digiBOX Industrial - strain gauge and piezoelectric amplifier

digiBOX Industrial - Robust strain gauge and piezoelectric amplifier with possibleconnection to IT/OT

DigiBOX Industrial is a new and accurate multi-channel amplifier that impresses with its modern automation and cloud interface, intuitive web server and integrated real-time pre-processing of measured data.

Supplied with calibration certificate

digiBOX - Measurement Analysis Innovation

Take your applications to a higher and innovative level.

Use the latest technology:

• high quality measurement with an accuracy class of 0.01, piezoelectric 0.5.
• Integrated web server for easy parameterization and visualization with day and night mode.
• OT connectivity for machine control and IT connectivity for data and process analysis and optimization.
• Real-time functions for various industrial applications
• 10 parameter sets for predefined ISO9000 device settings
• Individual calibration certificate for each digiBOX on request

 

CHARACTERISTICS

• Connection of strain gauge and piezoelectric sensors (freely configurable 2-4 channels)
• Sampling frequency 40 kS/s for strain gauge and piezoelectric channel with 24bit A/D converter
• Synchronous sample collection for strain gauge and piezoelectric channels
• Robust and compact metal housing (IP67)
• 4 digital I/O a 4 analogue outputs (switchable voltage/current)
• Simple control via integrated web server
• Internal computing channels (statistical functions)
• PROFINET (IRT/RT 2KHz, 4KHz), EtherCAT® (chain topology option)
• Parallel connectivity at IT level: TCP/IP based protocols: openDAQ, MQTT, OPENAPI (RestAPI).

 

Measurement technology

digiBOX Industrial can be configured with (2-4) inputs for strain gauge and piezoelectric sensors. HBK offers a range of sensors for both sensing technologies it measures:

• deformation
• the power of
• load
• torque
• pressure

 

Sensor inputs are synchronised, enabling demanding industrial measurements at sample rates 40 kS/s a 24-bit AD conversion for both input technologies.

Signal processing

DigiBOX Industrial is equipped with integrated statistical functions developed for industrial measurement applications:

• 4x Min, Max and peak-to-peak tracking
• 4x value capture
• 8x limit switches

 

These values are calculated every 25 µs. This enables complex and demanding process control applications to be implemented using digiBOX as a decentralised process controller.

The digiBOX is also equipped with intuitive web server, which is used to configure and parameterize the device. This enables efficient system setup and service of digiBOX devices.

IT/OT connectivity

digiBOX Industrial offers parallel IT/OT connectivitythat ensures seamless integration with the machine's PLC system while making measurement data, calculated results and device parameters available to IT-level applications without compromising the PLC process in progress.

This provides IT with critical process data from force measurement processes, enabling new possibilities such as.

• storing and tracking historical data
• comprehensive monitoring
• data collection (miniDAQ) and analysis
• creating machine learning models
• Remote access and cloud integration

 

These options can be easily implemented using the integrated openDAQ™ protocol, which allows streaming sensor data at 40 kS/s and seamless integration into Python, C# and C++ programming environments.

Tensometric applications

Strain gauge based sensors provide highly accurate, drift-free measurements for both static and dynamic applications. Their measurement principle enables tensile and compressive measurements, making them the optimal choice for process control and monitoring applications and reference standards.

In combination with strain gauges, digiBOX is ideal for force measurements such as.

• processes of joining by force
• pressing applications (load monitoring, sheet metal forging, tablet/powder pressing).
• assembly processes
• Industrial process control applications (process monitoring, end-of-line testing, handling systems).
• monitoring applications (tools, processes)

 

All of these processes can be implemented using force, torque, pressure or strain sensors depending on the application.

 

Piezoelectric applications

Piezoelectric sensors offer a wide measuring range, making them suitable for high bias (high overload) applications. Their compact size makes them ideal for installations where space is limited. Although they excel in dynamic measurements, they are also effective for quasi-static applications.

In combination with piezoelectric sensors, the digiBOX is ideally suited for the following purposes:

• force coupling processes
• punching and nailing tools
• spot and resistance welding
• measurement of small forces at high preload
• assembly and testing
• applications for process and quality control

 

HBK offers piezoelectric force, torque, pressure and strain sensors. In combination with new low latency software reset function integrated into the digiBOX signal path, dynamic processes with short cycle times can be efficiently achieved.

Combination of piezoelectric and strain gauge technology

The K-DBX-4M variant is equipped with sensor inputs for two strain gauge and two piezoelectric sensors. This allows customers to combine these measurement technologies and use synchronous data acquisition for both sensor technologies. This unique combination of sensor setups enables more cost-effective solutions and highly accurate process learning/optimization procedures.

The digiBOX K-DBX-4M variant allows sample-synchronous calibration procedure for strain gauge and piezoelectric sensors, ensuring the most accurate calibration results. This is done with the help of an automatic calibration assistant (coming soon).

IT-level connectivity enables new solutions

• DigiBOX can be integrated into cloud services and implement remote access for monitoring and parameterization.
• Vertical integration into productive software is also possible and enables product quality analysis and process traceability.
• Use of measuring frequency 40 kS/s with the openDAQ protocol can be used for DAQ analysis tasks in parallel with the running process.
• The digiBOX connection to peripheral devices can be used to training machine learning algorithms for process optimization.