CTW Automation

CTW will be exhibiting at the 2024 PRI Show in Indianapolis. We will have a RD3 in the booth that will also be for sale at the end of the show. Come by and see us, chat, get info on a new dyno or talk about updates in software. Stay connected and stay up to date.

https://lnkd.in/eR6z5-37

Sometimes the simple ideas need to be re-visited. The very early crank type dynos were only able to give a Force v Displacement plot, drawn on a piece of paper. Kurt Roehrig, with advances in computers, data acquisition and sensor technology, brought the Force vs Velocity graph to the racing world. And it seems we spent the next 30 years explaining just what it was showing. I found these diagrams to help explain the simple crank type dyno and how its 360 degrees of rotary motion translates into linear motion for the damper.

CTW Automation Probe© software tutorial playlist on YouTube. How easy is it to get up and running? Well, CTW and Ramakrishnan Balasubramanian from Tii Techno Testing Services Pvt. Ltd. visited a new customer in India. By the time we arrived on site, they had uncrated, set-up, run power, installed the software, created a Test and ran the machine!! That is the goal, plug and play or maybe Plug-and-Test. https://lnkd.in/enKK_GXh

CTW's software is now copyright! The basis of this software is used across all CTW platforms and machines. It gives the User the ability to write machine code with a simple command-based Test Builder. You can make simple tests for a crank dyno (RD Series) from 1 speed to 40 speeds with a large number of definable variables. You can create force and displacement-based Spring rating (SR17 series) tests for coil springs, air bags, elastomers and more. And finally, you use Probe to drive our advanced electric Linear Actuators (LA) to every possibility. You can see why we had to protect it.

We make fully automated, End of the Line Test machines for the factory. We make electric linear actuators that go 10 m/sec and test motorcycle and bicycle front forks. We also make a full line of crank type machines for the Friday night racer, garage mechanic, service center and large Racing organizations. The RD2 is our first in the line of tabletop "shock dyno" that continue the legacy that goes back to 1991.

CTW Automation delivers, installs and completes another LA Series linear actuator to a very happy customer. From the first 1K EMA sold to a bicycle manufacture in the Northeast back in 2005 to now, the linear actuator's ability to run a variable sine wave is everything when testing motorcycle dampers and forks. We just keep delivering machines, performance, data and knowledge. #ctwautomation #electric #linearactuator #shockdyno #motorcycle #motocross

CTW Automation installs and completes its first fully automated machine at customer's facility. * Barcode / QR scanner to write to database and track parts * Automated upper and lower grippers with interchangeable parts for various ends * Automated raise / lower crossbar with ability to program start position and preload position * Automated clamp / unclamp for expedited operation * Validation of Forces at speed in a Pass / Fail case * Able to add validation constants like rod force, diameter, and pressure * Full safety interaction with dual palm buttons * Ability to view each data file in CTW Probe software

Finally installed and operational. This is the first in the CTW RD Automated series of testing equipment. Using the basis of a crank type machine, RD, we added features until we ended with a machine capable of 50 second cycle times from loading to unloading. Features include: * QR code reading with active database updates in CSV format * Batch Testing * Automated grippers with easy to change fixtures for various damper ends * Automated and part dependent crossbar movement for preloading and clamping * Pre-strokes, Rod Force and multiple Speed testing * Pass / Fail validation on a variety of results * Full safety lockout and protection * Capable of pre-programing various Parts, Tests and Validations based on the Batch run CTW Automated RD Series for batch testing in factory environments

Sharing a video made by Kawasaki showing how they use CTW Automation equipment to test forks and dampers to help their race team. The machine in the video is a our model: LA68-HV. It is able to run a fork up to 10.0 m/sec and rear dampers out to 4.0 m/sec.