EME introduces the PicoPetite - a compact, self contained, full featured Data Acquisition System

The EME PicoPetite is the most compact, self contained, full featured Data Acquisition System (DAS) ever designed and manufactured. This DAS measures only 2.00 inches (length) by 2.33 inches (width) by 1.1 inches (height) and weighs less than 5 ounces for 32 channels. Additional channels can be added or removed in 8 channel increments adding or subtracting only 0.218 inches per 8 Channels to the height dimension.

Up to 64 channels can be installed in a single unit and units can be daisy chained together for extremely high channel counts. EME has sacrificed no features to achieve this small size. The PicoPetite uses many of the deign features of the highly successful EME PicoDAS.

Features:

• Configurations of 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, and 64 analogue channels available
• Airborne (tm) Miniature DSub Connectors
• Synchronous triggering and simultaneous sampling between daisy chained units
• Simultaneous Sampling of 1 Hz to 250 kHz
• Individual 16-bit A/D converters for each channel
• Gain range of 1 to 10000
• Analogue Input of +/- 5 volts
• ICP Module allows any Analogue Input to accept ICP Sensors (28 Volt @ 3.6 ma with Adjustable High Pass Filter (Optional))
• Offsetting available for the full scale at the Input or at the Output
• .1% calibrated accuracy
• Internal shunt calibration
• Internal 1/2 pseudo bridge completion resistors for all channels (user selectable)
• Simultaneous sampling of channels
• Individual fold-back current limited excitation sources of 0, 2.5v, 5.0v, and 10.0v for each analogue input. Current limit can be customer set or delivered as 100ma standard.
• 6 pole Digital filtering with variable cut-off frequencies
• 5 pole Fixed Butterworth filter @ 25kHz (Other frequencies available)
• Meets SAE J211 specifications
• Sensor identification using DALLAS ID's (Optional with 51-pin Connectors)
• Automatic calibration of analogue channels
• Multi-stage sampling offering the sample rate to change up to 3 times at a set time or on the fly with an event line
• Start/Stop Data Recording using an event line
• Segmented Data Collection Mode offers the ability to collect multiple acquisitions under one arming.
• Gain Measurement and Excitation Measurement while sensors are connected
• Battery input measurement and current monitor recording during acquisition
• 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB or 256 GB of non-volatile memory
• 4 digital output channels
• 8 digital event input channels (Plus 4 Events per 8-channel Analogue Module)
• PCM Irig-B Input as well as PCM 106-01 Telemetry Output (Optional)
• Internal GPS Module (Optional)
• 10-16.5 volt power input range
• Internal Digital NiCAD/NiMH Peak Charger with automatic switching (Optional)
• Low power consumption .250 amps for 32 channels at 12 volts in full analogue mode
• Serial communication using Ethernet 100baseT
• Durability of Shock:

  +/-250g, 12 msec 1/2 sine wave pulse
  +/-70g, 500 msec 1/2 sine wave,
  +/-35g, 2 sec 1/2 sine wave,
  +/-60g 100 msec duration, on all axis

• Windows XP/Vista/7/8 32-bit or 64-bit (tm) Control/Processing Software
• EMI/RFI Shielding
• 1 year warranty
• The latest in technology

For further information on the EME Pico Petite in Australia or New Zealand, please contact Metromatics on +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

For outside this area, please contact EME Corp +1 410 544 8563 or info@emecorp.com

Metromatics are now the exclusive Australasian Distributors for the X-ES Product Range

 

Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) and Ruggedised Embedded Computing Boards and Systems Market Leader, Extreme Engineering Solutions (X-ES ), announces the appointment of Metromatics as their exclusive Australian and New Zealand distributor for their product range.  With a twenty five-year history of providing embedded computing and system solutions sales, distribution and support, and offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland, Metromatics is the perfect partner to distribute X-ES’s Embedded Board and Systems range across Australasia.

 

Metromatics has an extensive industry-specific history, currently representing companies who specialise in manufacturing Rugged Peripherals, UPS Power Systems, Data Acquisition Systems and Automatic Test Equipment.  The addition of X-ES’s Embedded Computing Solutions will provide Metromatics’ customers and the Australasian Commercial, Industrial, Communications and Defence Market as a whole, access and support to a comprehensive range of commercial grade to fully ruggedised boards and systems utilising the latest processor technology.  X-ES also excel in providing custom products, from modified COTS to full scale custom designs and will be able to provide Australasian Customers embedded technological solutions quicker.

