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Alpha Digital Control System

  • Virtual Control Panel (VCP)
  • Macro Language
  • Tensile Test Software
  • Profile Builder
  • TMF Test Software

The Phoenix Alpha Digital Control System and software is fully designed and written in-house to support our range of test machines and equipment, and is available in single-axis, dual-axis or multi-axis configurations.

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  • Overview
  • Controls & Software

Overview

The Phoenix Alpha Control System is a digital control system designed to control servo hydraulic and screw-driven testing machines. 

Using established PID closed-loop control principles the Alpha real-time control system guarantees a specified control loop rate of at least 20kHz, regardless of the number of actuators, channels in use or system configuration.

For systems with four actuators or fewer the loop rate may be increased to 40kHz, making the Phoenix Alpha Digital Control System the fastest control system available, and ensures the most accurate control and best data acquisition rate possible. 

The Alpha Control System is ideal for a wide variety of control applications including high-speed single-shot tests. It includes a self-tuning facility for automatic adjustment of gain parameters for optimum control performance in all situations.  

All operations and data presentation functions are controlled by a PC running Phoenix Virtual Control Panel software operating under Windows™. 

The only connection necessary between the controller and host PC is a single gigabit ethernet link. The host PC may also be connected to the customer’s existing network for tasks such as result archiving or sharing. The PC to control system ethernet link is entirely separate to the customer’s network.  

The Phoenix Alpha Digital Control System can be retrofitted to any make of hydraulic test machine complete with new frame wiring. 

Phoenix can offer a suite of software to run on the PC to provide automation of popular testing applications in a familiar Windows™ environment. 

The Phoenix software suite includes programmes to allow simple manual control or the ability to write unique and complex test programmes for R&D testing. 

Customers who enquire about our Alpha Control Systems often ask us about our other upgrade options, including environmental chambers, refurbishment of actuators and test machines. 

Controls & Software

The Phoenix software suite includes:

 

Virtual Control Panel (VCP)
The VCP gives the user complete control of the Phoenix Alpha Digital Control System and is the interface with all other software programmes from our software range. 

The software enables simple set up of constant amplitude testing in three modes:

  • Load 
  • Stroke (extension)
  • Strain

The VCP has menus for function generator, limits and trips, cycle counter, gain settings and event actions. 

 

Macro Language
The Phoenix Macro Language is a powerful software programme that enables the user to construct complex test routine by expressing the test as a concise sequence of “English-like” instructions, allowing our software engineers to write a test programme to suit the exact specification of our customer’s requirement.  

 

Tensile Test Software
The Phoenix Tensile programme complies with the latest BS ISO tensile test specifications that require strain rate control from an extensometer. 

The programme also allows for operation without the use of an extensometer. Full graphical and calculation results are printed after the completion of the test, including automatic marking of the yield point. 

 

Profile Builder 
The Profile Builder programme allows the operator to create custom waveforms in load, displacement, strain or temperature control. 

Waveforms can also be imported from external programmes such as Excel or Word.  

The Phoenix Alpha Digital Control System is supplied with standard waveforms:

  • Sine, haversine
  • Triangle, havertriangle 
  • Square, haversquare
  • Single and dual ramp

 

TMF Test Software 
The Phoenix TMF programme is written to comply with the latest ISO TMF standard with the addition of modification, enabling the flexibility needed to carry out tailored TMF research. 

The system allows fully integrated and synchronised control of the heating channel to allow in phase/ out phase stress and heating cycles to be applied. 

The Phoenix TMF programme includes a fully automated temperature compensation routine, using either real-time temperature or angle of the waveform being run. 

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Certifications

Rolls Royce

Rolls Royce Technical Approval for High Temperature and Environmental Testing

ISOQAR Registered - UKAS Management Systems

The Design, Manufacture, Commissioning, Maintenance and support of Materials Testing Machines. ISO 9001 - ISO 14001, Cert. No. 15997

ilac - MRA - UKAS Calibration + Testing

UKAS Calibration
UKAS Testing (flexible scope)

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