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February 7, 2023BlogTesting Efficiency of Farm Equipment Understanding the distribution of power in farm equipment allows engineers to optimize fuel efficiency and productivity in both diesel and electric farm equipment. Michigan Scientific produces precision testing instruments with the capability to measure power losses in nearly every system in a variety of farm equipment. Michigan Scientific precision instrumentation can measure nearly any part of a system’s speed, torque, and temperature. These measurements can determine the amount of power distribution for each system. Knowledge of power distribution can help engineers find significant power losses. This is crucial when working to improve overall efficiency.  Electric Farm Equipment As the push for electrification increases, every industry has been working on the feasibility of the transition. The agricultural industry has many significant hurdles before electric farm vehicles become viable options. Battery capacity and infrastructure are major problems for the agricultural industry at the moment. Optimizing the efficiency of the machine will be a crucial factor when considering the battery capacity. Significant testing will need to be done on every system in electric farm equipment to fully understand power distribution. Testing will need to be completed in a variety of normal field operations as well as specific test conditions.  Example Instrumentation in Combine Harvesters Knowing the torque applied to pulleys and gears offers crucial insight into forces experienced during use. Michigan Scientific can instrument pulleys and gears, including the gear teeth, to test the speed, torque, and temperature they experience when in use. These instrumentation solutions are ideal for both long-term tests during general use and specific test conditions. Slip Rings are used for transferring data from the part to a DAQ system. The elbow gearbox on an unloading auger is necessary for transferring harvested goods into a truck or cart. On a combine, the unloading auger adjusts its position to be over the transfer location, then gears power the auger to move harvested goods through the auger tube. Michigan Scientific instrumentation can test the speed, torque, and temperature of the elbow gearbox to see where improvements can be made. This data is can lead to increased durability and efficiency. Michigan Scientific uses Multi-Axis Load Cells or custom gauging to measure forces experienced on moving components within an assembly. For example, Multi-Axis Load Cells can be mounted to rotor blades and feeder slats can be instrumented with custom gauging. The rugged design of our load cells ensures the ability to do field testing in the most difficult of conditions. Telemetry transmitters are used to transfer the data wirelessly from the load cell to a DAQ device.   Michigan Scientific specializes in designing and creating custom strain gauge transducers. Our engineers have expertise in gauging a wide variety of stock components. Michigan Scientific has completed a variety of instrumentation to help customers in the agriculture industry complete tests. We offer instrumentation capable of testing the efficiency of farm equipment while maintaining their strength and other characteristics as much as possible. To learn more about how Michigan Scientific can help with your instrumentation needs, contact us today!   [...]
August 25, 2022Blog / Events / ExpoMichigan Scientific Corporation (MSC) is excited to join the Industrial & Off-Highway Vehicle Technology Expo for their first year in Chicago! To see our latest innovative products or to learn more about our precision instrumentation, visit us at Booth 1023. We will be showcasing our PTO Transducer, Clamping Telemetry, and we will have a live Wheel Force Transducer demo. PTO Telemetry Transducer and PTO2 Torque Transducer Our PTO Transducers are designed to measure the torque and speed of a power take-off shaft. They can be made to accommodate standard PTO splines. The PTO Telemetry Transducer contains integrated wireless telemetry and hall effect sensor. The PTO2 operates using a Michigan Scientific Tubular Slip Ring Assembly. Clamping Telemetry Products We are pleased to provide a variety of clamping telemetry products. From the CIT to the CBT and CBT-mini, Michigan Scientific clamping telemetry products provide non-contact signal transmission that mount to a variety of shafts, enclosed in a rugged and compact package.   [...]