 

Metromatics’ appointment creates the opportunity to couple excellent service with locality, offering real-time response to customer demand.  X-ES will continue to provide infrastructure support to Metromatics in terms of sales and technical assistance from X-ES’s experienced sales, technical and engineering team.

For further information or pricing on X-ES's excellent products in Australia & New Zealand, please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au
For outside the above mentioned area, please contact X-ES directly on +1 608 833 1155 or sales@xes-inc.com
 

Quality Standards | Jim on Engineering, Episode 20

If you want to know what and how the products from Crystal Rugged are made. Check out Jim Shaw's, Executive Vice President of Engineering Video Blog. He explains in detail topics related to operational, deployable, and high reliability computing applications.

In this video blog Jim Shaw, discusses the importance of quality standards when choosing a rugged computer manufacturer.

If your interested in more information in video blog form by Jim shaw check it out here https://www.crystalrugged.com/video-blog/

Information on this blog has been provided by our supplier Crystal Rugged.

For further information on Crystal Rugged products in Australia and New Zealand, please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

for outside that area please contact Crystal Rugged on ++1 319-378-1636

DEWESoft X2 SP3 released

DEWESoft X2 SP3 is the latest innovation in data acquisition software from DEWESoft. Available as a free upgrade for all DEWESoft X. The new version features many exciting improvements which perfectly uses all available hardware resources and therefore can ONLY be used with DEWESoft hardware.

The new enhancements include:

GRANDview

Enhanced freeze mode (GRANDview) allows user to review stored data from start of measurement without interrupting data acquisition and storing process. User is able to zoom into any region of data already stored on disk during the measurement and review any type of signal including video, which makes (long term) measurements easier to manage.

CAN offline decoding Acquire raw CAN traffic and do everything else later in analyse. Load dbc in analyse mode or update it with merge option if new version is available. Scan bus for all stored messages or add new messages manually. Add new signals, change scaling...

Campbell diagram Visualisation of 3 dimensional values on a single plane, mostly used in Order tracking. Range of values is segmented in defined number of levels and each level is represented by a circle, whose radius and colour depends on level's index; bigger values are represented with larger circles and colours higher on the colour map. For better analysis of data, cutoff of lower levels can be applied.

and many more improvements such as Visual, Math, Hardware, Sequencer, 

minor improvements and bugfixes. 

For further information on the Dewesoft X in Australia or New Zealand, please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

For outside this region please contact our supplier Dewesoft directly on +43 31 32 2252  or sales@dewesoft.com

COM Express Product Platform Video

If you need some help understanding and choosing the right COM Express platform of products by acromag this recent webcast is for you. 

This was a recent webcast held by our supplier Acromag, discusses how you can go from lab development to production quickly with Acromag's new innovative COM Express platform of products. Russ Nieves also discusses the CPU processor board, carriers, the engineering design kit and more.

If your interested in more information in video Form check out their Youtube channel
www.youtube.com/channel/UCFs8vt3VB0QQtonyvw2gX1g 

Information on this blog has been provided by our supplier Acromag .

For further information on Acromag products in Australia please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

Next Generation Motherboards Now Available for 27 Crystal Group Rugged and Industrial Server Models

Crystal Group Inc a trusted manufacturer of rugged commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) custom-developed computers, displays, switches, and storage devices, recently announced the immediate availability of Supermicro®’s new generation X10 Serverboards for its expansive line of Rugged and Industrial Servers.

This new offering comes as part of Crystal Group's continued commitment to its customers, by providing people, process and technology to help them solve tough computer challenges. Incorporating the latest motherboard technology it allows customers the opportunity to collect, store and process more data than ever before, even those who operate in the harshest of conditions, such as oil & gas or military settings.

“Our purpose built server lines use leading edge architecture which follows the embedded Intel® platform roadmap of silicon driven technology for use in industrial and military applications,” said Jim Shaw, Crystal Group’s Executive Vice President of Engineering. “This technology brings the latest in performance, efficiency, security and scalability to the rugged industry.”

