Special Solutions
McWade Monitoring Systems enjoy a challenge be it a small or medium size project from the design of sensors and preamplifiers to whole systems and if required obtaining certification for Intrinsically Safe operation for use in Hazardous Areas
McWade Monitoring Systems design and manufacture strain gauge bridge conditioning and amplification electronics and can supply systems meeting Intrinsically Safe requirements.
Brief description of the strain gauge
A strain gauge (alternatively: strain gage) is a device used to measure the deformation of a structure. The most common type of strain gauge consists of an insulating flexible backing which supports a metallic foil pattern (as shown).
The gauge is attached to the object by a suitable adhesive, such as cyanoacrylate. As the object is deformed, the foil is deformed, causing its electrical resistance to change. This resistance change, usually measured using a Wheatstone bridge, is related to the strain by the quantity known as the gauge factor.
A Strain Gauge may be used directly on the surface of the component to be examined and measure shaft torque on power transmission systems strain on structures such as bridges and pressure vessels etc. Strain Gages may also be incorporated in a load cell to measure, for example, weight or load during jacking operations, weighing scales, and many more applications.
Dynamic Strain Gauge measurement is also possible to determine for example, explosive force, shock loads on structures such as earth moving equipment or steel rolling mills.
McWade Monitoring Systems design and develop a range of equipment including Phantom Feed Units for use with Acoustic Emission Preamplifiers, Filters and Attenuators, Linear Displacement Measurement units, Load Measurement equipment, Ultrasonic pulse echo and Eddy Current systems, Intrinsically Safe Products, Printed Circuit Board Assemblies and Stepper Motor drive units. McWade Monitoring Systems also offer an Intrinsically Safe Certification service for client originated designs or as part of a system development programme.Special Solutions (Link to Special Solutions.pdf)