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Lab 4
Cris Demby
Laboratory 4:
Displacement Sensors
Christopher Demby
Lab Partner: Kegan Minney
Date of Experiment: 11/04/14
Date of Submission: 11/18/14
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Lab 4
Cris Demby
Abstract:
The lab uses several displacement sensors to measure objects. The instruments are
used to measure the displacement changes in voltage read by the Tektronix
DSO2002 Oscilloscope. Several labs measured two different materials, steel and
aluminum, to compare any different results that can be found when using different
materials. This lab demonstrates the methods that each instrument measures in
and their sensitivity to materials if needed.
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Lab 4
Cris Demby
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Lab 4
Cris Demby
Results:
Station A and E:
At station E, a capacitance sensor is used on the two materials, steel and aluminum.
There was a noticeable difference in the results of the two material. Both materials
resulted in similar graphs presented by the oscilloscope as shown below.
Figure 1: Steel
Figure 2: Aluminum
The two materials had different ranges to where they would be detected by the
sensor. The aluminum was able to be detected within .0625 inches from the sensor.
The steel was detected at .125 inches from the sensor. The result of a smaller
minimum is present in the inductance sensor between the aluminum and steel
materials.
In comparison to station E, we see that the inductance sensor shows the results in
an oscillation form, unlike the capacitance sensor. Another difference in our result at
station A in comparison to station E is that given graphs were different. In station E,
only two results were present in the graph, varying at steady state to an instant
change to -21V. In the results of station A, an oscillation form is shown that varies
depending on the proximity of the material observed.
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ME 345W
Lab 4
Cris Demby
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Lab 4
Cris Demby
485
399
-853
0
0
1
2
Voltage average (mV) -2000
-4770
-4000
-6000
Distance (inches)
503
481
385
-171
0 0.5 1 1.5
-4000-5540
-6000
Distance (inches)
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Station B:
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Station C:
This station, a LVDT sensor was used to show the behavior of the sensor on the
oscilloscope. The LVDT sensor is limited to it size in respect to its effective range. On
the figure below, the effective range was between 0 and 3.5 inches. When the core
passed through the casing by more than 3.5, the behavior of the results is mirrored,
resulting a similar results found between the effective range of the sensor. The
voltage range of the effective range is 11v.
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Lab 4
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Station F:
At station F, the sensor is similar to the LVDT sensor (station C) where both share
same the same structure of rod and casing. The sensor, however, displays a
different result in comparison to station Cs sensor. In the figure below, two spikes
are shown, having a voltage change equal in magnitude. The speed of the
movement affected the spikes magnitude. Below, two figures are shown, one with
slow movement, the other with a fast movement. The distance the rod traveled of
both results is 5 inches.
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Lab 4
Cris Demby
than 1V and has a range of almost 2 second for each spike. In figure 10, the change
of voltage is approx. 3V with a span of about 1 second for the spike.
Comparison chart:
Sensor type
Induction
(Steel)
Induction (AL.)
Capacitance
(Steel)
Capacitance
(AL.)
Optical
LVDT (Station
C)
LVDT (Station
F)
Max Output
Min Output
.485V
-4.77V
Sensor
Output
continuous
Range of
Operation
.4375 to 2 inches
.503V
-5.54V
continuous
21V
0V
discrete
.25 to 1.25
inches
.125
21V
0V
discrete
.0625
4.37V
.961V
continuous
11V
0V
continuous
4.126 to 2.152
inches
3.5 inches
3V
<1V
discrete
5 inches
10
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Conclusion:
In the lab, each station shows how a sensor works and gives an idea of the ranges
and output that can be expected from the sensors. Some sensors are shown to react
differently, depending on the objects material, causing a smaller range of
operation, or smaller output read by the oscilloscope. Due to some human errors,
some results such as the optical sensor can be off. This is due to the small
shakiness of the human hand holding the object being measure. Other errors affect
by this can also be seen in the LVDT sensor at station F when the movement of the
core is not constant. The lab, however, shows the type of scenarios in which these
sensors are used and the way each sensor takes measurements.
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