August 9, 2022BlogMichigan Scientific Corporation’s Wheel Pulse Transducer (WPT) is a compact encoder system that is designed to attach to the wheel of a vehicle.  Encoder signals from the WPT can be used to calculate the rotational velocity, the angular position, and the direction of rotation of a wheel. These measurements are commonly used to track the position of a vehicle for applications such as electric vehicle development and autonomous vehicle tracking. Autonomous Vehicle Tracking Autonomous vehicles rely on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology to track their position, but these systems can fail in urban, indoor, or underground environments. In areas where GNSS tracking is not available, other technologies such as Wheel Pulse Transducers or accelerometers must be used to track the location of vehicles. WPT systems can be used to track the position of autonomous forklifts inside of warehouses, or autonomous underground mining equipment. Additionally, the WPT system can be used to test and validate the accuracy of accelerometer-based systems. WPT Sensor Description The assembly is designed to mount quickly and easily to a vehicle wheel. Its compact and light weight design consists of electronics in a rugged housing. The WPT is mounted to the wheel via Quick Connect Lug Nut Collets or Extended Lug Nuts. The adapter plates and Quick Connect Lug Nut Collets come in a variety of sizes and configurations to meet any standard wheel dimension. A Magnetic Vehicle Stator Restraint and restraining rod are used to hold the encoder module stator in place while the sensor is being used on the vehicle. Due to the nature of vehicle testing, the WPT has been designed to be very rugged. With rotary seals for an IP67 rating, the WPT is ideal for testing in rainy, snowy, or dirty environments. Encoder Signal Conditioners WPT optical encoder resolutions up to 5,000 pulses per revolution (ppr) are available. Standard resolutions include 360 ppr, 512 ppr, 1024 ppr, and 5,000 ppr. Additional resolutions are available upon request. All encoder choices have four standard encoder outputs: A, B, I, and A⊕B. Outputs A and B are in quadrature, meaning they are 90 degrees out of phase. Output A⊕B is the exclusive OR of the two channels, which doubles the standard resolution of the encoder. The outputs, 0 to 5 digital volt pulses, can drive TTL loads. The Michigan Scientific EC-LV Encoder Signal Conditioner converts the 0 to 5 digital volt pulses of the WPT sensor encoder to linear voltages proportional to angular position and angular velocity. The EC-LV can be added in-line with the stator cable and does not require and additional programing. The external switches allow the user to select the range of speed and the direction of rotation. If you are interested in learning more about how the Wheel Pulse Transducer can be used for your application, please contact a Michigan Scientific Representative today.     [...]
July 21, 2022BlogAt Michigan Scientific Corporation (MSC) quality is a core value. With a team of over 100 employees and more than 60 years of experience, attention to quality is present at every level of our manufacturing, testing, and calibration processes. Steve Jarema, Quality Assurance Manager at Michigan Scientific, emphasizes the importance of a quality management system (QMS) to these processes. “The management team at Michigan Scientific Corporation shows leadership and commitment and bear the responsibility for establishing, implementing, integrating, and maintaining a QMS that ensures customer satisfaction as well as statutory and regulatory compliance,” says Jarema. “QMS effectiveness is monitored and evaluated regularly so that it provides the company and its customers with the confidence that the provision of service and products that are delivered consistently to predetermined high standards.” Our products are made in Michigan by our talented and knowledgeable team of machinists and fabricators. Continued training ensures our employees are knowledgeable on how they contribute to our quality goals and standards. Providing products that are both accurate and precise is a vital part of our quality objectives. Crucial to these quality standards is the Zeiss CMM. Utilized in many different practices at MSC, this machine allows us to take highly precise measurements, ensuring we provide our customers with quality instruments. International standards are key to quality management at Michigan Scientific. These standards allow us to make our practices more efficient, organize our process, and move us towards continued improvement. These standards are globally recognized, meaning that our quality practices are known and trusted around the world. With certification to ISO 9001:2015 standards, our customers can feel at ease knowing our products and services meet regulatory requirements. Additionally, Michigan Scientific testing and calibration processes are ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited, ensuring our customers that these practices are safe and reliant. Michigan Scientific is always looking to develop and expand our outreach. As such, Michigan Scientific has established a wholly owned subsidiary, CVX Instruments, LLC, to service the needs of the aerospace industry and bring new products to market. CVX Instruments, LLC was certified to the AS9100D standard on June 29, 2022. To learn more about CVX Instruments, LLC, please visit cvxinstruments.com. To learn more about Michigan Scientific’s quality standards, contact a Michigan Scientific representative today. [...]
July 15, 2022BlogAt Michigan Scientific Corporation, we are always looking for new ways to improve our existing products or create new products. Michigan Scientific is excited for the release of our new Side Slip Sensor, the TrueSlip Sensor. The TrueSlip sensor can be installed on a large variety of vehicles for improved vehicle dynamics testing. The TrueSlip sensor is compatible with Michigan Scientific Wheel Force Transducers, providing comprehensive information on the relationship between a vehicle tire and the surface of a road. The sensor outputs signals via CAN. TrueSlip makes side slip and slip angle measurements with high accuracy. The sensor optically measures the longitudinal and lateral velocities of the surface below it. TrueSlip slip angle measurements include the true SAE defined slip angle, the arctangent of the lateral velocity divided by the longitudinal velocity. Side slip measurements aid in understanding the relationship between the direction in which a vehicle is oriented and the direction in which it moves. Slip angle measurements evaluate tire performance by comparing the direction in which tires are pointing to the direction in which they are traveling. Mounting to the wheel of many different vehicle types, the TrueSlip sensor can meet the demands of a wide variety of vehicle dynamic tests. The sensor is a great tool in tire testing, ADAS testing, and autonomous vehicle testing. The sensor is able to operate under any lighting conditions. TrueSlip is equipped with internal infrared lighting, keeping the surface illuminated in the sensor’s optical frequency. With an IP67 rating, TrueSlip works well on dry roads, wet roads, and dry icy roads. To learn more about the new TrueSlip sensor, contact a Michigan Scientific representative today. [...]