Instrumentation Lab

The Instrumentation Laboratory at Sierra Lobo develops innovative solutions to difficult problems in instrumentation and measurement technology. 

We design and produce cost effective, compact, lightweight, low-power, user-friendly solutions.  This laboratory provides support and enhances our research efforts through the design and fabrication of custom instrumentation and “turnkey” laboratory and measurement automation packages.

Capabilities

The Instrumentation Laboratory designs and fabricates stand-alone and PC-based instrumentation packages as well as other electromechanical devices. Available resources include:

·         A 256 channel Modicon Quantum programmable control system (10KHz sampling rate per channel)

·         A National Instruments PXI-based analog and digital data acquisition system

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·         A Zeiss Stemi-2000C 250X video microscope with PC captured photograph and video recording capabilities integrated with a 4-DOF pick and place machine capable of handling bare chip electronic components and epoxy stamping for increased circuit density and improved surface mount capabilities. Device includes remote viewing and color image capture capability.

·         The LabView data acquisition and control software development suite

·         The Visual Basic/Visual Studio/MSDN software development environment for PC applications

·         The IAR Systems development environment for embedded applications (Assembly, C, etc.)

·         The Altium DXP development suite for schematic capture, simulation and PCB layout

·         A wide selection of integrated circuits, passive components, connectors, etc. to support rapid prototyping of electronic equipment

·         A variety of general electronics equipment including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, voltmeters, soldering equipment, etc.

·         45 minute uninterruptible power supply capability

·         ESD-safe workbenches

The staff of the Instrumentation Laboratory at Sierra Lobo has the engineering and technical skills required to design and fabricate many types of instruments, devices and accessories including those suitable for flight hardware. Those skills include the ability to:

·         Design, assemble, program, and control equipment automation systems, using Modicon Quantum/Concept systems and GUI programming

·         Design, prototype, test, and produce specialty instrumentation, including cryogenic liquid level, mass gauging and temperature measurement devices

·         Design, prototype, test, and produce embedded microcontroller based control systems

·         Design, prototype, test, and produce miniaturized data acquisition systems

·         Design, prototype, test, and produce flexible and rigid circuits

·         Design and produce power distribution cabinets and control panels for complete test skids (including heaters, variable speed motor drives, PLCs, etc.)