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Force Measurement Solutions Demonstrations at Automotive Testing Expo

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Interface experts are returning to Novi, Michigan, to demonstrate new and popular force measurement solutions at the Automotive Testing Expo.  The focus of this year includes our multi-axis sensors, axial torsion and torque transducers, miniature load cells, wireless and testing rig solutions, instrumentation, along with our precision load cell technologies for all types of automotive testing and equipment used in the industry.

New SuperSC for Automotive Industry

One of the demonstrations will be Interface’s new SuperSC S-Type Miniature Load Cell. This new product is an economical general purpose load cell with a compact design that measures tension and compression in one unit. It offers high performance capacities in a form factor 80% smaller and 50% lighter than other models of s-type shear beam load cells.

The SuperSC is an ideal product in end of line validation testing for automotive, individual automotive component testing, and fatigue or life cycle testing. It is versatile for machines, component tests, integration into a manufacturing or assembly line for real-time force monitoring.

Many automotive testing labs rely on an actuator for fatigue or lifetime expectancy testing. Without force measurement, testers can only tell when the product reaches failure. The SuperSC can provide early warnings on component performance and life degradation.

SuperSC comes in 12 capacities ranging from 25 to 1K lbf and 100 N to 5 kN. Six designs for international standards of measurement (metric) and six for imperial standards. They are environmentally sealed with an IP66 rating and offer high stiffness with low detection and is insensitive to off-axis loading.

AxialTQ Demonstration

Another product that will be a focus is the revolutionary AxialTQ™ Wireless Rotary Torque Transducer. Designed for the automotive industry, this transducer is common for advanced torque tests and in the electric vehicle markets. Interface presented a new white paper that provides comparative research related to the AxialTQ product, demonstrating its performance related to other offerings. Read AxialTQ Technical White Paper Details Comparative Testing.

To learn more about AxialTQ, watch this video demonstration.

Automotive Testing Applications

Interface will also be showcasing brake pedal load cells, our robot using multi-axis sensors, digital and portable instrumentation and custom solutions designed specifically for auto test engineers. One of these solutions that we will be sharing is our Electric Vehicle Structural Battery Testing application.

EV Battery Structural Testing

Structural EV battery testing is core to optimization as innovation drives electric vehicle battery design and sustainability. Automotive manufacturers and component testing engineers need to validate structural battery pack design for life expectancy against design targets, as well as crash test compliance and survivability. Working with the EV battery maker, Interface’s recommendation is our 1100 Ultra-Precision LowProfile Load Cells for use in-line with hydraulic or electromechanical actuators within the test stand. Interface’s 6A Series 6-Axis Load Cells are also used to capture reactive forces transmitting through pack structure. Multi-axis measurement brings greater system level insight and improved product success.

Bluetooth® Brake Pedal Animated Application Note

Additional Automotive Solutions and Resources

EV Battery Testing Solutions Utilize Interface Mini Load Cells

Electric Vehicle Battery Monitoring App Note

Torque Measurement for Electric Vehicles

Automotive Head Rest Testing App Note

Fine-Tuning Testing Solutions for Championship Racing Vehicles

Automotive Window Pinch Force Testing

Automotive Head Rest Testing Animated Application Note

Automotive + Vehicle Brochure

 

Electric Vehicle Battery Load Testing Feature and Application

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The demand for quality load cell sensors and testing technology solutions in the electric vehicle market is high. This extends into the innovations and testing related to electric vehicle batteries. Design engineers and automotive manufacturers are looking for ways to extend the life of the EV battery, while also seeking ways to maximize overall vehicle performance.

Interface application engineers have been working to provide standard and custom solutions to EV battery manufacturers and testing labs for R&D, prototyping, and performance monitoring. It has sparked recent publications to reach out to Interface to discuss the types of force measurement devices that are being used, along with supportive instrumentation for various tests related to the electric vehicle market.

We’ve captured one of these use cases in the new application note, Electric Vehicle Structural Battery Testing.

