Producing One-of-a-Kind Measurement and Control Testing Products to Customer Specifications
- Customer
- Fuji Keisoku System Co., Ltd.
- Industry
- Manufacturing
- Contec products
- PC-HELPER PC-based DAQ & Control
- Goals
- Space saving
Fuji Keisoku System’s automatic engine data sampling system measures more than 100 channels on a single Windows PC, using Contec measurement and control boards with the INtime real-time extension.
Overview
Fuji Keisoku System Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kawagoe, Saitama, designs and builds custom measurement and control test equipment for automobile engine R&D and evaluation. Its automatic engine data sampling system serves makers of automobiles, motorcycles, auto parts, construction and heavy machinery, and petroleum products, and it handles design through delivery under contract because engine data is closely guarded.
Challenge
Energy savings, CO2 reduction and lower emissions have increased demand for equipment that automatically controls engine parameters and measures and analyzes results. Older test rigs were not computerized, so adding test items meant adding meters and displays. Windows offers a familiar interface but is not built for real-time control, so control had been split across PLCs and DOS computers.
Solution
The system runs on a Windows PC with Contec digital I/O, analog I/O and counter boards in an expansion unit. Users set engine rpm and torque, throttle opening, and oil and water temperatures, and the system measures rotation, torque, temperature, pressure and fuel consumption across more than 100 channels during automatic operation. Updates are made in software.
To run real-time control on the same PC, Fuji Keisoku adopted INtime, which adds real-time operation to Windows: INtime controls the equipment while Windows handles computation and the user interface. The latest version also supports two monitors.
Results
Control, computation and user interface now run on one computer instead of several, saving space and resources, and dual displays make data easier to read during testing. In 2008 the company received the 4th Shibusawa Eiichi Venture Dream Award for original technology, including Japan’s only continuous-weight engine oil consumption meter.
Yoshihito Saito, former CEO, has used Contec products for more than 20 years, citing the range of board models, high channel counts, high resolution, reasonable prices, INtime support and helpful technical information.
Contec products used
Originally published by Contec Co., Ltd. at contec.com.