Issue #101, March 2016
We value your readership of our newsletter each month, now in issue 101, and are always ready to answer any questions you may have. If you have any questions about topics you've seen here or have any topics you would like to see covered in this newsletter, please send me an email and we will add it to our ever-growing list of discussion topics. Thank you for reading!
Understanding ISO 17025
Video With Mike Dillon

This month, we'll present the basics of ISO 17025 - the operational standard for testing and calibration laboratories.  That is, what is ISO 17025, what the scope of accreditation means, and the 5 basic components of standard...
 

Click to watch the video
Automotive Component Durability Testing 
Using Quartz Piezoelectric Force Sensors
By Robert Metz, PCB Piezotronics

Although strain gage load cell technology has its place for DC (static) force measuring and measurements requiring accuracy better than 1.0% of full scale, quartz piezoelectric force sensors offer many advantages. Qualities such as long-term stability and durability are particularly important for automotive component durability testing. This paper is intended to acquaint instrumentation engineers, who may not be familiar with quartz piezoelectric force sensors characteristics, with the benefits of the technology and how to take advantage of these benefits in automotive testing applications...

Click to download paper
 
Tip of the Month:

When operating daily accelerometer calibrations, pay close attention to securing the Sensor-Under-Test signal cable. A short, yet strain free secured service loop will:
  • Reduce strain effects and spurious output at very low frequencies (<5 Hz), as well as resonances at very high frequencies (>15 kHz)
  • Ensure more consistent calibrations run-to-run for better random uncertainty
  • Enable longer useable life for the calibration Sensor-Under-Test signal cable
Blast From the Past:
Instrumented Impact Hammer Calibration

Instrumented impact hammers are a useful and common tool in the structural dynamics and vibration trouble shooting fields of technology. The hammers, available in sizes from as small as a 0.10 oz (2.9 g) pencil up to 12 lb (5.44 kg) sledges, are typically configured for a given test by adding an impact tip of specific hardness (soft to nylon to steel) and occasionally a mass extender to add additional inertia for broadening the impact energy pulse in low frequency situations. Due to the unique nature of impact measurements, it is advised by manufacturers that users should calibrate the hammers in the tip/extender configuration that they will be used. For this reason, it is common to calibrate impact hammers a number of times for different tip/extender combinations.

 Click to read the full article
Thanks for joining us for another issue of Dynamic Sensors & Calibration Tips. As always, please speak up and let us know what you like. We appreciate all feedback: positive, critical or otherwise. Take care!

TMS 25 Years
Sincerely,
Mike Lally signature
Michael J. Lally 
The Modal Shop, Inc.
A PCB Group Company
mike.lally@modalshop.com
Engage with us:
Facebook Twitter Linkedin YouTube Behance
Technical ExchangesQuick Links
May 5
Cincinnati, OH

with Dr. Pat Walter
May 17-19
PCB Piezotronics 
Depew, NY



The Modal Shop, Inc | 3149 E. Kemper Road | Cincinnati | OH | 45241