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Rail Flaw Detector Uses Keypad & Enclosure From CustomDesignTechnologies
Sperry Rail’s RSU Ultrasonic Walking Stick, an instrument used to detect cracks and other types of flaws in railway rails, uses a keypad and enclosure from customDesignTechnologies (cDT) to provide the operator interface.
(PRWEB) July 2, 2006 -- Sperry Rail’s RSU Ultrasonic Walking Stick, an instrument used to detect cracks and other types of flaws in railway rails, uses a keypad and enclosure from customDesignTechnologies (cDT) to provide the operator interface.
The RSU Ultrasonic Walking Stick is particularly important for detecting flaws that are wholly internal to the rail and cannot be detected by visual inspection. It is designed to detect flaws while being pushed along the rail by a pedestrian operator.
The instrument is based on a roller search unit (RSU) which is a wheel with a liquid filled tyre that contains a number of ultrasonic transducers for projecting sound into the rail in a variety of directions. This provides a complete inspection of the cross-section of the head and web of the rail.
The Walking Stick has an integral multiplexer unit which interfaces a flaw detector to the RSU allowing a number of inspections to be carried out simultaneously as the instrument is pushed along.
The multiplexer features a keypad, supplied by customDesignTechnologies, that enables the operator to select the various operating modes, carry out calibrations and select individual probes during defect analysis. A LCD screen provides continuous status information.
As the walking stick instrument is designed for outdoor use, the keypad features an IP65 rated seal built into the membrane layers to protect the circuitry from the elements. It also features a red/green bi-coloured LED built in and has 3M adhesive on the back for ease of mounting.
The keypad is mounted onto an enclosure also supplied by customDesignTechnologies. The enclosure is fabricated from plastic sheet that is cut and grooved using the latest CAD/CAM technology and then folded to the finished shape.
Graham Dale, Sperry Rail’s [job title], commented, “The main requirements for the enclosure and keypad were that they should be weatherproof and for the keypad to be simple to use. customDesignTechnologies provided an excellent service, delivering a cost-effective solution for a highly sophisticated instrument.”
Ian Watson, cDT’s marketing director, added, “This project is an excellent illustration of the customDesignTechnologies philosophy of providing high quality enclosure and keypad solutions for low volume production runs. Our well-established Bafbox enclosure manufacturing technique is ideal for producing high quality housings without the need for expensive moulding tools. Similarly, our flexible customKeypads division was able to produce an IP65 sealed keypad featuring a transparent window for the LCD panel and surface mount LEDs incorporated within the membrane layers.”
Based in Oxfordshire and with more than 15 years experience of providing custom solutions for customers in the electronics industry, customDesignTechnologies encompasses Bafbox custom enclosures, customKeypads membrane switch panels and customAssembly for costeffective and flexible electronic and mechanical assembly services for companies looking to outsource manufacturing.
For more information, please contact: customDesignTechnologies Limited, Greatworth Park, Greatworth, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX17 2HB, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1295 762100, Fax: +44 (0)1295 768888
Web site: http://www.customDesignTechnologies.com
Press enquiries to: Tim Jennings, Marshall Jennings PR Limited, Wyvols Court, Swallowfield, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 1WY, UK. Tel: +44 (0)118 988 0288, Fax: +44 (0)118 988 0388. Web site: http://www.mjpr.com
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