The initial requirements for this application were to validate structural battery pack design, both in terms of life expectancy against design targets as well as crash test compliance and survivability.  Interface recommended utilizing 1100 Ultra-Precision LowProfile Load Cells in-line with hydraulic or electromechanical actuators within a structural test stand. The 6-Axis Load Cells were used to capture reactive forces transmitting through pack structure. These multi-axis sensors provide more measurement data and brings greater system level insight and improved product success. Using this configuration, the tests performed using Interface’s force measurement products validated the battery packs strong structural design. Read more here.

Recently we shared our experience in working with companies to provide load cells for testing batteries.  The details of this interview with DesignNews are highlighted in a brief excerpt below. Read the entire article here.

BATTERY LOAD TESTING PRESENTS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERFACE

By Dan Carney at DesignNews

The Arizona force management specialist is finding new opportunities for its load cells testing batteries.  In addition to measuring the strength of the battery case, it is also important for automakers to measure the pressure of the cells inside the case. In both situations, force management solutions from Interface, Inc. (Scottsdale, Arizona) are beneficial.

“FEA and computerized modeling get the customer most of the way there,” observed Interface vice president of global sales Brian Peters in a phone interview with Design News. “Automotive OEMs are spending more time on various structural development testing,” he said. “They are push-pull, multi-axis similar to what we see with aerospace fuselage testing.”

This is important because, in addition to the torsional loads normally applied to the battery box in the course of normal driving, there is also the need to model for worst-case crash scenarios.

“You have basic (noise, vibration, and harshness) torsional rigidity requirements, but then you have the crash requirements,” Peters noted. “How do you model, test, and have successful test results? When you run the full system into the barrier, sometimes the outcome is hard to model.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Feature Article Highlights Interface Solutions for EV Battery Testing

EV Battery Testing Solutions Utilize Interface Mini Load Cells

Electric Vehicle Battery Monitoring

Interface Helps to Power the Electric Vehicle Market Forward

Test and Measurement for Electric Vehicles

Torque Measurement for Electric Vehicles App Note

The Future of Automotive is Electric

Feature Article Highlights Interface Solutions for EV Battery Testing

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In the recent article, Force sensors find opportunity in electric vehicles, battery assembly by Dan O’Shea of Fierce Electronics, the feature details increasing use of force measurement technologies in the EV industry.

In this must-read piece, Brian Peters was interviewed to share Interface’s role and growing support for the testing of electric vehicle components including electric vehicle battery testing.

In the article, the author highlights the different use cases for sensor technologies in the EV market. Interface shared our experience in supplying vehicle force measurement solutions for EV batteries chemical mixing, batch weighing scales, battery assembly machines, tension monitoring, material tests, structural tests and more.

Dan writes, “In the automotive sector, one of the most important areas where force sensor technology can play a role is in the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries, as well as testing and monitoring batteries for quality assurance.”

He continues, “Brian Peters, vice president of global sales at Interface Force Measurement Solutions, told Fierce Electronics that the need for force sensors in EV battery applications has grown rapidly as more new automakers and battery manufacturers have appeared on the scene and consumer interest in EVs has risen.”

An example of one of these applications is detailed in use case of Electric Vehicle Battery Monitoring.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY MONITORING

Interface’s customer was designing a system to monitor lithium-batteries used in electric vehicles. Typically, lithium-batteries are measured through ICV to monitor and analyze life and performance. Interface suggested using our LBM Compression Load Button Load Cell in between two garolite end plates, and measuring the force that is created from cell swelling or expansion. Instead of monitoring through voltage (ICV), this method is based on measured force (ICF). Paired with the 9330 Battery Powered High Speed Data Logging Indicator, force results can be displayed, recorded, and logged with supplied software. 

Additional Resources

Interface Automotive Force Measurement Solutions

Automotive + Vehicle Brochure

Advancing Auto Testing with Interface Measurement Solutions

Torque Measurement for Electric Vehicles App Note

Interface Helps to Power the Electric Vehicle Market Forward

The Future of Automotive is Electric

Test and Measurement for Electric Vehicles

 

 

EV Battery Testing Solutions Utilize Interface Mini Load Cells

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Automotive components undergo rigorous testing to meet regulatory standards, guarantee performance, and ensure consumer safety. These components continually require investment in innovation to meet the expressed governmental, consumer and commercial use requirements.

