Test kit eases verification of sensor functionality

MTS Systems Corp, Sensors Division, has developed a portable test kit for the CAN protocol versions of its off-highway M-series linear position sensors to assist cylinder manufacturers and equipment OEMs in the off-highway market to verify functionality of the sensors after they are installed.

During installation into hydraulic cylinders these sensors may be exposed to potentially damaging conditions so it is important to be able to test them before shipping the cylinder assembly to the OEM.

The test kit will allow cylinder manufacturers to verify the functionality of the sensors once they are installed in cylinders, prior to the cylinders being shipped to the cylinder manufacturer’s customers. For OEMs, it will help determine if a faulty read on a controller is caused by a malfunctioning sensor or by other factors such as the controller’s software.

The test kit includes a GUI (graphical user interface) and an AC-to-DC converter that provides power directly to the sensor thus isolating the sensor from the rest of the vehicle. This is useful because the sensor’s functionality can be verified independently from the rest of the vehicle. Quickly identifying the sensor’s functionality can save time and expense, which result when a fully functioning sensor is misidentified as faulty.

The test interface can be attached to the sensor under test by connecting one of two cable assemblies with the CAN to a USB module connected to a computer running the M-Series CAN Test Interface. The first test cable comes with an M12 plug, which mates with MTS’s M12 Integrated Connector System.

The test interface reports the functionality of the sensor but is also able to report error-checking and error bytes from the sensor itself, and it can provide printed reports. The software also allows users to change the node ID or baud rate of a sensor directly through the CAN lines. Also included in this kit is a cable that allows the test interface to be customised to other connector systems.