In principle, all stroboscopes are basically the same – they are very bright, flashing lights normally used to observe action that is too fast to be seen by the unaided eye. When a stroboscope is aimed at a repetitive action and its flash rate is set to the same speed as the action (or some integer submultiple of it), the action appears stopped. It can be easily viewed, analyzed, and even measured, thanks to the stroboscope.
In practice, stroboscopes differ significantly in their characteristics in order to match more exactly the requirements of a wide variety of applications. They also differ from one manufacturer to another in such important aspects as flash quality and reliability, attention to engineering and production details, and applications and service assistance. A properly chosen stroboscope can be an invaluable asset in your application and will undoubtedly reap benefits well in excess of its purchase price.
Since the matter of stroboscope selection is important, we have tabulated a summary of broad application areas with the appropriate strobes and their features. We also have an extensive library on stroboscopy, and we provide free advice and technical assistance. |
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Application | Appropriate GR Strobe | Features Useful in the Application | Education | Strobes help demonstrate certain laws of physics, relations between frequency and wavelentgh, finite velocity of light, effects of combining colors, properties of standing waves, and the laws of gravity. Use a strobe for studies of velocity, acceleration, and energy transfer, or the principles of strobosocopy itself. | Physics lab | 1542 1546 | Low cost, accurate time base, external triggering for stable synchronization. Large digital speed readout for group demonstrations. | Mechanical engineering | 1539-A with1531-P2
1546,1531-AB | Wide-range trigger delay for optimum image positioning, detachable lamp. Accurate calibration enables you to measure rpm. | Electrical engineering | 1531-AB,1546 or
1538 | Accurate calibration -- a must for torque/speed measurements. | Chemistry, biology, psychology, etc. | 1531-AB,
1546 | Accurate calibration for precise speed or time measurements | | Textiles | The high operating speeds in the textile industry make the strobe almost mandatory. Its versatility permits rapid checks on spindle operation, twist loss, travelers and twisters, pattern pickage, dobby head, harness cams and motion, shuttle flight and arm tension, boxing and picking, filling transfer, and pickage in shuttleless looms, let-off and takeup, power-arm operation and adjustment, and condition, meshing and running of gears. |
Water-jet, shuttleless looms, and spinning | 1531,1538, or
1546 | Accuracy for speed or rpm measurements; fast, short flash provides clear image. | | Printing and converting | High-speed printing presses and converters can be checked easily by means of a strobe. Printing registration, ink or glue uniformity, water catch up, and material stretch can all be checked without slowing or stopping the press. The strobe provides equality simple and valuable checks of other printing equipment such as folders, blankers, box-or bag making machinery, creasing and scoring equipment, coaters or laminators, slitters-rewinders, stitchers, as well as doctoring, embossing and perforating equipment. | Inspection slitter-rewinders | 1531-AB with 1531-P2 | Photoelectric trigger capability and delay triggering -- an excellent choice for inspection slitter-rewinders. | | Machine design and maintenance | Stroboscopes can be used to observe the slippage between two shafts or between a motor and belt, to measure motor slip speed in accordance with IEEE 112A and 114, and to study the effects of cavitation on turbine blades or other hydraulic equipment. They can also be used in the design and checkout of production, handling, and packaging equipment or appliances and for studies of automobile wheel, motor, or chassis vibration. | Electro mechanical design | 1539-A with1531-P2 | Photoelectric and wide-range delay triggering for optimum image positioning. | Production inspection | 1531,
1538, or1546 | Accurate calibration provides speed and rpm measurements. | Plant maintenance | 1531,
1538,
1546 or
1542 | Best suited where accurate Flash rates are necessary. More economical where accurate flash rates are unimportant. | | Electrical and electronic fields | Effective shutter speeds some 1000 times faster than mechanical shutters are possible for use of a strobe. Permits detailed examinations of such single-action events as the impact of a bullet, an explosion, glass fracture, destructive tests, and other extremely high-speed phenomena. | Single or multiflash | 1540 with 1540-P4 1539-A with
1532-P2 | Super-bright light, precise camera synchronization. Provides excellent single-flast photos at an economical price. | | Photography and TV | Effective shutter speeds some 1000 times faster than mechanical shutters are possible by use of a strobe. Permits detailed examinations of such single-action events as the impact of a bullet, an explosion, glass fracture, destructive tests, and other extremely high-speed phenomena. | Single or multiflash | 1539-A with1531-P2 | Super- bright light, precise camera synchronization. Provides excellent single-flash photos at an economical price. |
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