One of the vehicle components that is undergoing intense change is the battery. The market is heavily focused on increasing mileage use and life, which includes the shift from single-use lithium batteries to lithium-ion batteries which are rechargeable.

These customer sentiments are noticeable in the growing global electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) demands for sustainable and longer-lasting battery solutions. Customer satisfaction and commercial applications are closely intertwined with a vehicle’s ability to travel longer distances without refueling or charging. The demands and changes drive robust test and measurement programs to bring new battery models and designs to market.

In 2021, it is estimated the EV battery market exceeded 38% of total battery sales. As technology continues to improve the lifecycle and reducing battery costs, Precedence Research estimates 32% CAGR through 2030. This translated to $46B in the US alone of market share, while Asia Pacific is leading the production of EVs and overall demand for the EV batteries. Based on global adoption of electric vehicles, supported by government initiatives and an intense focus on reduced carbon emissions, the EV battery market is expected to continue expanding around the world.

The testing of batteries is growing in complexity with the increase in number of cells, modern designs, materials, cycles, installation, vehicle models, certifications and charging equipment to name a few. Battery simulation and real battery integration testing are two examples of commonly used T&M programs used to validate battery adaptability and use requirements. In battery testing, accuracy and quality of the measurement devices are vital. The following are the most common battery types today:

  • Lithium-ion Battery
  • Lead-Acid Battery
  • Sodium-ion Battery
  • Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery
  • Others

Due to the market shift to EVs, the lithium-ion battery is the number one battery type today. The domination of the lithium-ion battery exceeded all other battery types in 2021. Manufacturers of EVs prefer partnering with OEMs of newer model Li-ion batteries because they are lighter in weight and have higher energy density. The following details one of many Interface solutions offered to automotive component and battery manufacturers.

Electric Vehicle Battery Monitoring

The EV battery manufacturer required a system to monitor their lithium-ion batteries. Normally, lithium-ion batteries are measured through voltage and current measurements or (ICV) to analyze and monitor the battery life. In consultation with the design and testing engineers, Interface recommended a solution that required installing the LBM Compression Load Button Load Cell in between two garolite end plates, and measuring the force due to cell swelling or expansion. Instead of monitoring through voltage (ICV), this method is based on measured force (ICF). To monitor the testing, the load cell was paired with the 9330 Battery Powered High Speed Data Logging Indicator. This instrumentation solution provides the ability to display, record and log the force measurement results with supplied software.  To review the results and complete application note, go here.

Interface has long partnered with auto manufacturers and suppliers of various parts and components to provide a large range of automotive industry test and measurement solutions.  This includes sensors and instrumentation solutions for the development, testing and performance monitoring of all types of batteries, with growing interest for lithium-ion battery testing.

Interface will be discussing this and other force measurement solutions at the upcoming Auto Test Expo in Europe. Join us in Stuttgart or contact our application engineers to collaborate on a testing solution that works for your next project.

Additional Automotive Industry Resources

Interface Automotive Force Measurement Solutions

Driving Force in Automotive Applications

Test and Measurement for Electric Vehicles

The Future of Automotive is Electric

AxialTQ Technical White Paper Details Comparative Testing

WTS Brake Pedal Force Testing

Automotive + Vehicle Brochure

Automotive Window Pinch Force Testing App Note

Automotive Head Rest Testing App Note

Advancing Auto Testing with Interface Measurement Solutions

Interface Automotive Force Measurement Solutions

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Interface introduced our load cells to the auto and vehicle industry more than five decades ago. Quality and precision sensor technologies are essential to manufacturing and production for vehicles.

Interface force measurement devices are used for critical testing in both commercial and industrial vehicle design and production to ensure safety and reliability in the automotive industry.

