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SI-H Muscle Testers
26
WORLD PRECISION IN STRU MENTS
The basic procedure for calibrating the
SI-BAM21-LCB
involves:
1. Setting a zero reference point with the force transducer un-loaded.
2. Applying a load with a known mass to the tissue mount on the transducer.
3. Choosing one of the two calibration methods to best serve the application. Use the
Gain Calibration Potentiometer
to adjust the amplifi er’s output range to:
•
Maximize the resolution for the intended measurement range. For the greatest
precision, maximize the resolution of the
SI-BAM21-LCB
by calibrating the 10.0V
output of the amplifi er to 10-20% above the maximum expected force. For
example, if the maximum expected value is 4.0-4.5g, set the
SI-BAM21-LCB
so
that a 5g mass yields a 10.0V output. The maximum expected output would then
be 9.0V, with a 4.5g applied load.
•
Numerically correlate the force with a voltage output. For quick visualization, you
may choose to establish a numerical correlation by calibrating the
SI-BAM21-
LCB
so that a force like 5.0g generates a 5.0V output.
The following calibration procedure may be used with any
SI-KG
force transducer. For
illustration purposes, a
SI-KG4
force transducer is used in the example. Note that a 5g
mass is the maximum force that a
SI-KG4
can measure. If a gain of X10 is used with
the
SI-KG4
transducer, then 0.5g, which is about 10% of the total range of the
SI-KG4
force transducer, is the largest mass that can be used with this force sensor.
1. Connect the force transducer to the transducer input of the
SI-BAM21-LCB
. Connect
the output of the
SI-BAM21-LCB,
or the Corrected Output of the
SI-AOSUB
module
if it is being used, to an input of a data acquisition system or a digital multimeter. See
"Connecting the Signal Conditioning Amplifi er System" on page 22.
•
If a multimeter is used to track the output of the amplifi er or the anti-oscillation
fi lter, set the scale of the meter to measure DC voltages between -10.0 and
+10.0VDC.
•
If a computerized data acquisition system, like a LabTrax 8/16, is used to record
the output of the amplifi er or fi lter, use the autoscale feature of the recording
software to track the changes in the output voltage as the calibration is
performed.
2. Mount the force transducer on the calibration stand on the base of the
SI-MT
,
SI-
MKB
or
SI-HTB
system.
NOTE
: The calibration stand holds the force transducer and its tissue mount in the
proper orientation for an accurate calibration. This angle is critical in establishing
a proper calibration ratio. When gravity pulls the mass hung on end of the tissue
mount down, the actuator rod of the transducer is pulled in the same direction as the
force created by the tissue used in the experiment. If the force is not pulling on the
tissue mount in this direction, the output signal has to be adjusted correspondingly.