As Part of the Electronic Design Process?
Environmental testing is an important part of the electronic design process. This type of testing ensures that your product will work as intended in a variety of different environments in the real world.
There are different types of environmental tests, and each one is designed to test a specific aspect of your product’s performance. In this blog post, we will discuss the most common types of environmental tests and how they are used in the electronic design process.
What is the Electronic Design Process?
Before we discuss the different types of environmental tests, it is important to understand the electronic design process. This refers to the steps a product must go through before it can be manufactured and sold on the market. The goal of this process is to make sure that your product meets all necessary safety requirements, as well as any desired performance standards.
The first step of the electronic design process is the concept development phase. During this stage, engineers will create a concept for your product, and determine what materials and components should be used. This may include research into specific regulations or standards that must be met in order to have a successful product. Once this phase is complete, it is time to move on to the next step: prototyping.
During the prototyping phase, a model of your product is created in order to test its performance and durability. This may involve 3D printing a prototype or constructing it with electronic components. Once this is done, it is time to begin environmental testing.
Why Environmental Testing is Important
Environmental testing is essential for the electronic design process. This type of testing helps ensure that your product will be able to perform as expected when exposed to different environmental conditions, such as temperature extremes and humidity levels. Additionally, environmental testing can help identify possible problems with the design before it goes into mass production.
By performing environmental tests, designers and engineers can identify any issues that may arise during the product’s lifetime. This allows them to make necessary changes and improvements to the design before it goes into production.
The Impact of Environmental Conditions on Electronic Equipment
It is important to remember that environmental conditions can have a major impact on the performance and lifespan of electronic equipment. Temperature extremes, humidity levels and exposure to corrosive chemicals can all affect how a product operates. By performing environmental testing during the design process, designers and engineers can make sure their products will be able to perform as expected no matter what conditions they are exposed to.
Ultimately, environmental testing is key in ensuring the successful design and deployment of any electronic product. Performing these tests during the design process gives you peace of mind that your product will perform as expected in the environment it is exposed to.
Factors to Consider During Environmental Testing
When performing environmental tests, there are a few key factors that need to be taken into consideration.
First, the test should be designed to simulate the most extreme conditions that the product could potentially be exposed to. It is also important to use test equipment and materials that have been certified for accuracy, as this will give you more reliable results.
Additionally, it is important to ensure that the tests are being conducted in a controlled environment, as this will help to eliminate any potential variables that could affect the results.
Finally, it is essential to analyse any data collected during the test and use it to improve upon your product design. This can include making adjustments to components or materials used in order to increase the product’s performance and durability.
Types of Environmental Tests
There are a variety of different types of environmental tests that can be performed in order to ensure your product will perform as expected. The most common types of tests include:
Temperature testing
This test is designed to check how your product will perform in extreme temperatures. It can also be used to identify any problems with components that could become brittle in cold or hot conditions.
Humidity testing
Humidity testing ensures that the design and materials used in your product are able to withstand humid conditions without becoming damaged. It is often used to check the effectiveness of waterproofing materials or insulated components.
Shock and vibration testing
Shock and vibration testing can be used to identify any weak points in your product’s design, as well as ensure that it can withstand sudden impacts or vibrations.
Salt spray testing
Salt spray testing is used to check the corrosion resistance of your product. This type of test can be used to ensure that components and materials are able to last through harsh conditions, such as exposure to salt water or acidic chemicals.
Altitude testing
Altitude testing simulates how your product will perform at different altitudes and in varying atmospheric pressures. This type of test is often used for products that will be exposed to extreme altitudes, such as aircraft or satellites.
By performing these types of tests during the electronic design process, designers and engineers can ensure their product will meet all safety requirements while also meeting any desired performance standards.
DSL and Environmental Testing
At DSL we have onsite environmental testing facilities at our headquarters in Letchworth Garden City. We’ve put significant investment into this for two reasons:
- Having our own onsite facilities expedites the testing and certification phase of our customers’ projects.
- We are able to offer the equipment in our environmental testing facilities free of charge to our customers to use for their own testing purposes.
Here’s what our facilities can do for you:
Environmental temperature chamber
Environmental chambers are an essential piece of equipment for any business that needs to test products under a variety of temperature conditions. DSL’s environmental chamber is state-of-the-art, and can simulate a wide range of temperatures, from low extremes to high extremes.
Customers can take advantage of this chamber for their own testing and product development purposes free of charge. This saves the time and expense of renting similar equipment from a rental company. The chamber is also available for hire to other businesses on a commercial basis.
Thermal imaging gun
At DSL, we understand that the success of your business depends on the quality of your product. That’s why we continue to invest in the latest design tools to improve our capabilities as electronic designers.
Our thermal imaging gun enables us to thoroughly analyse prototypes, producing heat maps that facilitate our guarantees of extended temperature operation and highlight specific areas that require specific (passive) cooling to stay within component specification.
By utilising the latest technology, we can ensure that your product is designed to the highest standards and will meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
Operating system imaging
DSL offers a free service to clients whereby they can prepare a storage medium with their desired operating system and configuration. This storage medium is then returned to DSL, where a master copy is made. This master copy can be pre-installed on every production unit that the client orders from DSL, which saves time and effort in the software installation process.
Electronic recycling
At DSL, we take our environmental obligations seriously. That’s why we offer a free electronics recycling scheme for our customers who don’t have a scheme in place themselves. This is just another way we make life easier for our valued customers. We know that recycling electronic waste can be difficult and time-consuming, so we’re happy to help out.
As you can see, at DSL, we understand that environmental testing is an important part of the electronic design process and we aim to make it as convenient and cost effective as possible for our customers. Give us a call on 01462 675 530 today to discuss your next project and how we can help.