As the industry has evolved and transformed, so has the products we supply to our customers in this market. Our range of solutions continues to expand in functionality and capabilities as complexities of testing throughout the entire journey, from component design and prototyping to rigorous safety testing of every piece of equipment progresses.

By creating highly responsive, critically accurate, and safer load cell and torque sensors, we are seeing our products used in all types of test and measurement applications, including:

  • Engine dynamometers
  • Lug nut assembly
  • Airbag connector testing
  • EV battery testing
  • ICE and EV motor torque testing
  • Equipment fatigue testing
  • Motor test stands
  • Brake and clutch pedal force
  • Engine head bolt tightening
  • Vehicle crash test walls
  • Race car suspension testing
  • Transmission gear box and gear mesh
  • Autonomous vehicle tests

Research and development facilities with precision application requirements favor our 1200 Series LowProfile™ Load Cells with their special moment compensated design. These are used in auto manufacturer assembly lines in a variety of production monitoring and verification applications. Our exceedingly accurate LowProfile™ Load Cells have even been used in NASCAR and IndyCar garages for testing individual springs and entire vehicle suspensions.

Preview Interface products used in the automotive and vehicle markets in this new solutions video.

Here are two highlights of automotive application notes.  You can find more about automotive and vehicle solutions here.

Tire Testing

A top tire manufacturer needed a solution that would provide data analysis for stress testing.  The research would provide advancements to their product by defining the tire’s dynamic control capabilities. In review with our application engineers, they detailed they need to measure both the torque and lateral force in their testing.

Interface recommended the new AT105 Contactless Force Torque Transducer. With the torque and lateral force testing requirements, they determined that the best option to review the results by display as well as with graphing is to connect the transducers to the 4-Channel USB Interface Module SI-USB4.  You can see the entire solution and results in the Tire Testing App Note.

MDPS Testing

A manufacturer wanted to test the power steering for their vehicles. They want to test the linkage tension and compression between the rack and pinion. On a test frame, Interface’s 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile™ Load Cell was installed at the end of the rack and pinion actuator. As the wheel is turned, the load cell tests the push and pull forces. Force measurements can be displayed in real time using the highly accurate 9870 High-Speed High Performance TEDS Ready Indicator. The 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile Load Cell successfully measured the tension and compression between the rack and pinion of the customer’s MDPS system. You can see the entire solution and results in the MDPS testing App Note.

Additional Resources:

Driving Force in Automotive Applications

Advancing Auto Testing with Interface Measurement Solutions

Automotive Window Pinch Force Testing

Test and Measurement for Electric Vehicles

 

Fine-Tuning Testing Solutions for Championship Racing Vehicles

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As every championship race car team looks to find its competitive advantage, measured in seconds, Interface continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring accurate force measurement solutions are used to test the limits of every component used in motorsports.

The automotive industry has long depended on the quality and accuracy of Interface load cells, torque transducers, instrumentation, and multi-axis sensors.  Did you know it is also used in the competitive arena of auto racing?  Performance demands are constantly being pushed for all types of racing machines, whether it’s for NASCAR, IndyCar, or even the amateur level racing. What is known in the racing community is that engineers and manufacturers of equipment and parts used in these high-performance vehicles rely on Interface for precision testing solutions.

In our new case study, Building a Championship Race Car, we detail some of the specific sensor technologies used in the racing arena for high performance testing. We highlight how Interface’s TXY 2-Axis Load Cell is used in testing tires. Leading tire manufacturers, including SCCA sponsors, utilize these sensors to get precise test data on tire uniformity. The TXY has minimal cross talk across its strain gage bridges, ideal for this type of testing.

We also detail how our top load cell, the LowProfile, is frequently used in testing shocks, springs, and struts.  With any racing vehicle, control is fundamental, and the equipment used to maintain that control must be proven to meet the exceptionalism and requirements of racing professionals and their teams.

In this technical article, learn how the popular AxialTQ Torque Transducer, a bearing-less, compact wireless design, affords the test engineer suitable data collection for engine analysis, as well as brake HP calculations for active performance testing.

