Instrumentation Systems

Measuring, Conditioning, Displaying, Logging, Recording, Computing, Comms, DAQ, Cablking, Transducers, Sensors

Traditional Instrumentation consisted originally of analog systems, like recorders, amplifiers, filters, signal conditioners, oscilloscopes, meters, generators, power supplies, and other forms of instruments and then later added digital analysers.

The revolution in instrumentation happened when computers and microprocessors were introduced as a platform to build instruments inside of, using their programmable environment. This produced is called virtual or hybrid instrumentation.

Inside this frame work these are general known as T&M ( Test and Measurement ), ATE ( Automatic Test Equipment ) DAQ ( Data Acquisition ) and a type developed in MasTec over many years called MB ( machine building ) which is a generic name for all those instrumentation systems that do not fit into traditional methods.

These frameworks or types of applications use all types of technology to create I/O -- from simple RS-232/485 serial devices, GPIB instruments, USB and Ethernet DAQ and a host of internal computer bus devices on ISA, PCI, PCIe, PXI, VXI and other formats now such as wireless.

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External to the I/O systems are signal conditioners for linking real world parameters to the digital world using transducers, gauges and sensors - such as temperature using RTD, TC, Thermistors & Silicon, force and pressure acceleration via strain gauges and LVDTs, encoders for rotary and linear measurement and the list goes on and on. These methodologies have linked almost all physical parameters to signal conditioners, I/O and into instruments or computers to make complex instruments.

Digital computers off considerable advantages to instrumentation, allowing storage of results, sophisicated display, time and frequency domain observation of the inputs etc and also to drive back from the computer using output I/O and signal conditioners to control the parameters for the inputs in some way, called close loop and real time control.

A large part of Instrumentation is software development and many methods have been developed, see below.

If you want us to source a special Instrumentation product for you, just email and we will act as your sourcing agent.