AUG. 15–EAST HANOVER, NJ–Sensor Products Inc. introduces the Topaq Advanced Imaging System, which is used in conjunction with Fuji Prescale/Pressurex stress indicating films.
Topaq provides perspective of the distribution and actual magnitude of stress between any contacting or impacting surfaces. Topaq is a post-process interpretative system that actually collects stress and force data at the interface surface. In many instances, Topaq can be used to confirm the results of field emitting array (FEA) analysis. It also has extremely rapid response time, usually requiring no more than five seconds to render an image.
Measuring pressure distribution and magnitude in components, tools and machines as well as determining effective placement of strain gauges and drawing pressure in dies are some of the common applications. Electronics packaging applications, heat sinks and printed circuit boards lend themselves particularly well to interpretation with this unique system.
Features include histograms of pressure levels, enlargement and reduction, pseudo-color and 3-D viewing modes, extensive smoothing, filtering and thresholding enabling integration of total area and magnitude of force. Surface contact area down to 3 mils can be analyzed. Multiple and single regions of interest can be compared and analyzed. A line scan function allows the user to assess narrow bands of stress over unusual or intricate shapes.
Another feature called Grid-Maker applies a user designated mesh overlay to an image and quickly assimilates the statistical data for each cell into Excel format. A bicubic interpolation algorithm allows Topaq to enlarge an image without the usual increase in graininess that normally accompanies such function. Each image and its accompanying statistics can be saved, printed and exported for analysis in other software packages.
Sensor Products has also introduced Xsensor, a new electronic tactile force and pressure indicating sensor.
Xsensor allows an engineer to monitor how force is disbursed between any two contacting or mating surfaces in real-time while the event occurs. Any application of test where pressure lies between .01 PSI to 12,000 PSI (0.007 kg/cm2 to 845 kg/cm2) is a viable candidate for Xsensor technology.
Xsensor can aid in machine calibration unit pressure distribution between components of machine assemblies such as gaskets and flanges, clutch and brake plates, frames, shafts, welding heads, teeth of gears, glue and adhesive jigs, roller nips for steel mills, and electronic component packaging.
Other applications are as diverse as ultrasonic welding, explosive forming, indication of uniformity during composite materials fabrication, determination of effective placement of strain gauges, determining drawing pressure in dies, package drop test pressure, and measuring the interface pressure in mechanically attached joints.
Xsensor is a Windows-based system that consists of an electronic sensor element “skin,” an interface controller and software. The sensor skin is essentially a thin flexible sheet that is densely packed with sensing points or pixels. These sensing points can be spaced as close as 1 mm (.04″) apart and can collect data 500 times per second. The Xsensor sensing element is only 18 mils, allowing adaptation over curved surfaces or invasive intolerant environments. The Xsensor element’s internal structure is very durable and can be utilized for thousands of tests before replacement is necessary. The sensor system is pre-calibrated and requires minimal user training prior to operation.