ME 360 - Mechanical System Instrumentation (3 Credit Hours)

Course Description: An introduction to the selection and use of electrical, pneumatic, and other components of mechanical system instrumentation and control. Specific components include modern electrical measurement devices, signal conditioning, force and torque measurement, proximity sensors, AC and DC motors, etc. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course.

Course Instructors: This course is typically taught by the following instructors:

• Dr. Joey K. Parker

Sample Syllabus: A sample syllabus indicative of that typically used in the course can be found here - PDF, HTML.

Pre-Requisite Skills: Students entering this course are expected to have mastered the following skills:

• ECE 320 (or ECE 225) - Electric Circuits
• Use Kirchoff's voltage and current laws to analyze resistive circuits
• Model and analyze simple RC (resistor-capacitor) circuits
• ESM 250 - Strength of Materials
• Compute stress and strain for pure tension/compression, bending, and pure torsion of round and rectangular cross-section members
• Develop theoretical relationship between applied pressure and strain for biaxial stress conditions in a thin walled cylinder

Co-Requisite Skills: Students taking this course are expected to be enrolled (or to have taken) courses that teach students the following skills:

Course Objectives: Students who successfully complete this course can be expected to:

• State and discuss in terms a bright high school student would understand the following definitions related to instrumentation: analog, digital, error (bias and random), uncertainty, precision, range, accuracy, resolution, repeatability, linearity, null (zero), and sensitivity; (a1)
• Use analog and digital oscilloscopes to determine amplitude, frequency, and phase of periodic signals (sine, triangle, square); (k)
• Use digital multimeter (DMM) to measure voltage and resistance; (k)
• Calculate uncertainty for results computed from several uncertain measurements using the partial derivative form and the simplified method for polynomial expressions; (n)
• Determine the mean and standard deviation (of sample and population) for a set of experimental data and use to determine the uncertainty of the mean value (for large samples) and for small samples (Student’s T-test); (n)
• Write individual formal lab reports with required sections and appropriately formatted figures, tables, references, and equations; (g)
• Write formal lab reports in a 2 or 3 person group environment with assigned roles, including editing and revision of rough drafts; (d,g)
• Sketch wiring diagrams, select components, and verify theoretical equations for standard op-amp circuits (single input inverting, single input non-inverting, voltage follower, summing, difference, integrator, comparator); (c)
• Design an op-amp circuit to provide specified amplification characteristics (gain, offset); (c)
• Determine and verify the theoretical equations for magnitude and phase response of first order low pass passive analog filters; (e)
• Install strain gage on beam and/or thin walled cylinder and wire into the appropriate Wheatstone bridge; (b)
• Sketch four common Wheatstone bridge arrangements (quarter, half – same strain, half – opposite strain, full) and relate measured output voltage to sensed strain; (e)
• Sample and collect time dependent data with data acquisition system, reconstruct waveform in a spreadsheet, determine first order time constant or primary frequency component from data; (b)
• State and discuss in terms a bright high school student would understand the following definitions related to data acquisition: ADC, DAC, bits, resolution, range, sampling frequency, aliasing, multiplexing, single-ended input, differential input; (a)
• List displacement, velocity, and acceleration transducers suitable for given measurement task and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each selection; (a2)
• Measure the angular velocity of a rotating shaft with several velocity transducers and determine the relative pro’s and con’s of each transducer; (b)
• Sketch typical speed-torque curves for AC (split phase, PSC, shaded pole) and DC motors (brushed, brushless, shunt wound, series wound, stepper); (a2)
• Use the steady-state operating equations for a permanent magnet, DC motor to solve for one or more of the following: armature resistance, armature current, operating speed, motor efficiency, output torque, input power, output power, power dissipated in windings (in both U.S. engineering and S.I. units); (e)
• Experimentally determine the motor constants and the speed-torque curves for both AC and DC motors with a dynamometer and a tachometer; (b)
• Justify your selection of an electric motor (AC, DC, stepper) and associated speed controllers for a given industrial or commercial application; (a2)
• Describe the operational characteristics (range, target sensitivity, environmental sensitivity) and limitations of the following types of proximity sensors: inductive, photoelectric, ultrasonic, magnetic, inductive, micro-switch; (a2)
• Sketch the wiring diagram, connect, and use proximity sensors with conventional current "sinking" (NPN) and "sourcing" (PNP) outputs; (b)
• Identify and label fluid power components (cylinders, valves, filters, regulators, pressure relief valves, etc.) from their NFPA schematic symbols; (a2)
• Describe and debug the operation of a ladder logic diagram (given the associated fluid power system) in either PLC or "hard-wired" relay format with the following components: N.O. and N.C. contacts, control relay, inputs, outputs, "AND" logic, "OR" logic, timer, counter, "hold" circuit; (e)
• Design a ladder logic diagram (using the components listed above) for a specified industrial automation task. (c)

Sample Examinations: Examples of Examinations given in this course can be found here - Test #1 (PDF), Test #1 (HTML), Test #2 (PDF), Test #2 (HTML), Test #3 (PDF), Test #3 (HTML)

Downstream Users: This course serves as a pre-requisite to the following courses at The University of Alabama:

• ME 460 - Thermal System Instrumentation