A competitive spirit runs deep within our Interface team, it’s what we do. We like to ensure our products are top class and help our customers win!  We also have first-hand experience in how our products are used in the racing arena. That experience affirms the positive performance effects of force measurement in auto racing.

Did you know that Interface’s Vice President of Sales, Brian Peters, has accomplished eight National Championships in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) solo racing, and also competes in the One Lap of America cross-country, weeklong multi-competition racing event?

The annual SCCA National Championships draws more than 1,000 drivers from across North America to compete over two days. Wins are decided by mere thousandths of a second. Knowing how our products are used in high-performance racing environments, only fuels us more.

Performance and precision are critical and Interface force measurement solutions help to fine-tune critical racing vehicles, parts, and apparatus used to test different components in motorsports. We also like to say, it’s a competitive advantage. Read our case study to learn more.

Additional Resources

Powered by Interface Race Update from Brian Peters

Race Car Suspension Testing

Driving Force in Automotive Applications

Automotive and Vehicle

Fueling Global Demand for Interface Solutions

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Increasing demand for quality, accurate and reliable sensor technologies is global.  Interface products are used on every continent and across all types of industries. As manufacturers and product innovators make advances in what they build and test, there is a direct correlation to the growth in precision test and measurement tool requirements we supply.

The overall sensor market in 2022 is expected to continue its fast past growth, estimated between 8-12% across all types of sensors. In force measurement, this pace is consistent with the experience in the global markets we serve in Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania, Europe, Middle East, South and North America.

Represented by hundreds of sensors experts around the world, Interface distributors continue to experience growth in market share and Interface product users.  In fact, Interface’s fastest growing markets are represented in our global network.  Solutions that utilize our precision load cells, torque transducers, multi-axis load cells and instrumentation are all experiencing high growth worldwide.

What is impacting the greatest international growth for all types of sensors technologies?  According to market analysis and based on Interface’s experience, it’s being fed by:

  1. Miniaturization of Products and Sensors Used in Testing and OEMs
  2. Industrial Automation and Robotics
  3. Innovation in Aerospace and Automotive
  4. IoT – Internet of Things

Our direct experience in demand for Interface solutions outside of the US is related to these areas and specifically new products and expanding use cases. First, we recently launched our Global G Series products to meet this demand. This specialty product is sold exclusively outside the US. These products are designed and manufactured in the International System of Units (SI), with the same precision and accuracy of all Interface products.

The Global G Series is a global standard product line that is designed for applications that require miniature load cells and for OEM solutions used for automation of machines and components.  The markets that are experiencing the highest growth internationally include:

For example, innovative markets like electric vehicles and hydro-electric energy are growing rapidly domestically and in international markets. These industries rely on force testing to optimize these new technologies.

The Asia-Pacific market is currently our fastest growing market. Interface provides products for this market across all industries including automotive, aerospace, test and measurement and more. As mentioned above, the alternative energy, aerospace and electric vehicle market is a big area for Interface and the Asia-Pacific plays a big role in these areas.

Electric vehicle design and manufacturing requires a precise level of accuracy to improve energy efficiency, minimize weight and maximize vehicle range. For instance, battery technology is a major global focus; therefore, maximizing power output using force testing is the key to improving vehicle design. To achieve this, test and measurement solutions need to be as accurate as possible. Interface also provides high accuracy torque transducers, load cells, load washers and more for two areas of electric vehicle testing: laboratory testing to optimize system performance and production testing to ensure product quality.

Another application for force measurement in Europe is force testing on off-shore hydro-electric power plants. This is a great fit for Interface because we have developed an entire lineup of load cells and other products that are submersible. For this project specifically, we provided submersible WMC load cells. This is one example of an innovative application for renewable energies, and this is another market that is growing rapidly both domestically and internationally.

