Tag Archive for: Automotive

Push Your Motorsports Team to the Limit with ITM’s Rod End Load Cell Expertise

in , , /by
Strain Gauged Shock Eyelet Overlayed on a Formula One Racecar

Strain Gauge installed on a Shock Eyelet which is Overlayed on a Formula One race car.

Turn our strain and torque load cell experts loose to gain performance on your test track

At ITM, your race car’s exact load and downforce can be precisely measured using rod end load cell and torque load cell technology. 

Putting our strain gauging expertise to work allows race teams from NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar and others to modify designs, decrease stress and gain a competitive advantage.

Putting our strain gauging expertise to work allows race teams from NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar and others to modify designs, decrease stress and gain a competitive advantage. 

A strain gauge, or load cell, is an instrument that is commonly affixed to the vehicle’s various components — including the rod end, suspension pushrods, gear lever, steering column, driveshaft, pedals and more. These instruments can then measure the wheel load, for example, as a car hugs a tight turn in real time. The in-vehicle data logger picks up every load change caused by high-speed acceleration, breaking and maneuvering. 

Contact an expert to learn more about ITM’s Motorsports Strain Gauging Services

Contact Us

Ultimately, load cells and strain gauges are an irreplaceable tool for anyone looking to push the limits and fully understand racecar performance. 

Our engineers have installed load cells and strain gauges on structures and machinery around the globe for decades. We take pride in perfecting the art of strain gauge application, logging, measurement and analysis — whether on vehicles, medical devices or rocket components. 

We are also confident in our custom iTestSystem software, which allows us to stream and analyze load cells, strain signals and do real world fatigue data acquisition. Contact our strain lab and technicians to build a custom real time strain monitoring system or to design, build, calibrate and test strain-based load cells. 

Contact us for more information about our automotive, strain gauging and testing services.

Contact Us!

Quiet Please: ITM Tunes Into Importance of Measuring Sound Levels

in , , , /by
Construction Site Noise Testing

Whether manufacturing vehicles, mining natural resources or operating machinery on a construction site, a single common factor can bring your operation and productivity to an absolute halt. 

That factor is noise. 

In a world where precision and performance rule, measuring and controlling sound levels can be crucial to the success of your product or project. The team at Integrated Test & Measurement (ITM) have developed a customized solution that not only measures and collects sound-level data, but will help your team identify the specific components causing all that noise. 

On-Site Sound Testing Capabilities 

ITM can assist with all types of sound testing on site including: 

  • Vehicle/Automotive Noise Vibration & Harshness (NVH) Testing  
  • Drive by Noise Testing  
  • Sound Level Testing  
  • Vehicle/Automotive Component Noise Testing  
  • Construction Site Sound/Noise & Vibration Level Monitoring  
  • Mine Sound/Noise & Vibration Level Monitoring  
  • ISO Noise Testing 
  • Data Logging

In each of these instances, their engineers will be packing a custom Sound Level Test Kit full of data acquisition hardware, microphones and more. The key to their equipment, however, is that each kit includes ITM’s proprietary iTestSystem software, an intuitive sound-level human machine interface (HMI) that allows for sound-level recording and reporting. 

Mark Yeager, ITM Lead Programmer, says building the capability within iTestSystem to measure microphone data now allows customers to look at a real-time display of sound-level measurements. 

Yeager says their crew can build out tests on site to do such things as measure pass-by noise, a process by which the team arranges mics inside a vehicle and along both sides of a 40-yard stretch then capture, monitor and analyze a vehicle’s sound and compare it to acceptable standards. By breaking apart the frequencies of components, they can even zero in on trouble spots such as a turbocharger on a car or a loud cooling fan on a piece of construction equipment. 

Measuring Dangerous Sound 

Yeager also points out the need to measure sound in places like construction sites or mines, where there may be concern over hearing loss for operators. According to the Centers for Disease Control, hearing loss can result from a single loud sound (like firecrackers) near your ear. Or, more often, hearing loss can result over time from damage caused by repeated exposures to loud sounds. The louder the sound, the shorter the amount of time it takes for hearing loss to occur. Sound is measured in decibels (dB). A whisper is about 30 dB, normal conversation is about 60 dB, and a motorcycle engine running is about 95 dB. The CDC advises that noise above 70 dB over a prolonged period of time may start to damage your hearing, and loud noise above 120 dB can cause immediate harm to your ears. 

Test-Ready Sound Level Kits 

If you have test engineers on-site and simply need the equipment to help you get to the bottom of your sound issues, ITM will ship their test-ready kit that includes a pair of pelican carrying cases packed with the following components: 

Whether your needs include on-site sound testing and analysis or you simply need the crucial equipment to measure sound and vibration levels yourself, ITM can help. 

ITM is a structural test & measurement engineering service and software company located in Milford, Ohio, that helps companies reduce costs and improve efficiencies in their product development, manufacturing, and production activities. ITM is a recognized NI Gold Alliance Partner that provides software development, structural and mechanical testing services, industrial monitoring, strain gauging, and data analysis solutions to clients around the globe.

For more information about sound and noise level testing or our sound level test system or other data collection solutions, contact Ryan Welker via email at ryan.welker@itestsystem.com or phone at (844) 837-8797 x702.