Use of Acoustic Cameras
in Product Development
18.07.2024
The ear makes the purchase. When household appliances cause unpleasant noise or machines are unbearably loud, customer frustration is usually high. Thanks to the use of acoustic cameras in product development, developers can quickly analyze why noise occurs where none is expected.
In product development, costs play a crucial role. To prevent costs from spiraling out of control and to avoid jeopardizing timely product launches, project managers and engineers try to avoid costly test series or error corrections. Unexpected noise developments, for example, can unnecessarily prolong the project timeline.
Acoustic cameras have established themselves as powerful tools in such situations to locate unwanted noises and effectively implement countermeasures.
However, acoustic cameras as noise localization instruments are rarely found in the development departments of small and medium-sized enterprises. This is not surprising when acquisition costs for such industrial measuring instruments are in the upper five-figure range.
Given these high costs and the necessary expertise, many manufacturers tend to shy away from such investments. And this, to put it mildly, is not always a good idea.
Developers in a Quandary
Companies react very differently to this dilemma: Some hire specialized service providers, while others tackle the challenges themselves through trial and error.
Engineers then formulate hypotheses, suspecting that this or that phenomenon could describe the problem. They work feverishly on it for many months—often without useful results.
In the end, the frustration is great because the actual problem has not been solved. This stems from the fact that departments often have no clarity about what the problem might be. This is where acoustic cameras come in, quickly identifying the source of the problems.
Innovative Visual Representation System
For this reason, the trend towards significantly cheaper mobile camera systems has strengthened in recent years. However, mobile systems with a diameter of only around 30 cm cannot provide acceptable image quality for industrial applications.
“We therefore sought a new, fresher approach to this problem,” emphasizes Thomas Rittenschober, our CEO. “We want to take away companies’ and developers’ hesitation to invest with a different, significantly more effective and affordable approach.”
Since inexpensive systems are too small for the industrially required dimensions for precise application measurements and large systems are too expensive and complicated to operate, a new approach had to be found. So, we asked ourselves:
“How should a system look that provides high image quality for industrial applications, excellent user-friendliness, and mobility at an affordable price?” Essentially a “trilemma” that we were able to solve.
Locate Noise in Few Minutes
Our Sound Scanners are easy-to-use, mobile measurement systems specifically aimed at industrial applications. Noises typically originating from combustion engines, gears, fans, or classic mechanical engineering elements are located and visually represented in the shortest time.
“The trick of our systems is that despite their compact form, they offer sufficient size for professional industrial use,” emphasizes Thomas. “Thanks to extremely reduced hardware that fits into a small suitcase, our system is set up and ready for use by the user in just two to three minutes. Our products can scan large areas—just like the ‘big’ systems.”
The entire operation is carried out via a mobile device, and the processing of the measured data takes place in a high-performance cloud computer. Thus, the user gets a first image showing the localized noises within a very short time.
Another great advantage: The system is not overloaded with many details and setting options, making it very easy to use. Basic training in acoustics is therefore not necessary.
Sound Comes From Elsewhere
Designing enclosures for machining centers is a particularly challenging task for machine builders. Not only must legal limits be met, but an optimal working environment for machine operators must also increasingly be provided.
During the development phase, engineers can be supported by acoustic images to understand and determine sound emissions during a machining process.
“This way, it is possible to develop solutions for machine enclosures that are optimized both in terms of acoustic shielding and cost, because often the sound does not come from where it was originally expected” says Thomas.
This is because, for example, when edge grinding glass plates in glass processing centers, critical excitations from the natural frequencies of the material to be processed can occur.
The sound then does not come only from the place where the grinding takes place, but the glass plate to be processed acts like a loudspeaker, prominently emitting the sound from the opposite edge.