ITM Blog Posts

The Blog Post category contains blog posts associated with ITM’s testing services, LabVIEW programming, Test & Measurement Hardware, Boiler Monitoring Systems, and iTestSystem applications.

ITM Offers Free Version of iTestSystem Software

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Integrated Test & Measurement has an exciting announcement. As of now, you can download a free version of our proprietary iTestSystem software. Anyone can download it and begin using it at no charge from our website.

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iTestSystem is a software platformĀ that enables test engineers to organize, acquire and view important engineering data using National Instruments (NI) C-Series hardware.Ā Ā iTestsystem was specifically designed for use with National Instruments (NI)Ā cDAQ hardware.

The new free version offers the following new options:

  • Online Software Registration
  • Modern SoftwareĀ Interface Console
  • More cDAQ module choices
  • Customizable Real Time Data Views (Plots)
  • Updated data viewer (TestView +)

Download your copy now, and be sure to reach out and let us know how we can further assist you with this exciting new tool.

ITMā€™s Custom Kits Simplify Vibration Testing

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Whether you are diagnosing a mechanical failure in anything from trucks to trains or elevators to excavators, it seems vibration is often the key to tracking down the root cause.

At ITM, we have customized a Vibration Test Kit that is helping our clients isolate vibration levels no matter ifĀ they are collecting data for operating deflection shapes (ODS) or measuring overall vibration levels for ISO standards.

Depending on your needs, our rugged and portable Vibration Test Packages will be built with as few as 4 channels or as many as 32 channels and include National Instruments cDAQ chassis combined with NI-9234 accelerometer input cards, power supply, and industrial accelerometers.

In addition, you can use ITMā€™s iTestSystem software to stream the vibration and rotational speedĀ data from the cDAQ chassis directly to your laptop.

Find out more about our Vibration Test Kit options, and let us know if we can assist your next project.

ā€” ITM President Tim Carlier

Explore ITM’s Rugged Data Acquisition Systems for Rent

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If the right tool doesnā€™t exist, build it.

For years that has been the approach ITM engineers have taken when it comes to gathering data and building tests for clients. And after decades of performing structural testing in aerospace, off-highway, automotive, industrial and many other environments, weā€™ve built up an impressive line of custom Rugged Data Acquisition (RAC) Systems that are now available for rent.

RAC88_3_300 x 228

Our RAC systems integrate NI hardware solutions with our proprietary iTestSystem data acquisition software, so you can be sure these units are technically sound.

At ITM we believe that our ability to make tough measurements for clients is often only limited by the availability of the ideal tool for gathering the right data. In other words, necessity really is the mother of invention.

So whether you need to do some long-term, high-speed in-vehicle data logging or you need a portable and rugged system that can withstand harsh environments while gathering high channel counts, our RAC systems will do the job ā€” or we will customize one that will.

Check out our lineup of Rugged Data Acquisition Systems.

ā€” ITM President Tim Carlier

ITM Recruiting at UC’s Technical Career Fair Feb. 19

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UC Technical Career Fair

Our firm is excited to take part in the Technical Career Fair at the University of Cincinnati on Feb. 19. We are even more excited to bring in qualified candidates from UC to help us lead innovative engineering projects worldwide.

Integrated Test & Measurement is a growing firm on Cincinnati’s east side that specializes in performing structural testing and making tough measurements for clients around the globe.

Our group is seeking candidates to fill both full-time and co-op opportunities. We are particularly interested in candidates who are excited at the possibility of getting involved in hands-on engineering testing as well as development of ITM’s proprietary iTestSystem software.

Beyond seeking technical engineering candidates, we are also interested in a skilled marketing candidate who is able to process technical materials, think analytically and lead the promotion of ITM’s brand.

Interested candidates should stop by our booth inside the UC’s Campus Recreation Center from 9a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday Feb. 19 and/or email a resume and cover letter to: info@iTestSystem.com

I look forward to meeting you.

Taking Engineering Communication Beyond Just Tech

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iTestSystem.com Blog Layout

Far too often in our field, we engineers get so completely focused on the technical side of our trade that we lose site of good communication and modern presentation.

As an engineering firm, ITM has been working toward taking our communication strategy beyond simply marketing our technical services. We see the importance of presenting our firm by telling our story and sharing real-world ways in which we solve engineering challenges.

That is the reason for this blog, and it is also a big part of why we redesigned our website last year at itestsystem.com.

On our site you will find plenty of products and services, but you will also find many case studies and blog posts that we hope will share not just what we can do, but also how we accomplish complex engineering tests and why we choose certain methods.