One of the consistent top selling products in both regions and industries are wireless load cells. In our 2022 Test and Measurement Industry Trends blog, detailed some of this growing demand for wireless force measurement solutions. Wireless systems are helping manufacturers simplify the integration process and create a cleaner safer test environment with far less wiring. It is especially helpful in industries like aerospace or automotive, where large factories want to transmit data across the facility without needing a mess of wires getting in the way.

For wireless needs, Interface supplies its Wireless Telemetry System (WTS) which offers sensor transmitters, receivers, and displays. High accuracy, high quality measurement is interfaced with simple yet powerful configuration and monitoring software and gives sensor manufacturers and integrators the complete flexibility to build their own sensor modules around it. The system easily replaces wired systems, reducing installation and maintenance costs.

One area that Interface is also investing in internally is recalibration services to serve all customers across the world. Many of our customers are becoming more aware of and utilizing these services, as we are continuing to grow this capability amongst international customers who are utilizing Interface products for the first time.

Interface’s presence in the international market is growing quickly. Interface is looking forward to seeing where and how we can supply the best in force measurement solutions to enable innovation around the world.

Source: Tyler Pettit, Application Engineer International Markets

Where to Find 50 New Force Measurement Application Notes

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One of the advantages we have at Interface is that our application engineers and solutions experts are constantly recommending Interface load cells, torque transducers, instrumentation and accessories for a wide range of projects and programs.  In this fortunate position, it enables our team to explain why and how these solutions work through a series of illustrative application notes. We detail the problem statement, the products required to achieve the desired outcome, and the measurable results in every Interface application note.

The purpose of our app notes is to show the range of capabilities for products we offer, as well as inspire product designers, engineers, and testing professionals to expand how they use sensor technologies. We also increased our industry solutions to highlight a growing interest of how our products are used in agriculture, maritime and infrastructure force and torque measurement projects.

In 2021, Interface produced a record 50+ new application notes.  We have so many application notes, we even produced a first ever complete Interface Applications Catalog.  The type of applications we detailed this year range from space docking to golf swing testing, with everything in between. You can find applications for livestock weighing, crash wall testing, crane safety regulation and even commercial fishing line tests.

Every application note includes a graphic that highlights how the test project is designed and how the products work together. All our illustrated application notes can be found here.  We also have a collection of animated application notes you can watch here.

So if you didn’t keep up with every application note we added this year, here is a quick reference:

AUTOMOTIVE AND VEHICLE

Automotive Head Rest Testing

Pre-Installation Sealing Sensor Testing

Automotive Window Pinch Force Testing

Airbag Connector Testing

Vehicle Crash Test Load Cell Wall

Torque Measurement for Electric Vehicles

TEST AND MEASUREMENT

Garbage Truck On-Board Weighing

Bike Helmet Impact Test

Bike Handlebar Fatigue Testing

Mobile Force System

Gaming Simulation Brake Pedal

Mountain Bike Shocks Testing

Spring Compression Testing

Proving Theoretical Cutting Forces of Rotary Ultrasonic Machining

Fitness Equipment and Machines

6-Axis Load Cell Solutions using Raspberry Pi

Mouse Touch-Pad Force Testing

Treadmill Force Measurement

Veterinary Weighing Scales

E-Bike Torque Measurement

Bike Power Pedals

Bike Load Testing

Bike Frame Fatigue Testing

Golf Club Swing Accuracy

Golf Ball Tee

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

Commercial Food Processing

6-Axis Force Plate Robotic Arm

INFRASTRUCTURE

Aerial Lift Overload Control

Concrete Dam Flood Monitoring

Hydraulic Jacking System Testing

AGRICULTURE

Tractor PTO Torque Testing

Silo Grain Dispensing

Poultry Feeder Monitoring

WTS Equine Bridle Tension System

BTS Equine Bridle Tension System

Livestock Weighing System

Tractor Linkage Draft Control

Chicken Weighing

Silo Monitoring and Weighing

MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE

Tablet Machine Hardness Tester Calibration

Dental Handpiece Torque Check

Interventional Guidewire Quality Inspection

Tablet Hardness Testing

AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE

Space Dock Capture Ring Force Testing

Aircraft Yoke Torque Measurement

Aircraft Screwdriver Fastening Control

Landing Gear Joint Testing

Aircraft Engine Hoist

Rescue Helicopter Hoist Test

MARTIME

Mooring Quick Release Hooks (QRH)

