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Test & Measurement

Micro-Measurements offers a complete portfolio of strain gages (gauges), hybrid sensors, accessories and instruments for material testing, research and development and prototype evaluation. Our strain gages are used to construct loadcells and transducers that can measure pressure, load, force, torque, temperature, displacement and control factors across a broad range of market sectors.

Test and Measurement

  • DAMS
  • RAIL MONITORING
  • PIPELINES
  • BRIDGES
  • GEOTECHNICAL/GEOSCIENCE
  • RESIDUAL STRESSES
  • FASTENER TESTING
  • TEST LABS
  • SHIP BUILDERS
  • POWER GENERATOR/TURBINE MANUFACTURERS
  • PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD ASSEMBLY
  • INFRASTRUCTURE/CONSTRUCTION/CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • EDUCATION/UNIVERSITIES
  • AUTOMOTIVE

 

Every item manufactured must survive its intended purpose, and also protect users for occasional unexpected loadings. This can be achieved by best guess but this can be a very expensive mistake if failure occurs. Combining techniques such as computer modeling with real-world testing achieves stronger, lighter, more efficient structures.

 

Improving long-term reliability, for example preventing latent failures in printed circuit board assembly, can increase customer confidence. Bridges are often tested during assembly and for long-term life prediction. Testing rock core samples can ensure suitable foundations are installed. Material properties can be ascertained in a laboratory to ensure suitability to a particular application. “Our expertise, your solution.”

 

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Automotive
Our strain gages are used for strain and dynamic torque measurements, which are critical in determining the design viability and expected life of vehicle systems and components. We have strain gage solutions that perform even in the harsh conditions of an automobile, such as the extremely hot surface found on an exhaust system. Other areas where gages are used include engine test stands, care seats, tires, radiators, proving ground testing, fluid level monitoring and drive train testing.
Education/Universities
Over four decades, our educational support includes discounts on general-purpose strain gages; a selection of Student Strain Gages; an extended warranty program for instrumentation purchased for use in the teaching laboratory; and Experiments in Mechanics, a series of exercises designed around the simple cantilever beam and intended to teach mechanics using experimental stress analysis technology as the teaching medium.
Infrastructure/Construction/Civil Engineering
Our foil strain gages are the most robust solution to monitor strain in concrete and metal structures. Our gages are installed on structural components in bridges and buildings to measure stress and compare these measurements to analytical models and stress calculations.
PCB Assembly
Micro-Measurements is a leader in the development of strain measurement products that support the electronics industry’s specific requirements. We collaborate with PCB manufacturers to help develop industry standards such as IPC-JEDEC specifications, IPC-JEDEC 9702 Monotonic Bend Characteristics of Board-Level Interconnects, IPC-JEDEC 9704 Printed Wiring Board Strain Gage Test Guideline, and JEDEC JESD22-B111 Board Level Drop Test Method of Components for Handheld Electronic Products.
Power Generator/Turbine Manufactures
Strain gages are used to detect equipment failure, malfunction or unusual conditions found during regular operation or maintenance activities. Our sensing systems accurately measure variables in pumps and other equipment that experience high thrust loads, due to our wireless and telemetry capabilities in measuring thrust and torque for MOVs and AOVs.
Ship Builders
Strain gages are used to measure the torque in ship parts such as fans, generators, wheels, or propellers in a motor, turbine, or engine. Strain gages are also vital to measure and monitor mooring forces of ships. Tension strain gage load cells can be mounted in line with the mooring ropes, or another way is to use a shear pin force strain gage transducer.
Test Lab
Strain gages are found in any test lab that performs mechanical, metallurgical, environmental, chemical, and corrosion testing on any kind of metal. Metal foil strain gages are used for collecting and analyzing data to determine causes of premature degradation or fracture. Tests include tensile strength, compression, hardness Impact, friction, bending, fatigue, shear and strain.
Fastener Testing
Every day, we come in touch with infrastructure, equipment, vehicles and other objects that are held together with fasteners. In order for them to be safe and reliable, fasteners must perform to expectations and hold up to wear and tear such as stress, vibration, and environmental conditions. Metal foil strain gages are key components in any fastener testing. These tests help to identify potential problems at an early stage, extend service life, and help reduce operating and replacement costs.
Residual Stresses

Virtually all manufacturing and fabricating processes introduce residual stresses into the manufactured object. Usually, residual stresses are detrimental, contributing to fatigue and other structural failures that are often unrecognized until after a malfunction or failure occurs. The hole-drilling strain gage method is a relatively simple procedure and has been standardized in ASTM Standard Test Method E 837. The general theory of making residual stress measurements is covered in Micro-Measurements Tech Note TN-503, “Measurement of Residual Stresses by the Hole-Drilling Strain Gage Method”

Geotechnical/Geoscience
Micro-Measurements has a long history of designing strain gages that meet unique challenges such as those found in constructions occurring on the earth’s surface or subsurface. Our gages are used to determine mechanical properties for structures such as earth-filled dams, retaining wall, embankments, tunnels, dikes and levees, channels, reservoirs and landfills.
Bridges
Our foil strain gages are used in bridge structures around the world. Strain gages are efficient and effective. A permanent installation provides long-term monitoring of the structure’s health, while a temporary installation ensures safe working conditions during a repair. Measurements include strain, displacement, force, temperature, inclination, bending movements and alignment.
Pipelines
Oil and gas pipelines require the capability to monitor the structural integrity of the pipelines and related structures. Metal foil strain gages can be attached to various points along the pipe to offer continuous, remote monitoring of the structures and help prevent threats to the flow inside the pipe as well as potential threats to the environment.
Rail Monitoring
We provide a wide range of strain gages that provide long-term structural monitoring solutions for railways. The strain on rails, such as axial tension or compression, can be measured and monitored. Warnings enable maintenance on the railway to minimize impact on rail traffic and ensure safety.
Dams
Monitoring and analyzing the behavior of a dam’s structural elements is critical. Strain gages can be used during the planning, design, construction and operation of the dam to ensure the performance of the dam’s structure behaves as expected and is safe. Other parts of the dam, such as the reservoir and river basin, can also be monitored with strain gages to help ensure normal operation and safety.
Resources
Resources
Learn more about our products through a variety of materials, watch videos, and explore our large Knowledge Base and much more!
Training
Micro-Measurements conducts an extensive series of regularly scheduled, hands-on technical workshops and short courses.
Videos

Our extensive collection of tutorial and informational videos on a variety of strain measurement topics.

Knowledge Base
Sign in to access our assortment of calculators and additional technical documents as they relate to our strain gages and PhotoStress® products.