Model 933A
Life Cycle Test System
Software / Hardware Manual
TRICOR
Systems Inc.
TD-522 (06/01)
Страница 1: ...Model 933A Life Cycle Test System Software Hardware Manual TRICOR TRICOR TRICOR TRICOR TRICOR Systems Inc Systems Inc Systems Inc Systems Inc Systems Inc TD 522 06 01 ...
Страница 2: ...mes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this document TRICOR Systems Inc 1650 Todd Farm Drive Elgin Illinois 60123 Phone 847 742 5542 Fax 847 742 5574 NOTICE Microsoft Windows Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows ME Windows 2000 and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation The Model 933A application software operates in a graphical environment named Microsoft Windows created...
Страница 3: ...3 Contents Section Page 1 Introduction 4 2 Getting Started 6 3 Testing 11 4 Configuration 18 5 Test Results 25 6 Force and Speed 27 ...
Страница 4: ...chniques described in the ASTM Designation F1661 96 These measurements have tolerances assigned so that the LCTS can determine the pass fail status of each test cycle A count is kept of all cycles failures and sequential test failures These counts are compared against programmed limits to stop testing at user defined events For example the testing can be stopped after 1 000 000 test cycles or afte...
Страница 5: ... up to store the test results to an open file The file format is comma delimited text which is easily imported to other programs such as Microsoft Excel and Access The text file format is directly readable by both of these programs The configuration setup of the LCTS can also be stored and recalled from files All test data is viewable on the main application screen The software application will ru...
Страница 6: ...CTS so that the Power Module can be connected User Supplied Computer A personal computer running any 32 bit version of Microsoft Windows is required to configure the LCTS and to download test data Any version of Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows Me Windows 2000 or Windows NT version 4 0 can be used The computer does not need to be located at the same sight where testing will occur but it is much more ...
Страница 7: ...orer or My Computer Double click the setup exe file The installer will ask you to shut down any other applications that may be running Press the OK button if you have already closed other programs A dialog box will appear which will allow you to change the location on your hard drive where the 933 application will be stored You may change this location if necessary but TRICOR recommends the defaul...
Страница 8: ...er coupling This coupling connector should be coupled together whenever power is applied to the Control Unit to prevent air from escaping Adjust the pressure regulator on the front panel of the Control Unit for at least 40 psi on the gauge Connect the Power Module cable to the power connector on the back of the Control Unit Figure 1 Plug the Power Module into a suitable power source receptacle The...
Страница 9: ...9 Figure 2 Slide Post Mounted to Base Plate Figure 3 Control Unit Front Panel Force Adjustment Pressure Gauge Status Indicators Control Switches ...
Страница 10: ...nels between COM1 and COM8 There is a status bar of information at the bottom of the main window for the application While searching the information will indicate what channel it is testing When the LCTS is found there is a brief message stating that the tester was found on a specific communication channel The status bar will then display the serial number resistance test range and mode as well as...
Страница 11: ...s considered to have failed Similarly the bounce is checked to be sure it is less than or equal to the maximum bounce time tolerance Exceeding this tolerance value is also a failure There are a total of 4 possible failures for each test half cycle The 3 specified above and the initial state of the contact Figure 5 The initial contact state is a go no go test to be sure the switch contacts are in t...
Страница 12: ...this is easily accomplished by the PC running the application software The Model 933A never needs to make this calculation The real advantage of this test technique is the resolution enhancement that it provides on the low end of the resistance range The scale is compressed downward This provides a greater resolution to the closed circuit condition while also yielding an extended dynamic range The...
Страница 13: ...et below SLTV The LCTS application software displays these thresholds as voltage resistance and a percentage of the open circuit voltage Bounce Open Closed Contact Voltage SUTV SLTV Figure 7 Bounce Timing The LCTS is a software controlled system It uses a tight timing loop to monitor the contact during the testing This loop time is slightly less than 25 usec Thus the sampling resolution is this sa...
Страница 14: ...plies equally to the up stroke and testing the closed condition of the contact inverts the tolerance and threshold directions Figure 8 illustrates a typical down half cycle Down Time Cylinder Contact Plunger Switch Transition Contact Bounce Contact Stabilize Check Initial Contact State Measure Final Resistance Software Monitors Contact Figure 8 Typical Down Stroke of NO SwitchType This half cycle ...