Commercial Fishing Wire Rope Testing

Mooring Line Tension Testing

Crane Block Safety Check

Crane Capacity Verification

Crane Force Regulation

We would like to send a special thank you to our illustration and design team of Lauren O’Hagan and Scott Whitworth for all their work in creating this array of illustrations, along with a special shout out to Ken Bishop and Keith Skidmore that help us create all these application stories.

What’s new in 2022? Stay close to our Interface IQ Blog and watch our updates on the homepage and solutions for new inspirations and unique examples how engineers and product designers are thinking about using our sensors,

Recap of Latest Spin on AxialTQ Webinar

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Interface recently hosted a new webinar in our ForceLeaders series that highlighted the revolutionary AxialTQ product.  The event reviewed the bearingless wireless rotary torque transducer design and detailed component specifications, why test engineers prefer the AxialTQ, and use cases for this precision measurement system.

If you were not able to attend the Latest Spin on AxialTQ event, you can watch the entire recording online here.

The revolutionary AxialTQ was first introduced in 2018. The design originated from the popular HRDT product that utilized a rotor stator gap design as a single component. After hundreds of users, we started the product engineering exercise to see how we could advance the soon-to-retire HRDT and evolve it into something that would perfectly fit current market conditions.

As technologies were changing testing protocols and requirements, such as for electric motors, alternative energy hardware, space vehicles and industrial machine automation, we wanted to add new functionality. Jay Bradley and the Interface engineering team began the process by looking at DIN size optimization, shorter stators, additional coupling options, advanced software configurations and simple “drop-in” replacement parts with a modular design.

After thousands of design hours and testing, Interface released the AxialTQ. The specialized product is a unique combination of accuracy, reliability and ease of use that redefines the standard torque measurement device in terms of function and durability.

Engineers prefer the new AxialTQ because of the time-proven sensing element with longer active area providing greater measurement sensitivity while being less vulnerable to shock loads.  The high-resolution digital electronics are state-of-the art. Uniquely, the large gap design up to 6 mm axial and 12 mm radial minimizes contact damage which is important at high-speed testing. It has 120-degree partial loop antenna on the stator to make installation easier.

Specialized design features of AxialTQ make it a great fit for test and production applications.

  • Crash-proof design for maximum reliability
  • Industry-leading gap to prevent damage to rotor stator at full speed
  • Simultaneous analog and digital outputs, enables real-time control and data collection
  • Interchangeable stators and output modules minimize parts inventory
  • Versatile design and wide range of configurations to match any application
  • Hardware is self-configuring
  • New advanced software with added features and logging capabilities
  • Rotor and stator coils designed using printed circuit boards for durability

The AxialTQ rotor sensing element and electronics are the heart of the system. It has a rugged design for all types of torque measurement applications.  It comes in 8 torque capacities. The status assembly matches to the rotor DIN size and is interchangeable with equipment DIN size rotor assemblies, increasing usability.  The USB digital output module has galvanic isolation on all outputs and has standard IP65 ingress protection.  It enables real-time control and accurate data collection.

Keith Skidmore shared several use cases during the presentation, including engine dynamometers, motor test stands and other automotive production line applications.

The AxialTQ is designed for testing anything that spins. It’s ideal in testing and production of hydraulic motors, EVs, helicopters, aircraft, and drones, along with windmills and industrial fans.  It’s great for testing forklifts, off-road and utility vehicles as wells as tractors and watercraft.  AxialTQ is also generally used for measuring torque on industrial motor assemblies, pumps, appliances, braking systems, and motor vehicle accessories.

Watch the entire webinar below to hear Keith and Jay share tips, specifications, frequently asked questions and how to get the most out of your torque measurement applications.

Learn more about AxialTQ here.