Testing facility upgraded to meet demand from UK Space Agency

The electronics specialist has invested in a new, more capable vibration test system, which it says will be of particular value to the oil and gas industry and extended its cold storage capability. The new cold storage facility, which facilitates the testing of whole instruments down to -85^°C, will enable manufacturers to test electronics in space-like conditions for a prolonged period of time. The internal volume of the chamber is 800 x 650 x 950mm and this extends the test steady state hot and cold storage capability from -85 to 300^ºC. As part of the general expansion of test house capability, its accreditation has been extended to include EIA-364, particularly important for companies providing electrical connectors for applications in space and other harsh environments. The new vibration system extends the static load capacity to 500kg. According to C-Mac, this six times capacity increase allows electrical, electro-mechanical and mechanical components and products to be tested at the facility, which is particularly useful for companies working in oil and gas support services. The new 20kN system features a shaker with a 51mm travel providing sine, random, and sine-on-random waveforms. Bump and shock test capability has also been expanded to 50g, 6mS. Paul Hill, general manager at C-Mac, said: "These improvements to our testing facility significantly enhance our offering in both the oil & gas and space industries. With the launch of the UK Space Agency we anticipate a growing need for UK based testing facilities, so I'm very pleased that we can offer world leading facilities right here in Great Yarmouth."