Страница 15: ... is greater than the current Maximum Contact value the Maximum Contact value is replaced with the down contact value This is the new maximum Similarly the Minimum Contact value is replaced with down contact value if this new reading is less than the Minimum Contact value This becomes the new minimum These values can be reset so that the worst readings are returned The Maximum Contact value is rese...
Страница 16: ...in a range from 0 025 to 5 000 seconds The duration of the up or down stroke is dependent on the test state selected for that half cycle If NoTesting is chosen then the algorithms use the Maximum Test Time configuration value for that half of the cycle The Minimum Test Time value can be set to any valid time it will have no affect The maximum cycle rate is set by this limitation Assuming that the ...
Страница 17: ...ed crossing the SLTV threshold Typically the value assigned to this configuration parameter should be adjusted to guarantee that the contact has stabilized so that the final contact resistance can be read As a switch wears the amount of bounce and stabilization time increase This Minimum Test Time should included padding to allow for device approved wear By setting the Minimum Test Time to an appr...
Страница 18: ...e parameters include the test time limits the contact type normally Open Closed and the SUTV SLTV transition threshold see Section 3 The status bar at the bottom of the main window displays characteristics of the LCTS None of the text or check boxes on the main window screen can be modified They are for display of test results and configuration data The only active resources on this window is the ...
Страница 19: ...connected and are properly communicating Configuration Files The configuration parameters loaded into the LCTS can also be saved to files for later retrieval Under the Configure menu are Open Save menu items The Open item will show a standard windows dialog of files in folders Select the file to open The file format is checked and if proper will be transferred to the LCTS At the bottom of the Conf...
Страница 20: ...each Thus the fastest test time is 0 050 seconds or 20 cycles sec The slowest is 0 1 cycles sec The minimum stroke times must be limited to the same range as the maximum Though these parameters are not applicable to non contact testing they are still verified as are all configuration parameters By definition the minimum time must be less than the maximum time Thus for a non contact device it is ea...
Страница 21: ...21 Figure 12 Model 933A Application Software Configuration Dialog Contacts Tab Figure 13 Model 933A Application Software Configuration Dialog LimitsTab ...
Страница 22: ...n open circuit Note that for each stroke direction the Min Resistance value must be less than or equal to the Max Resistance value Because of the granular resolution of the resistance measurement method some numeric values entered must be re adjusted when the OK button gets pressed When a value is modified the user is warned and a dialog box pops up asking if the user wants to review the changes B...
Страница 23: ...he user is given complete control over when these values get reset Loading new configuration will not change any of the stored numbers The user must perform the reset manually To reset the data select the Reset Limits menu item on the Configuration menu The dialog box shown in Figure 14 will allow selection of the items to be reset The LCTS must be stopped before this operation can be performed Au...
Страница 24: ... and in its fixture press the OK button A relatively slow test of the switch is repeated 10 times until a cumulative average is obtained These test results are downloaded and used to calculate the configuration parameters The configuration data dialog box is then displayed Inspect and modify and parameters as necessary Click OK to send these values to the LCTS Figure 15 Model 933A Application Soft...
Страница 25: ...tion GeneratingTest Data To generate test data the LCTS must be run This can be done using the push buttons on the LCTS front panel The LCTS can also be commanded to run by the software application There are more options available using the software The options for starting and stopping the LCTS are under the Run menu Most of these options also have short cut accelerator keys For example Ctrl S wi...
Страница 26: ... is determined by a simple equation Force Pressure Piston Surface Area The piston of the standard LCTS has a diameter of 7 16 inch which results in a surface area of 0 150 inches2 The force is then Force lbs 0 150 Gauge Reading lbs in2 Setting the pressure to 40 psi will give a force maximum of 6 0 lbs The maximum pressure should not be set above 45 psi The internal air values will begin to leak a...
Страница 27: ...ose as possible to the tested item Use the highest air pressure which your device can withstand Higher pressure force the air cylinder to move faster If your LCTS is equipped with the option air flow restrictors set these for the minimum restriction that can be tolerated If appropriate replace the elastomer tip with a more ridged replacement Reduce Contact Test Time Minimize the time spent testing...