Crystal Group’s integration of Supermicro’s new generation X10 Haswell DP and UP Serverboards offer up to 1 TB 2133MHz DDR4 memory in 16 DIMMs, 7 PCI-E slots, SATA 3.0/NVMe, hot-swap HDD/SSD support, USB 3.0, 10GBase-T networking options, SATA Disk-on-Module (DOM), and IPMI 2.0 plus KVM with dedicated LAN. The Supermicro New Generation X10 Haswell DP and UP Serverboards support the Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2600 v3 product family. Serverboards are offered in proprietary form factors for custom developed chassis, as well as standard form factors such as ATX and Extended ATX.

Information on this blog has been provided by our supplier Crystal Rugged.

For further information on Crystal Rugged products in Australia or New Zealand please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

How FPGA technology is assisting energy conservation with Wind Turbine Control

An interesting application note from our supplier Acromag  - on how FPGA technology is assisting in energy conservation with Wind Turbine Control.

Energy conservation is ever-growing in importance, both from environmental and personal perspectives. Using less energy will preserve resources and reduce consumer costs provided appropriate low-energy devices are made available, reliable, and put into commonplace use. Successful green power generation requires that: a) more power is produced than is consumed in generating the power, and b) the mechanisms and control apparatus deployed yield sufficient payback to recapture the overall investment made for installation and a lifetime of maintenance. Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology is currently playing a significant role in energy conservation. Wind turbine control is just one application where PMC modules with reconfigurable FPGAs are being used in renewable energy ventures.

The basic components of a control system to maximise energy capture from a wind turbine include: rotor pointing, blade speed regulation, minimisation of pointing and pitch control, and the mitigation of disturbances (i.e. excessive rotor speed, wind gusts, etc.). See Figure 1. Additionally, the environment inside the rotor head, or nacelle, is very hostile. Any control device used in this environment must be self-diagnostic, rebootable, extreme temperature tolerant, vibration tolerant, and of course, affordable. There are many methodologies that will be or are currently being implemented. Many of these approaches will share the basic control architecture components of

Acromag PMC FPGA modules provide a unique combination well-suited to the application’s requirements. Conduction cooling and wide ambient operating ranges help withstand the extremes temperatures. High channel density with up to 97 single-ended I/O points on the front edge and up to 64 single-ended I/O points on the rear connector enables monitoring and control of many components. Logic is stored in reprogrammable flash memory, available in variable capacities, and is re-bootable at any time. The PMCs are able to generate and monitor high speed serial communications. They can simplify the capture of encoder and position feedback, as well as facilitate driving stepper motor systems and closing servo loops. And finally, the capability to execute the RTOS of choice on top of either a soft of hard PowerPC foundation makes the selection of PMC FPGA modules very popular for wind turbine control and similar green applications.

In Figure 2 above, the Setpoint would include items such as the Target_RPM at which the rotor most efficiently generates power and any boundary conditions (pitch, RPM, rate of movement for pitch and pointing correction, etc.). Based upon wind speed and direction information from the anemometer attached to the turbine head’s nacelle, it is possible to determine the ideal Target_Pitch for the rotor turbine blades. The Pitch_Encoder data provides present position information and the Pitch_Motor_Cmd is generated to acquire Target_Pitch. Similarly, using wind direction information from the anemometer, rotor pointing is adjusted for optimal use of the prevailing wind source. Capturing sensory information, executing algorithms to maximise energy capture, and generating commands to address circumstantially ideal rotor pointing and blade pitch positioning are simple tasks for robust PMC FPGA modules.

In fact, PMC modules, such as Acromag’s PMCVFX70 with a Virtex-5 FPGA and PowerPC core can be solely tasked to this undertaking in standalone configurations. No in-rotor or in-nacelle computer is required.

For further information about the Acromag product range in Australia & New Zealand, please contact

Metromatics    +61 7 3868 4255  sales@metromatics.com.au

Acromag (all other countries)   +1  248-624-1541

Futek Application 102 | Bolt Fastening

Application Summary

FUTEK's Thru-Hole (Donut) Load Cells are major players when measuring the tightening of load directly. Our Thru-Hole Series (LTH) offers a variety of capacities and inner diameter sizes making it ideal for bolt fastening applications.

Products in Use

Thru-Hole/Donut Load Cell (LTH Series) paired with Instrumentation (USB Solutions, IPM650 Digital Display, IHH500 Handheld, or CSG110 Amplifier).

