Tag Archive for: Testing Services

Video: ITM Delivers Engineering Measurement Solutions

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Check out this awesome video that describes how our testing services group provides engineering measurement solutions to our customers around the world.  We’ve been at it for twenty (20) years today!

For more information about out strain gauging and testing services, contact Ryan Welker at (844) 837-8797 x702.

 

ITM Going to New Heights with Aerospace Clients

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Rocket on Launch Pad

A commercial airliner touches down and brakes safely so hundreds of passengers can exit at their destination. A solid rocket booster separates from a space flight as the main payload overcomes gravity to head into orbit. A military drone completes its mission over enemy territory. 

In a very real way, the team of engineers at Integrated Test and Measurement (ITM) goes along for the ride during plenty of crucial moments in the aerospace realm. From doing data collection to measure the stress load of an airplane’s landing gear to installing strain gauges on rocket components to gather more than a thousand channels of data, ITM’s testing and measurement services are going to incredible heights.  

Ryan Welker, ITM vice president of operations, says their aerospace partners most often turn to the Milford, Ohio, engineering service and software company for their expertise in testing and design validation, particularly if the project involves complex strain gauge work. 

“A lot of times when you are dealing with aerospace requirements, it involves challenging materials. You aren’t just working with steel, and it’s quite a bit different installing strain gauges on titanium or carbon fiber. It makes the installation process a little more challenging, but we’ve been taking tough measurements in extreme environments around the globe for 20-plus years. Our experience in strain gauging is more of an art than a science.” 

Welker points out that ITM won’t hesitate to put boots on the ground for their aerospace partners who have complex challenges. That was the case when a high-end aerospace company rang him up in desperate need of structural testing on a crucial component ahead of a launch. Though the job would require several people on-site for multiple months, Welker and team made it work. They installed strain gauges around the clock for three months so their client could complete crucial validation testing on a design. ITM delivered, and the client made their deadline. 

Often during these intricate instrumentation processes, the ITM team employs the capabilities of their custom iTestSystem software to monitor stresses during complex assemblies. Aerospace companies may also rent ITM’s custom-built acquisition hardware to record data, even if it means that ITM needs to conduct onsite demonstration, support or help with analysis. 

“We don’t just offer the ability to run a test,” says Welker. “We train your folks to use it.” 

In the end, ITM offers innovative test solutions and a range of aerospace testing services designed to help the industry develop superior products and processes.  

Key Services for Aerospace Clients 

Strain Gauge Installation 

Installing strain gauges in the field for structural and fatigue measurements requires expertise and experience. Our field service technicians and engineers have installed strain gauges on structures and machinery around the globe for decades. Whether you use our iTestSystem software to stream and analyze strain signals for static measurements and real-world fatigue data acquisition, or contract our software engineers to build a real-time strain monitoring system, we will make sure you acquire quality strain data for your aerospace project. 

Structural and Mechanical Testing 

Our team of engineers have decades of experience in performing structural testing in  aerospace and many other markets. Testing services include Impact Testing and Modal Analysis, Structural Dynamics Operating Tests, Data Logging and Unattended Data Acquisition. 

Our engineers can assist you with any part of the testing process. This includes test planning, onsite sensor installation and data acquisition and remote test monitoring. 

High Channel Count Structural DAQ Systems 

In our work, we often collect strain, vibration, voltage, and other signals simultaneously that require well over a thousand total sensor channels. Network synchronization technology embedded within the NI cDAQ chassis allows users to account for the sheer number of channels during these structural tests. The true secret to our success in these high-channel jobs has been our iTestSystem software which leverages the cDAQ’s synchronization technology while providing an intuitive data acquisition and sensor configuration and setup. 

Rugged Data Acquisition Systems for Rent 

If the right tool doesn’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, we’ve built up an impressive line of custom Rugged Data Acquisition (RAC) Systems which will perform under harsh testing conditions.

For more information about our DAQ Rental Hardware, data collection or Testing Services, contact Ryan Welker via email at ryan.welker@itestsystem.com.

