PC Based 12 Station Life Tester

The PC-based 12-station life tester is a highly flexible control system designed for durability testing of mechanical equipment equipped with 12VDC motors (maximum current 70 amps) or unpowered mechanical equipment using suitable fixtures and pneumatic actuators.

Operating Guidelines:

The basic model of this tester operates only DC motors, but can accommodate up to four motors. It can be a four-motor assembly (e.g., a six-way power seat rail with bidirectional electric adjusters), four single-motor assemblies (e.g., independent seat adjusters or power window adjusters), or a combination of both. Furthermore, not all four output channels need to be used.

The PC-based 12-station life tester includes an additional valve assembly at one end, containing four dual solenoid valves, with a pressure regulator and quick-disconnect connector below each station.

Each valve works in conjunction with one motor output, so all of the above functions can be easily applied to the pneumatic actuators on the test fixtures instead of the motors. This means the tester can accommodate up to four actuators. A mix of motor and pneumatic actuators can be used. After the mechanical testing device is set up, it can be manually programmed using a keyboard and mouse to operate any or all motors (or actuators) simultaneously in any combination of four operating modes (current, time, voltage, or limit switch) in any direction. These four modes refer to the input signals required for the tester to execute the next step in the desired sequence.

In "Current" mode, the tester detects the motor stall current (e.g., end-of-stroke current), which is set in the test sequence, and the stall current value can be different for each step in the sequence for each motor channel. In "Time" mode, the on-time (in seconds) of the motor in a given direction is set. After the motor has run for the preset time, it stops and the next step in the motor sequence is executed.

For "Voltage" control, an analog output device (e.g., LVDT, load cell, linear potentiometer, or other analog output device (+10VDC to -10VDC)) is connected to the "Quick Connect" panel on the front panel of the tester. When the device outputs the voltage set by the user in the test sequence, the test proceeds to the next step. In addition, the "Limit Switch" mode allows testing between two limit switches. The tester only detects the closure of almost any type of electrical contact, or two-wire or three-wire proximity switches. The tester can be set to run more than 1000 consecutive steps.

Each step includes settings such as ignoring inrush current (because motor start-up typically generates stall current), minimum stall time (for detecting jamming mechanisms), stall time (required by some test specifications), and motor cooling time (because any type of durability test typically generates excessive heat). Test sequences can also include wait periods, data saving steps (for saving data to a .csv file for Excel analysis), test blocks, and nested sequence loops. The main screen includes local or remote voltage detection (required by some specifications), the desired operating mode (see above), voltage settings, and loop counting and reset functions.

Furthermore, the main screen displays fault detection information and fault messages, as well as a test sequence display for showing the current step in the sequence (in case the tester is in a "loop" and there is currently no operation). The software for these testers includes a help screen and operating instructions.

Features:

Typically, due to the software's intuitive nature, most operators can quickly write relatively complex test programs with little or no training!

Installation Requirements:

Please note that almost all testing scenarios require suitable mechanical fixtures. Customers can provide their own test fixtures, or we can provide them at a very competitive price. Our PC-based 12-station life tester has a polished steel top surface (for mounting magnetic devices) with integrated mounting holes for mechanical fixtures.

This life tester uses a 115 VAC power supply (requires a 15-amp circuit), and compressed air can also be used if equipped with an air valve upgrade kit. The tester weighs slightly over 500 lbs and is mounted on omnidirectional locking casters, allowing it to roll in any direction and through standard doorways.

The PC-based 12-station life tester features an integrated forklift tube for transport in the rear of a pickup truck or van.