How it Works

1. FUTEK’s LTH Series offers several miniature load cells appropriate for this form of measurement testing.
2. In the above application, FUTEK's LTH load cell is installed between the bolt head and the nut, where it can measure the load as torque is applied.
3. Our engineers recommend including a hardened washer between the load cell and the nut to avoid high friction and maintain flatness on the Thru-Hole during tightening and untightening.
4. As the operator begins to fasten the bolt, the load cell will measure the force applied.
5. This data can be monitored throughout testing via FUTEK’s IPM650 Digital Display or IHH500 Handheld Display; or it can be streamed to a computer via FUTEK’s USB Solutions.
6. Operators and engineers can then review this data to verify whether or not they have reached the desired tension on the fastener, stud or bolt via SENSIT™ Test and Measurement Software.
7. Overall, the benefits of installing Thru-Hole type load cells into your assembly process include: avoiding damage to bearing surfaces, decreased problematic tightening of large bolts, ease in untightening, and simultaneous tightening improvements.
8. FUTEK created an online bolt torque calculator to better assist you.

This application note was provided by our supplier Futek.

For further information about the Futek products used in this application, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Metromatics   I    07 3868 4255   I   sales@metromatics.com.au

SWaP | Jim on Engineering, Episode 19

If you want to know what and how the products from Crystal Rugged are made. Check out Jim Shaw's, Executive Vice President of Engineering Video Blog. He explains in detail topics related to operational, deployable, and high reliability computing applications.

In this video blog Jim Shaw, discusses the importance of SWaP computing in both the industrial and military markets.

If your interested in more information in video blog form by Jim shaw check it out here https://www.crystalrugged.com/video-blog/

Information on this blog has been provided by our supplier Crystal Rugged.

For further information on Crystal Rugged products please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

Gotta Hand it To the Kiaro! For Turning Ideas Into Labels

In this word movie, The Quicklabels team demonstrate how fun it is to use a Kiaro! label printer to bring your label ideas to life. 

Here, you’ll see all the kinds of styles you can use to design your label – all of which the Kiaro! can accommodate. 

Not only will you have high-quality printed labels, but you’ll also have attractive labels that will grab attention from customers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TKkR54MnWM

Information on this blog has been provided by our supplier Quicklabel Systems.

For further information on the The Quicklabels Kiaro! family or printing labels in Australia or New Zealand, please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

For outside this region please contact our supplier Quicklabel Systems directly on +1 401 828 4000 or sales@Quicklabel.com

Industrial vs Military Servers | Jim on Engineering, Episode 18

If you want to know what and how the products from Crystal Rugged are made. Check out Jim Shaw's, Executive Vice President of Engineering Video Blog. He explains in detail topics related to operational, deployable, and high reliability computing applications.

In this video blog Jim Shaw, discusses the differences between Crystal Rugged's industrial server line and their military server line.

If your interested in more information in video blog form by Jim shaw check it out here https://www.crystalrugged.com/video-blog/

Information on this blog has been provided by our supplier Crystal Rugged.

For further information on Crystal Rugged products please contact Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

Browndog Creamery Keeps it Cool with the Kiaro!

This was a recent blog from our supplier Quicklabel Systems who clearly described the great success one of their customer's Browndog Creamery has had printing their own labels with the Kiaro! Inkjet label printer.

________________________________________________________________

With an ever-changing variety of ice cream flavors as evocative as Dragon Bite, Tuscan Sun, Buttered Berry Brioche, and French Press Mocha, the owners of Browndog Creamery needed a labeling solution that could adapt to label changes on-the-fly. For example, they may need 20  labels for Triple Vanilla this morning, and 15 for Mystery Cookie this afternoon. 

Luckily for owners Brian Scherle and Paul Gabriel, they found the Kiaro! label printer to print labels for their pints of ice cream on demand, in the exact quantity that they need.

Browndog Creamery, a “micro-creamery” located in the heart of downtown Northville Michigan, west of Detroit, brings customers delicious and unique handcrafted ice creams.  Being a micro-creamery, as explained by co-owner Paul Gabriel, “basically means that we make our ice cream in very small batches. We’re not a mass factory where we make thousands of gallons of ice cream. We make about four or five gallons at a time for each flavor.”

