-New equipment Transient data recording Falcon is a mult i-channel transient data recorder which is Windows based for easy set up and control. Data may also be exported to custom applications. Further refinements include auto-configurat ion on power up, high speed sampling and a triggering function. It is a modular system giving the f lexibi l i ty to meet the requirements of most transient data capture applications.

Each module has its own dedicated microprocessor, making performance independent of the number of channels in use. For example, field measurements can be made using an eight-channel instrument housed in a portable, low profile case, whi le multi-sensor logging of complex data can be handled by a 64 channel 19" x 7U rack mounted system. Extra channels may be added in the field if needed. The maximum channel count is virtually unlimited.

Each data acquisit ion module comprises four high speed sampling A /D converters, data storage for 1 mil l ion samples per channel, pre-event or post-event triggering and a local 32 bit processor. The modules communicate via a high speed communications bus operating at 20 Mbit s -1 .

The recorder is used in conjunction with a PC (or Sun microsystems workstation). The screen displays, under Windows (for the PC), show a choice of virtual instrument control panels, which are operated via keyboard and mouse. These real-time windows al low easy configuration and ensure channels and sensors are correctly set up prior to recording. Data may be saved in several formats including ASCII, binary, and DATS_Plus or may be transferred under DDE to standard 0963-8695/94/02/0114-04 O 1994 Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd

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Microprocessor-based instrumentation for multi-channel transient data recording from Sunnyside Systems

Windows applications. Data display screens show current or archived data, either channel by channel or as mult i-channel displays. Data traces can be zoomed up to screen resolution for close examination and analysis of very fast transients.

Sunnyside Systems Limited, Rosebank Nursery, Kirkton Campus, Livingston, Scotland EH54 7AN, UK

Integrated data logger Solartron Instruments has extended the application areas for its Scorpio data logger family with the introduction of on-screen graphical trend display and selective data replay facilities.

Instant visualization of user- selected channels and results simplifies experimental set-ups for automotive and aerospace engineers involved in prototype testing. On-l ine graphs and selective data replay enable uti l i ty and power engineers at engineering service centres to improve trouble-shooting on a

N DT & E International 1994 Volume 27, N umber 2

wide range of plant and equipment. Cont inuous plott ing of channel measurements or calculated results eliminates the need for separate chart recorders; pr int-on-demand satisfies the need for hard copy records.

Up to four separate trends can be plotted simultaneously on the integral, 640 by 200 pixel, back-lit display, either as separate charts or, if the data values are compatible, overlaid onto a single chart for easy comparison. The logger's intuit ive icon-based user interface simplifies the selection of display format and data sources, and allows engineers to define up to eight independent, prioritized tasks. Structural engineers wil l appreciate the logger's abil ity to display key strain and displacement measurements from a specific analysis task, triggered on detection of an over-stress alarm.

A 32-bi t RISC chip provides powerful computation, enabling the logger to perform such tasks as converting measurements immediately into usable

=New equipment engineering results, compressingJ thousands of readings into simple efficiency values, or averaging inputs over time. Calculator-like programming and standard data conversions allow almost any processing formula to be easily defined. Any such calculated result can be selected as a data source and plotted in parallel witch other processed results or raw channel data.

The unit time-stamps results to aln accuracy of ___ 2 ms and stores them on the built- in floppy disc, prior to downloading across RS232/modem links or the optional IEEE 488 and RS422 interfaces. Selective data replay enables data stored on disc to b e selected on the basis of time-stamp range, alarms, channels or task. In distributed data acquisition applications, selecting data of interest before downloading via modem for analysis reduces data transmission times and hence the telecommunication costs.

Solartron Instruments, Victoria Road, Famborough, GUI4 7PW, UK

Aluminium temperature measurement

The Aluminium Strip Thermometer System (ASTS) from Land Infrared provides a dependable solution to measuring the temperature of bright aluminium strip during hot rolling.

A problem with using radiation thermometers for aluminium has always been the variable emissivity of the strip, which is influenced by a complex combination of factors including alloy content, surface finish and the temperature of the material itself. The new system consists of a special dual wavelength infrared thermometer coupled to an intelligent signal processing unit.

Integrated, high performance data logger from Solartron Instruments with on-screen multi-chart trend displays

It overcomes the emissivity problem by automatically recognizing individual alloy types from information contained within the thermometer signals and ascribing appropriate emissivity values to them - without user intervention or auxiliary data input.

The technology is based upon development and testing by Land and the aluminium industry which has shown that for two particular wavelengths there is a specific emissivity relationship which holds for all commonly encountered aluminium- magnesium alloys over a wide temperature range.

Emissivity data based on extensive plant trials is pre-programmed into the

instrument. It is also possible to "teach' the system to optimize its accuracy in a specific measurement location by means of a hand-held set-up unit which can also be used to verify accuracy or derive settings for unusual alloys.

ASTS has been shown to correlate closely with contact temperature measurements over a wide range of common alloys in real finishing mill entry conditions. It can also anticipate breakdowns by spotting potential causes, such as reduction of coolant flow, so that maintenance can be carried out without downtime.

The instrument shows target temperature on a bright LED

Land's Aluminium Strip Thermometer System installed on the Rogerstone hot line of Alcan Rolled Products UK

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