PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Advanced vibration test systems Acutronic has introduced several innovations in its vibration test system series. These sit alongside the company’s well-established rate table portfolio. Rate tables are used for the development, production and calibration of inertial sensors, inertial measurement units and other integrated systems for active and passive safety, as well as for navigation purposes. The iMPulse X-Wings35 shaker series – including 40kN and 60kN air-cooled shakers and a new 90kN water-cooled shaker – now covers a wide range of environmental tests requiring 20-200kN of force or 60-600kN of shock force. With the iMPulse X-Wings35 shaker series, Acutronic claims it is the first shaker manufacturer to introduce digital vibration command input to the power amplifiers, enabling noise-free vibration motion profile testing. The company’s innovative modular amplifier design is based on silicon carbide (SIC) components – a first in the vibration industry, according to Acutronic. These high-efficiency components significantly reduce thermal loss and energy waste, improve current sharing between the power modules, and offer an increased switching frequency for even smoother vibration motion compared with the IGBT transistors commonly used in the industry. Acutronic has had 50 years of industry exposure. Its solutions are known for their high accuracy, motion fidelity, system reliability and availability. The reactivity and responsiveness of Acutronic’s customer support hotline have also been praised. Thanks to its many years of experience, not just in automotive, Acutronic understands the challenges component manufacturers and suppliers face in an industrial manufacturing environment. Flexible sensors for e-mobility analysis applications ASC’s modular IMU concept offers hundreds of configuration options to support e-vehicle and component manufacturers as well as producers of ICE vehicles in testing and optimizing their products. Flexible yet highly accurate and robust inertial accelerometers and gyroscopes are essential as electric cars, trucks, utility vehicles and motorcycles differ materially from those operated by ICEs, in weight, center of gravity, number of gear steps, torque, friction, damping and acceleration and deceleration behaviors. All of this can severely affect driving dynamics, efficiency, maintenance costs and ultimately the safe and functional operation of a vehicle. In e-mobility, safety testing to certify the high-voltage battery against rigorous national and international norms is another critical element of a program. Depending on the country it is produced in, a battery’s shock resistance typically varies between 20ms and 120ms and 2 g and 40 g ; the battery must resist vibrations from 7-50Hz and 2-10m/s 2 . ASC’s ultra-precise sensors have a broad operating range and are packaged in small, robust housings to fit the tiniest spaces, enabling data to be captured on all the important parameters that car and battery producers need to measure. For the development of innovative drive concepts, ASC’s modular inertial measurement unit, the IMU 7, provides a flexible toolbox integrating a diversity of robust accelerometers and gyroscopes that meet the highest standards in automotive testing. Based on hundreds of customizable configuration options, it has never been easier to accurately manage all relevant factors to improve vehicle efficiency, driving dynamics, safety, comfort and ergonomics. Acutronic To find out more, scan the QR code or visit: www.acutronic.com ASC To find out more, scan the QR code or visit: www.asc-sensors.de Low-speed high-torque dyno slashes test time and cost A Force Control dynamometer featuring a Positorq oil shear load brake slashed a manufacturer’s testing time from 62 days of in-field testing to just 21 days of round-the-clock lab testing. In addition to completing testing in roughly one-third of the time, the new dyno eliminated the need to ship heavy equipment to remote sites and have two operators on-site for the duration of testing. The 150hp dyno load brake meets unusual requirements: continuous torque up to 750Nm, momentary torque up to 1,127Nm and maximum static lock-up torque to 1,502Nm. Furthermore, the system cycles between minimum to maximum torque within 100ms at a cycle rate of 500 cycles per minute. Acceleration rate, deceleration rate and cycle rate are all adjustable thanks to an easy-to-use programming system developed by Force Control’s data engineers. The platform provides on-screen setup for all parameters – acceleration rate, deceleration rate, time at maximum torque, time at minimum torque, number of cycles per sequence and number of sequences. The Positorq load brake features oil shear technology, which enables it to provide smooth, controlled, high torque loads down to 0rpm. Furthermore, it can absorb full horsepower continuously for as long as the test requires. Force Control Industries To find out more, scan the QR code or visit: www.forcecontrol.com 84 MARCH 2024 www.AutomotiveTestingTechnologyInternational.com