Calibration System for Piezoresistive Crash Test Accelerometers
Field-proven industry specialists in the design, manufacture and supply of vibration test systems and equipment, MB Dynamics (MB), has announced the global market launch of its Win475 CRASH-CAL automated accelerometer calibration system, offering a measurable 50% time-savings over traditional sequential calibration methods.
The industry-exclusive design of the CRASH-CAL system seamlessly integrates MB’s own Model CAL25AB air bearing shaker, together with its Model 407-8X multi-channel signal conditioner; MB 500VI power amplifier; and proprietary Win475 CRASH-CAL software, facilitating the accurate, efficient, and simultaneous calibrations of up to eight piezoresistive accelerometers (DUT’s) of the same model and type, over a frequency range of ten to 4,000Hz, complying with SAEJ211, SAE2570, and other global automotive industry test standards.
Its versatile design further supports individual calibrations of non-piezoresistive DUT’s, including charge mode and IEPE accelerometers, in frequencies from 5 Hz to 10 kHz.
The MB CRASH-CAL system automatically measures and saves relevant accelerometer characteristics, such as ZMO, Zin and Zout, as well as input and output impedance values. As a highly flexible system, an end-user can choose from among seven individual (six internal, one external) high-precision resistors for shunt calibration.
The system also reads onboard sensor electronic identifications, such as 1-Wire Dallas ID memory chips or TEDS piezoelectric accelerometers (per IEEE 1451). The MB CRASH-CAL may be further integrated into customer-specified databases for additional automation capabilities with reduced calibration data transference errors.
System automation mitigates the risks of human errors inherent to manual calibration systems, thereby freeing up technicians for other measurement tasks. The increased frequencies of accelerometer calibrations afforded by the MB CRASH-CAL can lead to improved test data quality and reduce measurement uncertainty.
The system has proven especially useful within crash test, in applications where larger volumes of piezoresistive accelerometers are in use, both on the vehicle and ATD’s therefore requiring more frequent recalibrations.
In addition, the MB CRASH-CAL provides a number of value-added end-user benefits, including bottom-line cost savings, with its elimination of outsourced calibration service needs; implementations of more efficient and effective in-house calibration processes; and simplifications of internal record keeping accuracy, further aiding in ISO audit compliance.
