symbol and logo for CAMDAC Engineering

Automation Project Examples and Case Studies

Explore a few examples of completed automation projects:

An automated life cycle test machine for evaluating duability and reliability of medical devices.

Problem solved for Nordson Medical

Need: Life cycle test machine to repeatedly connect and disconnect tubing couplings with requirements including:

  • benchtop size and easy to set up and run tests
  • able to independently run tests on 3 sets of 5 couplings each
  • adjustable travel, speed, number of cycles
  • self-aligning mechanism
  • ability to detect failure to connect or disconnect

CAMDAC's solution:

  • stepper motors and linear slides for precise motion
  • PLC-based control and touch-screen HMI for simple and reliable operation
  • sliding racks for easy access to each set of test stations
test fixture for ASTM D2990 tensile creep testing

Problem solved for an independent test lab:

Need: Fixtures to perform ASTM D2990 tensile creep tests with the following requirements:

  • compact design to fit limited space

  • applies constant load of up to 200 pounds to each specimen

  • automatic recording of strain measurements at specified intervals

 

CAMDAC's solution:

  • compact fixture using lever arms to multiply the force of hanging weights

  • custom data acquisition application created with LabVIEW for automated recording of strain measurements

  • best commercial strain data acquisition module selected

  • software drivers and hardware wired and configured

  • shock absorbing lever-arm support in case of specimen rupture

Components of an automated control system for heating of a test apparatus.

Problem solved for an independent test laboratory:

Need: An unusual test program required hot air, up to 250F, be circulated through a section of pipe. This required consideration of:

  • safe operation of heater
  • steady temperature control
  • display and recording of temperature at 16 locations

CAMDAC's solution:

  • custom built PID control box
  • temperature switch to shut off heater in case of fan or control failure
  • strip heater sized and installed in metal duct section
  • installation of heater in client's test setup

  • placement of thermocouples and configuration of data acquisition computer

An example of a LabVIEW program front panel.

When performing a plastic deformation test (ASTM D648 - Deflection Temperature Under Load), a technician was manually recording temperature and deflection readings every 5 minutes until each specimen failed. This was a perfect situation for automating a time-consuming and tedious process. LabVIEW was used to create a custom program that acquired the data from the instruments, calculated results and saved everything in a spreadsheet file. Technicians were set free to work on other tasks while this test was running automatically.