VMC Connect Newsletter

June 30th, 2021 - VMC-Gen6 Electrical Test System

VMC has been testing electrical systems for 30 years. Our VMC-Gen6 next generation systems take flexibility, convenience, and effectiveness to the next level. We launched our Gen6 VMC-RelayMatrix™ with positive customer reviews. This new generation builds on years of experience to be rugged, incorporate advanced IP protocols for easy communication over standard networks, and use wireless technology. In addition, we have configured hardware and re-designed the control system to be able to offer a more cost-effective solution, that is modular, easy to modify and service. These improvements make VMC-Gen6 Electrical testers the best option for rapid electrical testing and validation in a production environment.

Replacing an electrical harness in a fully built machine is a productivity nightmare. Technicians can spend a whole day or more diagnosing electrical faults, tearing down a machine to get a faulty harness out and installing a new one. Experience has shown that even harnesses tested at a certified supplier can fail after installation due to physical stress, intermittent connections or other issues. Electrical testing must be completed prior to final assembly. By doing pre-assembly validation, any faults are quickly diagnosed, repairs are manageable, costly production disruptions are avoided as well as inefficient re-work.

VMC Gen6 systems’ relay modules are smaller than our previous modules allowing for more customization to handle large and small systems alike. Higher power relays, and other components are modular thereby enabling design flexibility and cost effectiveness while maintaining powerful software and hardware technologies. These factors combined with standard network communication protocols allows for smaller, wireless electrical testers which can be deployed for fast, cost effective testing of small or large electrical systems. Because the system is modular, VMC delivers electrical test systems in a wide variety of enclosures to fit every footprint, cost effectively. New communications technologies allow for faster sample rates up to 1,000 Hz.

The VMC-Gen6 Electrical Test Suite also encompasses our new VMC-InstantCircuitTest™ which utilizes learning algorithms to “learn” the wiring of a known good components, save this “circuit snap-shot”, and test production components in seconds. This feature is ideal for rapidly testing continuity and for short circuits in electrical harnesses. Our technology combined with simple test plugs also allows an instant self-test on the tester harness itself – giving operators complete confidence in the system. Test scripts are not needed, and new harness updates or additional harnesses can be added without having to modify the software.

An optional, integrated Digital Multi-Meter maximizes precision as needed, and high-voltage testing can be integrated safely as well. These VMC solutions can be configured to fully simulate electrical devices and controls to allow for real world testing of the system under loads. The Gen6 layout makes servicing and adapting the system even easier.

The VMC Gen6 Electrical Test System uses Harting connectors, known to be durable, reliable, and offer quick connection to the test harness; this allows for easily swapping to other machine models or components. The Gen6 System can be configured with touch screen and/or wireless tablet interface. VMC can integrate a fan-less industrial computer for years of trouble-free operations or provide support and interface for a customer supplied PC for maximum integration with your IT department.

VMC-Gen6-Electrical-Test™

Eliminates All Common Electrical Defects Maximizing Efficiency and Quality

• High quality, durable, reliable, accurate, VMC-RelayMatrix™ technology
• Incorporated PC allows for full network connectivity, data reporting, easy updates, and can incorporate customer software as well
• Flexible software allows for easily adding new models, and automatically capturing option information
• IP communications allow for wired and wireless control
• VMC-InstantCircuitTest™ allows for learning new electrical connections instantly and using them to test production components

Cost Effective Design for your Needs

• Modular to maximize flexibility and cost effectiveness
• Wireless Tablet can be integrated for system control
• Designed to fit in your available space
• Can be easily customized for your electrical system
• Can simulate machine hardware
• Easy to service and modify

Software – VMC-TestDesigner™ and VMC-Dashboard™ enable:

• Automatic option and model lookup to set test sequence and parameters
• Network connectivity to view results and set parameters remotely
• Automatic procedure
• Analysis of data remotely
• Modification of the process without additional expense

Call us for additional details and a review of VMC electrical test applications in your facility. Please Contact Us here.

January 26th, 2021 – VMC-Evac-Fill-Test™ System

VMC has built many advanced fluid fill and top-up stations for vehicle manufacturing lines throughout our history. We offer the option of combining leak test and vacuum technologies into our fill systems. When combined with access to the vehicle datalink, and intelligent software that can monitor and even control the vehicle, our systems will rapidly and safely fill your product and prepare it for final test and assembly in a highly efficient manner.

Stand Alone Fluid Fill

In preparation for fill, we use an air decay leak test process to charge coolant, hydraulic and other sealed circuits with air, seal them, and monitor pressure decay. This process can be used to detect gross leaks on various fluid systems including transmission and fuel systems. After passing air decay, our system can evacuate over 95% of the air from the coolant system, seal it, and measure the vacuum holds ensuring a leak free fill. Coolant is filled into the vacuum eliminating trapped air pockets.

In addition to fluids from bulk sources we can incorporate barrels, totes, and other small refillable tanks. Our systems can be configured to eliminate error due to air entrapment, and to notify operators when fluids need replenishment.

