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.

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

Wireless Strain Based Silo Monitoring

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Silo Level Monitoring Video

Keeping up with more than a million pounds of plastic pellets a year would seem a near impossible task.

But at ITM, weā€™ve developed a wireless strain based monitoring solution to help manufacturers ā€” particularly those in the injection mold business ā€” easily alter existing storage silos to keep a more accurate eye on the levels of dry goods contained in them.

Industry partners report the difficulty of keeping exact measurements of the amount of ever-changing raw materials they have stored in on-site silos. With our solution, however, weā€™ve removed the guesswork with a system that wonā€™t require manufacturers to go through costly structural modifications.

As we demonstrate in this video, we are able to build a measurement system that will report silo levels by using strain gauge sensors, a wireless signal transmitter and a remote signal receiver. Notice in the lab test, as the valve is opened and the water begins to drain, the signals on the user interface respond accordingly as the values decrease. Though a seemingly simple test, I’m convinced the resultsĀ hold important real-world implications.

Similarly, we think manufacturers will value being able to monitor multiple silos from a single customized interface and ultimately maintain efficiencies and keep their production lines humming.

ā€” ITM President Tim Carlier

ITM Presents on Rugged Data Acquisition at NI Week

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RAC NI Week

One of the highlights of our summer at ITM is our trek to NI Week, the annual conference in Austin, Texas, presented by National Instruments where thousands of the worldā€™s brightest minds in engineering and science come together to learn about the latest technology in our field.

For the last couple of years, weā€™ve had the privilege to not just attend but also to present during the interactive technical sessions. This yearā€™s co-presentationĀ on developing a Rugged Data Acquisition solution gave me the chance to share how ITMā€™s line of Rugged Data Acquisition (RAC) SystemsĀ allow us (and our customers) to gather data under even the harshest testing conditions.

Our portable RAC Systems include our LabVIEW-based iTestSystem software and can withstand environmental elements, shock and vibration in the field. Among the many features ā€” whether you need to measure strain, acceleration, voltage, speed or temperature ā€” these units can store terabytes of data that is all synched.

I love talking up the products that come out of our lab at ITM, but getting to share more about our Rugged DAQ solutions in a forum like NI Week takes it to the next level. Iā€™m already looking forward to returning to Austin in 2015.

ā€” ITM President Tim Carlier

ITM Engineers Earn Pinnacle LabVIEW Certification

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LabVIEW Certification Pyramid

While Iā€™m not surprised at their achievement, Iā€™m excited to announce that two engineers from our team at Integrated Test & Measurement have reached the highest LabVIEW Certification Level from NI.

Mark Yeager, an engineer and lead programmer, along with Chase Petzinger, a programmer and computer engineer, have reached Certified LabVIEW Architect (CLA) status.

With only a half dozen CLAs throughout all of Ohio, ITM now employs a third of the engineers in the state who have mastered NIā€™s rigorous CLA exam.

A Certified Architect is the highest level of certification from NI and signifies mastery in architecting and project managing LabVIEW applications as well as the ability to lead complex projects from conception through completion.

A National Instruments Gold Alliance Partner, ITMā€™s LabVIEW Development Team has provided professional engineering applications to our customers since 2001. We specialize in developing both windows-based and real-time applications that transform mechanical data into useful engineering data by monitoring such things as vibration, strain, temperature and load.

These impressive certifications reinforce ITMā€™s expertise in the field of software development.

For LabVIEW programming assistance contact Mark Yeager via email: mark.yeager@itestsystem.com or phone: (844) 837-8797 x 701.

iTestSystem Overview

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The iTestSystem (iTS) 2011 Platform enables the user to organize, acquire and view important engineering data using National Instruments (NI) C-Series hardware.Ā  This video shows cDAQ hardware configuration, sensor configuration, data acquisition, data logging, and real-time data viewing.Ā  It also shows the roving hammer impact test DAQ application.

Download iTestSystem!