How to Stress a Piezoelectric Crystal

Issue 123, February 2018

Last month, we talked about the importance of sharing knowledge. We're bringing you a second edition of back-to-basics - this time on sensing geometries. What do compression, shear, and flexural designs mean, anyway?

How to Stress a Piezoelectric Crystal

Ever wondered how piezoelectric crystals generate electrical outputs? PCB Piezotronics has created an overview covering the three main methods for inducing stress on sensors: compression, shear, and flexural. For an accelerometer, each technique offers certain performance attributes, which can make one design more appropriate for certain applications over others...

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Tip of the Month

Test equipment rental is often an overlooked option in supporting short-term or one-off test needs. From sensors to systems, The Modal Shop's Sound & Vibration Rental Program can help you with your test.

Download a Selection Guide to learn more!

Blast from the Past

How to Calibrate Awkwardly Shaped Accelerometers

Proper mounting techniques are essential to calibrate all accelerometers. The mounted resonance of a vibration sensor directly affects the practical upper limit of the flat frequency response of that sensor.

Each item on the list below plays a significant role when calibrating an accelerometer as covered in a previous newsletter article entitled, Why Proper Mounting is Essential to Calibration.

Cleanliness
Surface finish and flatness
Light use of a coupling fluid (like silicone grease) between the accelerometer base and the mounting surface
Right amount of torque (if stud mounted) as recommended by the sensor manufacturer

The good news for metrology is that most accelerometer designs are built symmetrically...

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Thanks for joining us for another issue of Dynamic Sensors & Calibration Tips.
As always, please speak up and let us know what you like. We appreciate all feedback: positive, critical, or otherwise. Take care!