DOT Structural Health Monitoring

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As engineering consultants, it’s the nature of our business for our work to take us out on the open road. It is for this reason that we are proud to support several state Departments of Transportation (DOT) with their structural testing and data acquisition needs.  We travel the very roads, bridges and other major infrastructure that they work so hard to design, build and maintain. 

Over the years, our field-testing experts have provided DOTs with the manpower needed to install and maintain the structural sensors for monitoring bridge and infrastructure usage/health, as well as the custom enclosures that house the precision data acquisition (DAQ) equipment used to process and trend data from the structural sensors.  We are looking for more opportunities to provide DOTs with the manpower and tools needed to keep tabs on our aging infrastructure.  

If you need help or advice on a structural monitoring project, contact Ryan Welker (ryan.welker@itestsystem.com or 1.844.837.8797 x702).  

DAQ Equipment Rental Service

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Our engineers and technicians use National Instruments (NI) CompactDAQ (cDAQ) hardware and our iTestSystem software to collect structural, vibration, and temperature data for lab and field tests.  Many of these tests are unique and require different variations of data acquisition hardware and sensors types.  As you can imagine, we have accumulated quite an inventory of cDAQ test equipment and sensors from these tests to help with your data logging project.  This inventory includes both cDAQ chassis and C-Series voltage, strain, vibration, and temperature modules. 

For our iTestSystem users, we offer a data acquisition equipment rental service for available cDAQ hardware from our inventory.  If you need additional equipment to complete a design validation test or to troubleshoot a structural problem or complete other types of data collection, check with us to see what equipment is available. 

Click Here for more information about Equipment Rental. 

For more information about eligibility, equipment availability or to request a quote contact Josh.Fishback@iTestSystem.com. 

ITM Adds New Test Technician

I’m excited to announce that we’ve grown our engineering group with the addition of Zach Rucker.  Zach’s primary role at ITM is as a field engineering technician where he assists with the installation of our industrial monitoring solutions and fulfillment of our field testing applications. In addition to his work in the field, Zach stays busy in our instrumentation lab assembling and testing custom control panel assemblies, installing strain gauges on custom load cells, and building and testing customer specific monitoring and measurement systems.

We welcome Zach to our team.  You can read more about our entire team here.

— Test Engineering Lead –  Ryan Welker

iTestSystem: New Release v16.1

We are excited to announce that a new version (16.1) of iTestSystem is available for download. This latest release provides engineers with a flexible sensor data collection and analysis platform ideal for long term endurance testing, vibration analysis, off -highway vehicle condition monitoring, sound level, and structural design validation.

We have added and updated the following tools:

  • New Microphone Sensor Type and Dataview for Sound Level Measurements
  • Expanded Data Acquisition Hardware Support including the rugged NI FieldDAQ Device
  • New Automated Data Analysis Tools including sensor statistics, scaling, and sound level
  • Updated File Filtering and Improve Data Interaction
  • Updated Impact Test DAQ with 3D Animator Integration

Download the new version today!

For more information about the new version of iTestSystem or to request a demo contact Chase.Petzinger@iTestSystem.com.

 

ITM Live Demo Series: iTestSystem with NI FieldDAQ

As a part the ITM Live Demo series, we’re excited to release this video featuring iTestSystem and National Instruments FieldDAQℱ hardware to assist with your data collection projects.

At ITM, we’re always on the lookout for tools that will help us take tough measurements.  When we heard that NI was introducing a new device that features IP65/67-rated ingress protection, we were very excited.  In many industrial or off-way environments, there is potential for fluids to splash or leak onto exposed hardware.  Could the NI FieldDAQℱ be a solution for these types of environments?

Watch now as I demonstrate how to use an NI FieldDAQℱ Strain Device with iTestSystem for data logging and answer the question; Will it work while submerged in water?

If you’re interested in learning more about iTestSystem or FieldDAQℱ, feel free to contact one of our test specialists by e-mail at info@itestsystem.com or phone at (844) 837-8797.

We Make Tough Measurements

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 — generally in a matter of days — 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.

— ITM President Tim Carlier