Quality, Test & Measurement News

Almost since the beginning of the cellphone's part in the communications revolution a debate has raged about whether they emit harmful radiation. Carriers and manufacturers express their outrage at the idea, but studies showing no evidence of a link between phones and radiation have been funded by the manufacturers — hardly an unbiased group. Clearly, governments aren't ignoring the issue and its possible consequences. The city of San Francisco has already passed a law requiring phone retailers to post the specific absorption rate (SAR) of radiation in various models. The U.S. Congress is considering the situation as well. This article and the accompanying comments provide some insight to the various points of view.

The National Instruments "How-To Guide for Most Common Measurements" is a centralized resource portal for obtaining information about making common sensor and signal measurements. Each of the following documents covers the operating principle for the corresponding signal/sensor and offers guidance on how to make that measurement. View the resource now.

MQC is an A2LA ISO 17025 Accredited environmentally controlled facility, certified with ISO100-12-1 and ANSI/NCSL Z540.3 and traceable to N.I.S.T. We specialize in calibration, repair, inspection, first article inspection, and sales of precision measurement equipment. In-house / On-site services available, five business day turnaround, and all our certification comes with DATA (24/7 access).

Datacolor 45G is a high-accuracy spectrophotometer with integrated gloss measurement. It brings reference-grade performance in a portable instrument. The 45G is ideal for color appearance control of painted surfaces, plastic parts, inks, automotive parts, and other manufactured goods. Learn more.

ShapeGrabber automated 3D laser scanners are ideal for measurement, inspection, and quality control. Even complex-shaped parts can be measured in minutes and directly compared to CAD data, with no delays in production and no jigs or fixtures required! Request a sample part inspection >>

Electronic counter-measure (ECM) systems confuse radar, guided missiles, and other implements of destruction from finding aircraft, tanks, and similar devices. You certainly don't want to discover that the system doesn't work when you need it most. This white paper describes a technique for design verification using stimulus and response, recording the response signal to compare it with what designers expected.

The rapid introduction of three new standards for data communication in vision systems results from the increasing resolution and data density of the images. Hot on the heels of CoaXPress and the imminent release of Camera Link HS comes USB3 Vision, a standard based on USB 3.0 that provides 4x the speed of GigEVision and 10x the speed of USB 2.0.

Finding defects in semiconductor wafers during visual inspection prevents them from reaching customers, but does not eliminate them unless you can also determine their root cause. This case study showed how catching non-visual defects (NVDs) before visual inspection permitted engineers to pinpoint the cause of pitting defects. Using that information to tune the production process dramatically reduced the defect's occurrence and increased yields.

Glass containers provide an excellent environment for preventing contamination of their contents. Cracks or leaks can compromise that advantage. Perfect glass shows the same index of refraction in any direction. Detecting refractive index differences can reveal areas where such defects may occur. An automated imaging polarimeter allows detecting those differences quickly enough to maintain manufacturing throughput.

Increase sensitivity and decrease read noise. Cool ultra sensitive high-speed cameras and other equipment with TECA's RLC-1800 Liquid Chiller. Using standard 19 in. rack mounting, the RLC-1800 is a thermoelectric chiller which can cool one or multiple cameras or equipment, 24/7. Programmable temperature controller with RS-232, 100-240 VAC, and adjustable fan inclusive.

Carlisle Interconnect Technologies Semi-Flex coaxial cable assemblies are hand-formable cables that allow simple high-quality connections for use within RF/Microwave systems, as well as, for making external connections to other equipment. These cables have proven to be an excellent alternative to traditional Semi-Rigid Coaxial Cables in space restricted applications.

Ever-higher electronic signal frequencies increases their susceptibility to extraneous noise, such as jitter and phase distortions. These two white papers take on the first of these topics. Part I examines what jitter is and where it comes from. Part II describes types of jitter measurements. Subsequent papers in the series will explore time vs frequency-domain measurements, phase noise, phase-locked loops, and related topics.

It's no secret that reducing the number of product defects proactively proves far more cost-effective than finding them later would be. This author looks at poka yoke, mistake-proofing your product by setting up procedures that will prevent defects or make them more obvious when they occur. Key to its success is enlisting teams of people who can examine situations from differing points of view.

Improving signal-to-noise ratios in applications such as wireless and digital communication while simultaneously reducing costs and development time puts pressure on designers to accurately determine how systems actually perform. To address this need, this manufacturer has added noise-figure measurement to its line of vector network analyzers. The capability allows determining attenuation not only in an entire system, but in individual components as well.

Reducing a conventional instrument to a PXI module presents both logistical and performance challenges. What features can you do without? What circuit elements can serve more than one function so that other elements can be eliminated? This article examines these challenges, describing how one company applied the principles of Moore's Law to create a PXI-based source-measurement unit.

OEM Medical Endoscopes. Do you need a custom-built scope that other manufacturers can't (or won't) make for you? Take advantage of Instrument Technology Inc.'s 40-plus-year history as a manufacturer of robust, high precision remote viewing devices.

With instrument uncertainty to two-millionths of an inch (50 nm), the Labmaster Universal — Model 175 is suitable for virtually all internal and external measuring applications. This laser-based universal length measuring system has been developed by Pratt & Whitney for gage calibration laboratories that need to make precise measurements.

GlobalSpec is excited to be part of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) from Sept. 15-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago. This is one of the largest industrial trade shows in the world, with more than 1,500 exhibitors and 82,000 visitors. Attending the show? Add GlobalSpec to your show planner.

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