Editor's Pick: SomatXR Data Acquisition Modules

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

A data acquisition (DAQ) device that’s great in the serene environment in your shop can shake apart, freeze or fry on you in the field if it’s not built to withstand tough environments. HBM’s SomatXR DAQ system line is designed to be both rugged and flexible to configure, characteristics that make them suitable for nasty work like drive durability testing of construction, agricultural and mining machines as well as summer and winter road testing of automobiles. Today’s Pick of the Week focuses on some new modules for the rugged SomatXR DAQ portfolio.

HBM recently announced three new modules in its scalable, modular and rugged SomatXR DAQ system series. That now makes for eight units covering everything from data recording to signal conditioning and Ethernet switching. General characteristics of all SomatXR modules include dust and water resistance (IP65 / IP67), an operating temperature range from -40 to +176 °F (-40 to +80°C) and vibration resistance up to 10g and shock resistance up to 75g (MIL−STD202G).

A cool attribute of these devices is that they deploy with a Web interface. That means remote channel parameterization as well as remote monitoring of your measurement jobs and visualization of measured data.

The first of the three new units is an eight-channel module for measurement jobs that need multiple transducer types like strain gauges, bridge circuits and thermocouples. It can accommodate 16 different transducers and has a per-channel sampling rate of 40 kilosamples per second (kS/s).

Next up is a module for highly dynamic acquisition and analysis of mechanical measurement quantities. This four-channel, 24-bit unit has a maximum sample rate of 100 kS/s per channel or 200 kS/s in two-channel mode. It supports transducer technologies ranging from full- or half-bridge circuits to strain gauges.

The third new module connects the SomatXR DAQ system to a CAN network. It has four individually configurable interfaces for receiving CAN and other data. You can use CAN messages to trigger measurements and can send sensor signals acquired with other SomatXR modules as CAN messages.

Today’s Pick of the Week has more details on the new SomatXR modules. The link at the end of the main write-up takes you to the SomatXR webpage where you’ll find a neat video on the series. Links at the end of the write-up will take you to full details on the individual modules. Good stuff.

Thanks, Pal. Happy New Year. – Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood

Editor at Large, Desktop Engineering

Learn more about the new SomatXR DAQ systems here.