Easy ultrasonic measurement provides load details
A
Norbar Torque Tools product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jul 7, 2008
The USM-3 can provide a 0-10V analogue output to precisely shut off torque tools when a predetermined bolt stretch or load has been attained.
Although measurement of the torque applied to a bolt or other threaded fastener during tightening provides sufficient feedback in most applications, there are more specialised tasks where measurement of the fastener tension is essential to ensure the integrity of the mechanical joint.
Norbar's USM-3 ultrasonic bolt meter is a compact, lightweight, field-portable unit that gives precise measurement of elongation and load in threaded fasteners.
Traditionally, ultrasonic measurement has been a highly skilled task, requiring extensive knowledge of material properties to determine the correct transducer diameter, the correct transducer frequency and to interpret the results.
The USM-3 overcomes all of these challenges and gives the operator a highly accurate yet easy to use tool for determining the tension in a fastener.
Real-time, precise bolt measurement can be accomplished in fasteners of any metal from 25.4mm to 15m long.
Ultrasonic measurement is based on the time of flight principle.
In use, a small transducer placed against the head or stud end of the fastener sends an ultrasonic sound wave through the length of the bolt.
When the echo signal returns, the microprocessor in the USM-3 converts the transit time to a precise length, using constants based on the bolt material and digital signal.
Processors perform the calculations to derive a precise elongation or load measurement, taking into account the effects of stress and temperature variations on the sound velocity to give an accuracy that exceeds that of strain gauges.
The USM-3's 1/4VGA backlit LCD display provides load, elongation data and waveform results.
Norbar's five-point DSP algorithm also provides an evaluation of signal quality.
The USM-3 can provide a 0-10V analogue output to precisely shut off torque tools when a predetermined bolt stretch or load has been attained.
In addition, the onboard Flash memory can store measurements on up to 80 bolts, with up to five measurements of load and elongation for each bolt.
An RS232 interface allows these results to be uploaded to a PC, where Norbar's Windows-based Sonic Bolt software can perform theoretical load to stretch calculations for long-term mechanical joint integrity analysis.
The software can also provide Excel-formatted reports.
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Contact Norbar Torque Tools
Tel +44 1295 270333
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