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Summary of Contents for Tricor 933A
- Page 1 Model 933A Life Cycle Test System Software / Hardware Manual...
- Page 2 TRICOR’s application as well as all other Windows applications. In order to run the Model 933A application under Microsoft Windows, the user needs to license and install a Microsoft Windows version listed in Section 2, Getting Started.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Contents Section Page Introduction ......................4 Getting Started ....................6 Testing ....................... 11 Configuration ....................18 Test Results ...................... 25 Force and Speed ....................27... -
Page 4: Introduction
Introduction Tester Description The Model 933A Life Cycle Test System (LCTS) is a complete and ready to use piece of test equipment for the endurance testing of materials and electrical switches. The LCTS can be configured to continuously depress a test sample using a pneumatically controlled cylinder. - Page 5 The application software can configure all the programmable features of the LCTS including test times, resistance and bounce tolerances and maximum event counts. It has a “learn” mode for switches to automatically set test tolerances and a mode for manual operation and contact measurement. The software can be set up to store the test results to an open file.
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Page 6: Getting Started
The adapter plugs into the serial communication port of the user’s PC. A special order, 25-pin version of the adaptor can be obtained from TRICOR Systems. The PC must have one active serial port available. The application software will automatically search all available ports in an attempt to locate the LCTS. - Page 7 • Close all other windows applications before starting the installation. Insert the 933A Software installation CD in the CD disk drive of your computer. • On most systems, the installation program will begin running as soon as the computer sees the disk inserted. If not, navigate to CD file folder using Windows Explorer or My Computer.
- Page 8 Air Cylinder Coupling Test Contacts Terminal Connection Air Inlet Coupling Expansion Connector Serial Data Connector Power Connector Figure 1. Back of Control Unit Equipment Setup Connect a supply of air to the air inlet coupling on the back of the Control Unit (Figure 1). This fitting accepts a 1/4 NPT quick disconnect sleeve lock socket.
- Page 9 Figure 2. Slide Post Mounted to Base Plate Force Adjustment Pressure Gauge Status Indicators Control Switches Figure 3. Control Unit Front Panel...
- Page 10 with a test configuration that will cycle the air cylinder 10 times per second. Press the Start button on the Control Unit to cycle the cylinder. Press Stop when satisfied that the setup is functional. To configure the LCTS to test your specific device, it must be connected to the personal computer (PC) running the software application provided.
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Page 11: Testing
Section 3 Testing Test Methods The LCTS uses a single chip microprocessor for control and test measurement. Integrated into the design is nonvolatile data storage. This allows the unit to be stopped and powered down without losing the configuration information or accumulated test data. The LCTS does not retain test results for each test cycle. - Page 12 PC running the application software. The Model 933A never needs to make this calculation. The real advantage of this test technique is the resolution enhancement that it provides on the low end of the resistance range.
- Page 13 1 usec resolution. Bounce events that are less than 25 usec in duration are likely to be missed. If extremely short duration bounce events must be measured, TRICOR Systems offers a hardware bounce module with 1.6 usec resolution. The maximum bounce time measurable is 0.104856 seconds. The application software limits maximum bounce tolerances to 0.1 seconds.
- Page 14 value measured must be above the SUTV. For the closed condition, the measured value must be below the SLTV threshold. It is important to set these threshold values even if bounce testing is not performed. If improperly set, the switch may fail the initial state condition test.
- Page 15 continues until the elastomer tip on the cylinder reaches the switch. The tip and the switch now begin to deform until the electrical contact first closes. When the measured contact resistance falls below the SLTV for the first time, a free running counter is read to record this initial event.
- Page 16 Assuming that the minimum time is used for both half cycles, 0.025 seconds, the total test time is 0.050 seconds, or 20 cycles per second. Higher rates can be ordered as an option by contacting TRICOR Systems. When the contact resistance is measured, it is possible to measure switches faster since there is information about the air cylinder plunger obtained by monitoring the contact of the device under test.
- Page 17 Cylinder Maximum Down Time Contact Minimum Down Time Reduced Time Figure 9. Testing Speed-Up Without knowledge of the contact closure, the user is forced to configure the LCTS so that the Maximum Test Time has enough padding to allow for variations in the plunger travel time to get to the switch, the switch travel time, the bounce and stabilize times of the switch as well as the variations that may result from temperature and pressure uncertainties.
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Page 18: Configuration
The sample time and date are displayed beneath the button. All the other fields of the screen are also updated. Figure 10. Model 933A Application Software Main Window... - Page 19 How to Configure the LCTS The LCTS was designed to test keypads and switches. These devices have an electrical contact. The resistance of this contact is part of the test measurement, and pass/fail criteria is assigned to the results obtained. To learn how to configure the LCTS for an electrical switch see the section below on Configuring For Devices With Contacts.
- Page 20 Figure 11. Model 933A Application Software Configuration Dialog, Test Time Tab Configuring For Devices Without Contacts Edit the current configuration parameters by opening the configuration dialog. See Editing The Configuration, above, for details. Select the Contacts tab at the top of the dialog.
- Page 21 Figure 12. Model 933A Application Software Configuration Dialog, Contacts Tab Figure 13. Model 933A Application Software Configuration Dialog, Limits Tab...
- Page 22 Configuring For Devices With Contacts Edit the current configuration parameters by opening the configuration dialog. See Editing The Configuration, above, for details. Select the Contacts tab at the top of the dialog. Set the Contact Type to the type of switch to be tested, Normally Open (NO) or Normally Closed (NC) (Figure 11).
- Page 23 Configuration menu. The dialog box shown in Figure 14 will allow selection of the items to be reset. The LCTS must be stopped before this operation can be performed. Figure 14. Model 933A Application Software Reset Dialog Automatic Learn Mode The software application has an automatic learn mode. This is only available when the LCTS is stopped.
- Page 24 These test results are downloaded and used to calculate the configuration parameters. The configuration data dialog box is then displayed. Inspect and modify and parameters as necessary. Click OK to send these values to the LCTS. Figure 15. Model 933A Application Software Learn Switch Dialog...
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Page 25: Test Results
Section 5 Test Results Test Data The application software gathers the cumulative test data from the LCTS every time it first connects to the LCTS, every time the LCTS is stopped (by whatever means) and when the Sample button is pressed. All data downloaded is displayed in the main window screen. - Page 26 When the break update run mode is selected, the user is caution to enter a relatively large value. The LCTS is a life cycle tester. It is not intended to take data readings with every test cycle. Windows has unpredictable timing. Setting the update count less than 20 usually get the LCTS and software application into a race condition which eventually locks out the communications.
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Page 27: Force And Speed
Section 6 Force and Speed Life Cycle Testing The LCTS was designed for life cycle testing. It will exercise the test sample through to final wear out. It normally takes millions of test cycles to reach the wear out point. For this reason, it is important to reduce the time of each test cycle.
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