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design techniques to meet the increasing accuracy requirements. Personnel
skilled in all facets of measurement system
development ensure consistent quality and the highest reliability.
Current balance designs include:Download Brochure (pdf format)
The
Force Measurement Systems (FMS) group maintains a staff of experienced
engineers dedicated to the task of maintaining and calibrating force
measurement systems for all applications. The FMS group has extensive
experience in the design, development, fabrication, and calibration of
strain-gaged balances of all types and continues to improve fabrication,
calibration and
design techniques to meet the increasing accuracy requirements. Personnel
skilled in all facets of measurement system
development ensure consistent quality and the highest reliability.
Current balance designs include:
- Unitized Force
- Unitized Flexured Force
- One Piece Beam
- External, Semi-span Pedestal
- External, Virtual Center Type
- Automotive System
- Captive Trajectory System
- Fin
- Flow-Through Air ( One-, Two-, Three-Supplies)
- Vectored Thrust Stand
- Engine Test Stand
- Propulsion
- Inlet Drag
While wind tunnel applications remain the largest user group for these highly accurate multi-component measurement instruments, the basic technology has a tremendous application to non-aerodynamic systems including: structural load measurement, launch load measurement, and underwater applications.
Automatic Balance Calibration System (ABCS)
Balances can be calibrated using the Automatic Balance Calibration System (ABCS); this is the only machine of its type located in the United States. The unique ABCS uses electrical load cells, hydraulic actuators, and a computer control and data acquisition / reduction program to automatically generate an extensive balance calibration in very short time. It is capable of simultaneously loading all six balance components to obtain a third-order, 6 by 96 balance calibration matrix that is more representative of actual in-test load conditions than a calibration produced by manual loading. In addition, calibrations can be tailored for expected test loads.
Some of the benefits of this system include:
-
Full Six Component combined loadings
- Calibrations represent true test conditions
- 1000 data points calibration; 3 day turn around
- Calibration Service includes Baseline Calibration and
Repeat Calibration
- Six Component test condition Calibration and Manual
Verification Loads
- Affordable, high accuracy calibrations in less time
- Conforms to National Balance Calibration Standards Formats