Browndog Creamery’s unique flavor combinations are all created in-house by Gabriel and Scherle. “I always tell people I refuse to make butter pecan, so instead we make a bourbon pecan,” said Gabriel. “For our Cinco de Mayo we made a Holy Guacamole ice cream, and that’s the type of stuff that we really like: the really unique, creative stuff that you’re not going to find anywhere else. “

The perfect label for every single batch

Browndog rotates flavors of ice creams so frequently because each batch made in their micro-creamery is only a few gallons. Even before they opened their business, they knew that using pre-printed labels wouldn’t make any sense, because buying minimum orders of labels would lead to excessive costs and way too much label inventory for their small backroom.

“I knew we would be running small batches of ice cream and I didn’t want to take an inventory of a hundred or a thousand labels of one flavor because I knew we might only need ten,” said Gabriel. “The Kiaro! has been a wonderful fit in our business to allow us to make these very small run labels and customize them to everything that we needed to do.”

“Being able to create products and without having to go to a mass printing,” has been a boon to business said Scherle. “Using the Kiaro! printer to label our ice cream, and to create amazing and attractive packaging is just part and parcel of creating our products.”

Kiaro! Labels Handle Freezing Temps  

One of Browndog’s chief concerns was whether or not their Kiaro! labels would stand up to the freezing temperatures necessary for storing ice cream.

“The synthetic material that we use for the pint labels is pretty resistant to water and we actually label the pints after they’ve gone through the freezing process,” said Gabriel.  “We were a little skeptical about how they would adhere to a frozen pint, but the Kiaro! labels do quite well.”

“It’s surprising how fast the printer is,” said Gabriel.  “We have taught some of our employees how to use the Kiaro! and besides its flexibility and other benefits, it’s also very easy to use. 

Try it Yourself 

Browndog Creamery, and countless others, have found that printing labels on-demand and in house just makes sense. Schedule a demonstration of a Kiaro! label printer with Metromatics, who will bring a Kiaro! to your facility in Australia and New Zealand, and show you what an in-house label printer can bring to your business.

Contact Metromatics now if you are in Australia or New Zealand.

Metromatics +61 7 3868 4255 or sales@metromatics.com.au

For outside this region please contact our supplier Quicklabel Systems directly on +1 401 828 4000 or sales@Quicklabel.com

Rugged Small Form Factor Embedded Computer Now Offers Removable SSD Storage for Data Security

Acromag’s customisable-off-the-shelf embedded computer is a rugged deployable, conduction-cooled  sff computer and is designed specifically for military/aerospace systems.

ARCX with SSDAcromag has introduced the ARCX box, a rugged small form factor embedded computer with unique expandable features that include PMC, XMC, mini PCIe, mSATA module slots, optional solid-state drive, front I/O panel, and secondary connectors. This SFF embedded computer was engineered rugged with Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) to address space requirements of vehicle electronics. Compatible with industry standards and manufactured to IP67 standards and shock and vibration tested to MIL-STD-810G these computers are available as either a single PMC/XMC slot or double PMC/XMC slot versions.

The SFF computer comes equipped with a high-performance Intel® 4th generation Core™ i7 CPU. The CPU allows programmable power limits, where heat and power is a concern. A rugged design includes thick circuit boards and high shock and vibration SODIMM hold-down mechanism and heat sink plus it is cableless and fanless. Designed and manufactured in the USA for military/aerospace deployable systems such as: vetronics, C4ISR, payload management, and command and control applications. 

“Valuing the use of industry standards like PMC/XMC, mSATA and mPCIe we have now added lockable, easily-removed storage capability using SSD devices readily available on the open market to our ARCX solutions.  This gives our customers a platform with optimal flexibility to assemble the system they want and need” commented Russ Nieves, Acromag’s International Sales Manager.

    The ARCX embedded computer is truly a customizable-off-the-shelf, SWaP solution that features customizable expansion, all with low power and a compact size.

Acromag has designed and manufactured measurement and control products for more than 55 years. They are an international corporation with a world headquarters near Detroit, Michigan and a global network of sales representatives and distributors. Acromag offers a complete line of embedded I/O products including bus boards, mezzanine modules, wiring accessories, and software. Industries served include military, aerospace, manufacturing, transportation, utilities, and scientific research laboratories.

This application note was provided by our supplier Acromag.

For further information about the Acromag products used in this application, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Metromatics   I    07 3868 4255   I   sales@metromatics.com.au