If you go to the Grand Hyatt hotel in San Francisco, don't be alarmed by a note explaining that this 35-storey skyscraper can creak and move in strong winds. The same is true of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, a gigantic building weighing half a million tons that can move up to two meters at its 828 m summit. Everything in this world is flexible, and even the most imposing structures are subject to different forces. Here, Starrett Marketing Director John Cove explores the importance of force measurement testing and the role of accuracy in product development.
Have you ever wondered how much force is applied when pressing a smartphone or the buttons on a remote control? We make these gestures without thinking about it, but for design engineers, measuring force is a crucial criterion, even when developing small devices for everyday use.
Historically, force was calculated by a series of mathematical equations, known by the austere names of Newton's first, second and third laws. More recently, force measurement tests have been limited to portable metrology devices. While these devices were faster than tedious calculations and more accurate than estimates, they lacked the precision required for complex structures and modern products.
Precision is imperative for the development of high-quality, ergonomic products, especially in an environment where users are accustomed to the flawless performance of consumer and industrial devices or machines. Modern force measurement systems have to meet the requirements of researchers, design engineers, quality managers and technicians responsible for material specifications, product verification and validation.
When combined with quality measurement protocols, advanced force measurement software, such as Starrett's L2 Plus, can provide a comprehensive analysis of a measurement test, shedding entirely new light that goes far beyond the basic figures resulting from simpler approaches.
By exporting measurement data via USB or wirelessly via Bluetooth, manufacturers can access high-resolution graphs based on load, distance, height and measurement time. What's more, the Starrett L2 plus system archives historical data for later analysis, to speed up retesting and rule out potential problems and errors from the outset.
This intelligent software increases the accuracy of force measurements, while improving precision for engineers. Thanks to the complete control offered by a system of this type, design engineers are freed from many constraints, enabling them to concentrate on innovation. On the other hand, quality managers can improve customer satisfaction and be confident that their products are safe from manufacturing errors.
Most skyscrapers are designed to bend in the wind. The 206-storey Burj Khalifa, all exposed to the harsh desert winds, was designed with this in mind. The ergonomics of everyday objects such as smartphones and remote controls have been tried and tested, but technical evolution means that the conditions for measuring force can only advance. Companies need to adopt the latest force measurement technology if they are not to fall behind.
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