high-precision raw data time histories.

Language Support - Plato production cycle screens can now be presented in any language to suit the installation territory.

We've started with the production cycle screens because they are the most viewed, but this is the start of a policy to gradually make the whole of Plato accessible in your chosen language.

Speed Aware Time History Logging - We know that repeatable and meaningful NVH results only come from tests where the test conditions are consistent from test to test.

This is important on a test stand based system, but it's equally important in-vehicle.

The new Speed Aware Time History Capture (SATHC) action therefore dedicates one of its input channels to measuring the speed of a key reference shaft (e.g engine speed, propshaft speed etc) whilst time histories are logged on the other channels.

Expected speed profiles (e.g speed accelerations/decelerations) can then be defined and time history data only accepted if the reference shaft speed follows the expected profile within user-set tolerances.

In-vehicle, repeatable speed ramps lead to repeatable gear loads, which lead to repeatable NVH results.

The SATHC-action supports CED and NI front-end hardware, including the custom-designed VP104 in-vehicle front-end from ABD that also powers and conditions ICP-sensor and pulse train ("tacho") signals in a single laptop-driven package.

Real-Time Order Spectra - Perfect for those "what if" type experiments, with tests stand running in manual speed and torque control mode, or for when searching for problem conditions in a vehicle on a test track, the new real-time order spectrum (RTOS) action for Plato allows you to "see what you hear" and instantaneously reference it to orders of shaft speed.

Import of HEAD Acoustics DAT-format Data - When we needed a solution for a battery-powered digital recorder that we could use as a highly portable front-end, we turned to HEAD Acoustics and their SQragriga 4-channel device.

With easy set-up and start-stop operation, DAT-format files can be downloaded to your Plato-equipped PC and converted into Plato TIM-format.

and finally ...

for those users who have struggled to set-up production test applications where many similar, but subtly different products are being tested, we now have a Production Variant Copy Function which allows you quickly create new test products using existing ones as a starting point.

If you are a current user (i.e you are operating a system within a support period purchased with your system, or you have a current software maintenance contract in place), you should be receiving your v5.50 installation disks within the next few weeks.

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