|
Through our consulting services, we are
continually working with products from the broad array of vendors in the field
of structural, vibration, and fatigue testing. Since our main focus is on the
use of servo-hydraulics rather than electro-dynamics, we have decided to offer
our opinions on the equipment that is available in the servohydraulic testing
field only.
Our philosophy at Re:Test is to foster a competitive environment. We work or
have worked with all the various suppliers in different capacities, and when
asked, we recommend the best solution in the industry to meet the needs of the
client. While we might form alliances with vendors from time-to-time, we never
let that stand in the way of being able to provide an objective opinion, since
that is of the highest value to our customers.
This "buyers guide" is just that. It is a guide. Since it is difficult
to make a straight recommendation based on generic requirements, we would be
happy to work with you to evaluate your specific needs, and make a
recommendation that matches those needs. We have never found a situation where
our fee exceeds the amount we have saved our customers.
Since there is no single vendor that does it all (yes even MTS!), you will
inevitably end up purchasing products from several. All too often, we are called
in to test labs, where equipment and software has been purchased, and the
engineers and technicians are having problems with integration. Not only that,
but if I could add-up all the money that has been wasted on purchasing duplicate
and unneeded items, I would have enough money to run a small country!
If you are looking for the Servo Hydraulic controller review, this has now been archived. Click here to read (last updated
in 2004)
|
Supplier Backgrounds:
DTE
|
DTE is a privately held company that started back in the mid 90's, when Schenck Pegasus was up for sale. A couple of folks left SP and joined DTE to start a servohydraulic testing group. They build test stands, and have a line of actuators. They developed their own controller, which was a clone of the MTS 407, but have since dropped it. They are now using the FCS controller for their systems. As far as I know, they are the only company to provide a fatique rated rotary actuator that competes with MTS.
|
IST
|
This is a division of Instron, and was formed from the structural test division they had in England, the Schenck HydroPulse group in Darmstadt, and the Schenck Pegasus group in Detroit. Very little remains of the later group (Schenck Pegasus), and the operations of this division have all now been consolidated in the former Schenck facility in Darmstadt, Germany and the Instron structural test facility in High Wycombe, England (as of January 2003). While the parent company Instron is a large presence in the USA and is well recognized in the materials testing market, IST tends to focus more in Western Europe and Asia, and has scaled-down their North American sales and support considerably.
|
Moog-FCS
|
FCS is short for Foker Control Systems. Originally a division of Foker Aircraft in Holland, they spun off to build flight simulators. Then they became involved in testing, focusing their efforts on a test controller. In the meantime, a company called COM Inc was founded in Ann Arbor Michigan to meet a specific need defined by General Motors. COM Inc and FCS merged in 2003 to create FCS-COM, and the merged company was purchased by Moog in 2005. As Moog-FCS they maintain a team in Ann Arbor, and their main office is in Amsterdam. With the resources of Moog behind them, they are rapidly expanding their presence worldwide. Mainly focussed on controllers, the company is now expanding into complete test systems.
|
MTS
|
MTS is based in Eden Prairie Minnesota. MTS has been around since the 60s (formerly Research Incorporated) and is considered to be the "Microsoft" of their field. Because the company tends to be out front, it has a big target on its back. MTS has good products, but they are more expensive. MTS has a strong sales and service presence worldwide, and does better with large turn-key systems. Because of its size, MTS is less interested in the high-risk, test stand business. Many former MTS employees can now be found working for their competitors, going after the markets that MTS is less interested in (most notably Shore Western and DTE).
|
Servo Test
|
Servotest is based in England, and has been around for many years. They have struggled to enter into new markets for quite a while. They attempted to grow their North American market through a partnership with Burke E. Porter. This relationship went sour several years ago, and Burke E. Porter has abandoned the business. In recent years Servotest has become known for providing seven-post tire-coupled road simulators to race teams. These systems add three actuators to a standard four poster to simulate down-draft forces.
|
Shore Western
|
Shore Western Manufacturing is a privately held company in Monrovia California. The company has been around since the early 70s and sells low cost equivalents to MTS test components (actuators etc.). The company is actively growing its market, with more emphasis on building complete systems. They have developed a MAST, and have been showcasing a "mini" MAST for seat testing etc. The company is working on their own controller, which apparently should be forthcoming.
|
TEAM
|
Team Corporation is a privately held company based in Burlington Washington. Team has established a specialty market--using servohydraulics for higher frequency vibration testing. They build their own unique voice coil servovalve, and are renowned for their high-precision machining. Team has also developed the CUBE, which is an innovative six degree of freedom system. Team has not, and does not plan to develop their own controller, and so they are forced to make do with controllers that are available on the open market.
|
Buyer's Guides:
Controllers
Analysis and Controls Software
Actuators, Pumps, Manifolds, Swivels, Servovalves
6 Degree-of-Freedom Vibration Tables
Custom and Specialty Systems
More Opinions:
What's Hot
What's Cool
| x |
|
MTS' work with Mechatronics is ultra-cool. If the various departments at MTS can work as a team (that's a big if), there are a TON of applications for this. Click here to check it out.
|
| |
If you are purchasing new test equipment, we can help you make the right decision. Whenever we have been involved, we have always saved our clients much more than our consulting fee. Click here to contact us.
Do you have thoughts/experiences to share? Post them on our forum.
|