Our systems are designed to work in your facility – made to order for your process, fit in the footprint you specify, and designed to deliver maximum value cost effectively. With our custom piping, precise volumes of oil additives and coolant concentrate are injected into fill lines automatically. This eliminates the extra step of operators measuring out jugs of additive or adding concentrate for arctic machines as a separate operation.

Our intelligent software connects to option databases and decides which machines need these fluids and how much to add based on the model and options installed. This eliminates many sources of human error, and new models and options can be configured easily with a few database updates. After a fill is complete our software monitors the machine data bus while presenting a script of operations to be performed by workers. We can monitor or even control initial cylinder exercise, engine speed and eliminate dieseling due to errors in the cylinder fill process.

With our system integrated into a line control system we prevent empty machines from being passed on to start stations thereby eliminating the costs associated with starting a dry engine, spinning a dry transmission, or running a pump with no hydraulic fluid.

Compact Evac-Fill Built to Footprint

VMC-Evac-Fill-Test™

Provides a Precise, Efficient, Repeatable Fill

• High quality, durable, reliable, accurate, oval gear positive displacement flow meters


• Pneumatic ball valve actuators are durable, precise, and cost effective


• Incorporated PC allows for full network connectivity, data reporting, easy updates, and can incorporate customer software as well


• Flexible software allows for easily adding new models, and automatically capturing option information

Fill Hardware Integrated Into Customer Piping With Remote Operator Interface

Cost Effective Design for your Needs

• Designed to fit in your available space, inlet piping where you need it


• Can incorporate bulk, barrel, or tote with innovative replenishment strategies


• Can incorporate hose reels, booms, tool handlers, drip trays, touch screen, remote display, etc.


• Can include custom piping to inject additives and concentrate in other fluid lines, as well as tanks to separate air and fluid where needed


• Hardware can be distributed and mounted in existing customer piping with a remote operator interface for control


• Handle all types of fluid including DEF


• Can automatically raise and lower fill hoses to allow for overhead delivery

Sample Fill Screen

Software – VMC-TestDesigner™ and VMC-Dashboard™ enable:

• Automatic option and model lookup to set fill volumes


• Air decay and vacuum testing to prevent most leaks that are normally associated with the initial fluid fill


• Automatic proceedure from leak testing to filling to testing and top off


• Automatic top off and monitoring, control of initial machine exercise


• Analysis of fill volume, time and other data remotely


• Modification of the fill process without additional expense


• Burp times for fluids without Evac and automated top-offs are easily added to the software

Call us for additional details and a review of VMC fill station and leak test applications in your facilities. Please Contact Us here.

September 15th, 2020 – Wireless Sensors with VMC-Gen6Wireless™ Technology

VMC has started taking orders for Q1 2021 for wireless devices including pressure transducers, photo tachometers, and other sensors that eliminate the need for cables or hoses during testing. Our VMC-Gen6Wireless™ technology is cost-effective, durable, convenient and reduces trip and fire hazards while testing. Our wireless sensors also reduce process time when connecting and disconnecting a machine. With outstanding battery life, robust communication capabilities, rigorous sensor tracking methods and high sample rates VMC-Gen6Wireless™ technology is ready to break away from wires, hoses and anything holding your testing back!

VMC-Gen6™ Platform is our 6th generation of hardware and software rolling out now. This platform centers around our breakthrough VMC-Gen6Wireless™ technology and includes other high-speed cost effective VMC hardware as well. VMC-Gen6™ Software will be backwards compatible with VMC-TestManager5™ scripts, will support our new hardware, and will increase efficiencies for operators and engineers in test and automation.

VMC-Gen6Wireless™

Eliminates hoses and cables to machine under test

• Eliminates trip hazards
• Eliminates fire hazard of hoses
• Eliminates need to manage storage and maintenance of hoses and cable
• Eliminates need to diagnose and repair/replace crushed, cut, worn, jammed, clogged hoses and cables

Cost Effective

• Communicates directly to VMC software without additional DAQ equipment
• Wireless charging coil allows operators to quickly drop sensors into charging pockets
• Reduced connect/disconnect times without cables and hoses to manage
• Can be used in assembly lines with multiple stations without having to unhook/reconnect machine
• Easy to swap in and out of an active testing sensor group
• Robust Wi-Fi works with standard 2.4 GHz routers and wireless access points
• Digital technology allows sensor to be calibrated away from the test station in a gauge lab

Secure

• Uses WPA-2 Personal for easy configuration
• Can be configured with WPA-2 Enterprise for maximum security

Powerful

• Supports sample rates up to 100 Hz
• Transmits line of sight over 60m
• Battery lasts for 5 days idle plus 8 hours test on a single 4-hr charge with smart battery management software

Flexible VMC-Gen6Wireless™ Technology Available for

• Pressure transducers
• Photo tachometers
• Temperature probes
• Multichannel Data Acquisition Assemblies
• Accelerometers
• Digital inputs
• And More!

Call us for additional details and a review of VMC-Gen6Wireless™ applications in your facilities. Please Contact Us here.

Detailed spec sheet on our VMC-Gen6Wireless™ pressure sensor available for download here. Some items subject to change.