NEWS

New data acquisition product reduces the possibility of damage to expensive test articles.

A new module has been added to the Pacific Instruments 6000 Data Acquisition System.
The new 6040 digital input-output module is in addition to the transducer signal
conditioning and data acquisition modules.


The 6040 enables event detection and automatic control of equipment used for mechanical testing of products.
Test article damage may occur if the testing stimulus cannot respond in milliseconds when data acquisition detects
an imminent failure.

Pacific has put 16 digital inputs and 16 digital outputs on each module that occupies one slot in the Series 6000 data
acquisition mainframe. Multiple modules may be used to increase the number of inputs and outputs. The inputs are TTL
or opto isolated. The outputs are TTL or form C relay contacts. Contacts are rated for 2 amps at 30 VDC, maximum
voltage is 220VDC, maximum power is 60W.

The hardware implementation of alarm and control are unique. Most systems use software, which can create substantial
delay in initiating a corrective response. Measurement data must be acquired, passed by communication interface to the
computer for alarm processing and returned by a communication interface to control equipment. The interface can be a
source of significant delays. The 6040 eliminates these delays by making the alarms decisions in the data acquisition system
and initiating a pre-programmed response without computer intervention.

An example of the 6040Æs application is fatigue testing of aircraft, where the structure under test can cost millions of pounds.
Strain gauges and load cells monitor the applied loads and the resulting strain or deformation of the structure.
If a measurement exceed the calculated fatigue limit that has been programmed as an alarm, the 6040 automatically
sends a signal ramping down the hydraulic pressure applied to the loading cylinders. The time between detection and
issuing of the ramp-down command is less than a millisecond.

The 6040 is programmed by PacificÆs PI660 software, a turnkey data acquisition software package for Windows 98
and NT. The operator, using engineering units, programs the measurement alarm criteria. The 6040Æs automatic responses
are also programmed according to the type of alarms. In this manner, different alarms can invoke different responses.

For users who write their own operating software, PI660 is available as a DLL for use with Visual Basic and other
programming languages.