We believe these things work to deepen our relationship with our clients and even spur new ideas. But more than anything, it helps tell our story.

Speaking of improving communication, please update your email contacts for ITM. As of Feb. 1, 2015, we will be changing our e-mail addresses from @unyah.com to @iTestSystem.com.

I look forward to sharing more about ITMā€™s story with you.

We Make Tough Measurements

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When I think through the ways in which ITM sets itself apart as an engineering firm, there is one simple phrase that always comes to mind: “We make tough measurements.”

What do I mean by that? Quite simply, our engineers are adept at finding creative solutions for gathering data in the field and often despite adverse conditions.

So when a client contacts us looking for solutions to an equipment failure or hoping to validate a new design, our goal is to get to them quickly ā€” generally in a matter of days ā€” and begin instrumenting the equipment in the environment for which it needs to perform.

Plenty of companies can apply strain gauge in a climate-controlled lab or return with a customer’s part for testing in their shop, but we pride ourselves on our field installation. Considering that strain gauges are applied to measure stress at known hot spots during operation, we take every step possible to test in actual operating environments. And when it comes to the instrumentation itself, we thrive when a job requires strain gauges to be applied in challenging locations (either on the equipment or geographically speaking) and in extreme climate conditions.

Rosette strain gauge

Once we begin gathering data, our team will ensure the integrity of the test, whether it spans hours or we need to remain on site for months, and ultimately provide a complete turnkey solution to collect and analyze the data.

Bottom line. We make tough measurements.

ā€” ITM President Tim Carlier

Join ITM’s Nov. 20 MultiDAQ Plugin Webinar

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ļ»æiTestsystem Webinar Captureļ»æ

Whether you are a seasoned user of Integrated Test & Measurementā€™s MultiDAQ plugin for iTestSystem software or if you have never used the product, our next Webinar will allow you to pick up some simple tricks as well as understand the latest features.

Join Chase Petzinger, an ITM software developer, and Todd Holtkamp, an ITM field test engineer, as they host the third in a series of free online demonstrations via GoTo meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20. The previous session focused on MultiDAQ configuration tips. View the archived video.

The Nov. 20 Webinar, titled ā€œRunning MultiDAQ,ā€ will last 10 to 15 minutes with 15 minutes of Q&As to follow. Those interested in attending should emailĀ Petzinger.

Webinar Video: ITM Shares MultiDAQ Configuration Tips

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Our second monthly Webinar at ITM focused specifically on how to configure the MultiDAQ plugin for our iTestSystem software. Two of our engineers ā€” Chase Petzinger, a software developer, and Todd Holtkamp, a field test engineer, hosted the free online demo on Oct. 2, 2014, to walk users through exactly how to configure ITMā€™s custom product when using National Instruments MAX hardware.

As you can see in the archived video, they also covered how to create a MultiDAQ session, how to create a task, how to enable synchronization, how to select specific hardware and channels to record data and, finally, they gave some tips for setting up file settings. As usual, we finished off the Webinar by allowing those who joined the GOTO Meeting session to pose specific questions.

Stay tuned for news of our next Webinar so you can join us live.

ā€” ITM President Tim Carlier

ITM Uses 3D Printing to Improve Wireless Torque Measurement Designs

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3D Collar Drill Press

One of the ways ITM sets itself apart is that our engineers donā€™t flinch when it comes to finding creative ways to make tough measurements.

For example, as you can see in this video, we have begun using our in-house 3D printer to customize plastic collars ā€” embedded with sensors and transmitters ā€” which allow us to wirelessly measure torque on rotating machinery.

In this example, weā€™re recording a signal as the drill bit enters the wood, but the same solution allows us to model and print a larger fixture to measure the stresses on an industrial drive shaft or other piece of rotating equipment.

Where once we might have turned to an area machine shop to mill a similar type collar, we can now model an even more precise tool and print it out overnight ā€” saving valuable time and at a fraction of the cost.

3D Printing is just one more example of how ITM uses cutting-edge tools and new technology to solve problems.

ā€” ITM President Tim Carlier

ITM Installs Paper Mill Thermocouple Monitoring System

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control panel

In search of a system that would send feedback to further optimize their production efficiencies and reduce energy costs, a paper mill company turned to ITM for help measuring the temperature of steam tubes inside its Recovery boiler.

The challenge our engineers faced was to not just log temperature measurements, but also to transfer this information to a remote computer, perform complex measurements and output results that would serve as a watchdog to ensure normal conditions.

Our solution was yet another example of finding a creative way to use existing National Instruments hardware and software to solve a complex problem.

SeeĀ the complete Case Study.

ā€” ITM President Tim Carlier