Accelerated Life Product Reliability Testing of a Carrying Handle
A leading medical technology company contracted DES to perform Product Reliability Testing of a carrying handle. A sample of the test can be seen below and in our video library. The carrying handle had to be pulled, released, rotated and subjected to a sizable lifting force, approximately 20,000 times during its life time. DES has considerable capability to complete product reliability testing. The main challenge for this project was that each cycle consisted of complex motion. The motion included pulling/releasing the handle to unlatch/latch a pin while rotating the handle. In order to achieve this, DES had to design fixtures…
Product Life Cycle Testing of a Drawer Used in a Medical Product
This is a case study of a reliability test performed by Delserro Engineering Solutions, Inc. (DES) on a drawer used in a medical product. A sample of the test can be seen in our video library. DES was contacted by a leading medical equipment manufacturer to perform life cycle testing on a new product. One of the major components to be reliability tested was a drawer. This drawer had to be open and closed many thousand times during its lifetime. First, DES developed a reliability test plan that defined how the tests would be performed, the number of samples required…
Classical Shock Testing
Classical shock testing consists of the following shock impulses: half sine, haversine, sawtooth, and trapezoid. Pyroshock and ballistic shock tests are specialized and are not considered classical shocks. Classical shocks can be performed on Electro Dynamic (ED) Shakers, Free Fall Drop Tower or Pneumatic Shock Machines. The parameters required to define a shock test are peak acceleration expressed in G’s or m/sec^2, shape of the impulse, and duration in milliseconds. A classical shock impulse is created when the shock table changes direction abruptly. This abrupt change in direction causes a rapid velocity change which creates the shock or acceleration impulse….
Recent Testing Projects
We had many interesting test projects at Delserro Engineering Solutions this past month: We completed a Pyroshock test on our Mechanical Impact Pyroshock Simulator (MIPS) on equipment that will fly into outer space. On the other end of the altitude spectrum, we completed environmental testing of components that will be used in submarines to MIL-E-917. MIL-E-917 is a military specification for Naval shipboard electric power equipment. In the middle of the altitude range, we performed combined temperature and vibration testing on sensors that will be used in automobile engines to specification GMW 3172. GMW 3172 is a General Motors Specification…
Sinusoidal and Random Vibration Testing Primer
The most common types of vibration testing services conducted by vibration test labs are Sinusoidal and Random. This primer is an explanation of the typical requirements found in vibration test specifications and the parameters used to control the vibration tests. Both types of vibration tests are used to evaluate products for ruggedness, durability and to expose vibration defects. See Sinusoidal Vibration Basics to learn more about vibration fundamentals. See Sinusoidal Vibration Testing to learn more about the different types of sinusoidal vibration testing. Examples of vibration test videos can be found on our YouTube page.
An Informational Guide to HALT and HASS
Product reliability is essential to success in today’s competitive global market. HALT and HASS are intensive methods used to expose and then improve design and process weaknesses. HALT and HASS are faster, less expensive and more accurate than traditional testing techniques. HALT and HASS are proven processes used to lower product development and manufacturing costs, compress time to market, reduce warranty costs, improve customer satisfaction, gain market share and increase profits. Some companies have reported savings in the millions after using HALT and HASS. HALT and HASS can accelerate a product’s aging process from actual months into test minutes much…
Lead Free Solder Reliability Issues and Test Methods
This article discusses the reliability challenges of switching over to lead-free solder and the test methods used to demonstrate reliability, written by Gary Delserro and published in Evaluation Engineering Magazine. Click on the link to download the article in PDF, Lead Free Solder Reliability Issues & Test Methods. Environmentally friendly is a term rapidly invading the electronics industry. The electronic industry will be facing great challenges over the next few years as the solder used in electronic products is migrating toward lead-free. This is being driven by mandates in Europe such as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restrictions of…
Exposing Hard to Find Defects
This article discusses an abbreviated technique that uses the tools of HALT to expose hard-to-find defects in products returned by customers, written by Gary Delserro and published in Evaluation Engineering Magazine. Click on the link to view the article in PDF, Exposing Hard to Find Defects. How many times have your customers returned products or circuit boards with reported defects that you can’t find? Every manufacturer experiences this situation at some time. Your customer reports a problem in your product and sends it back to you. You test the faulty product in your lab and the problem doesn’t occur. Sometimes you try…
Welcome to our new Website!
Welcome to DES’s new Website and Blog! This blog will feature news and technical discussions about reliability testing, environmental testing and DES’s services. We look forward to you visiting our Website and participating in the Blog. As the blog develops interest, we hope to have good discussions about our testing services. Feel free to comment in our blog space.