Newsletter April 2016

RATCHET+WRENCH: PicoDiagnostics NVH Kit

Anna Zeck from RATCHET+WRENCH has written a small article starring Matt Fanslow (of Riverside Automotive, a 10,000-square-foot shop in Red Wing, Minnesota), on the PicoDiagnostics NVH kit. You can read more about the NVH kit, read other reviews and of course find the link to the RATCHET+WRENCH article on our NVH review page.

Review competition - The results are in

To support our new product Review system we asked you to tell us what you think of our products. Our competition came to a close in April, and the results are in. In what is quite possibly our biggest ever selection of prizes, the entries came in thick and fast. Without further ado...

With 9 prizes to give away, here are the results: 1 prize of a 4-Channel Standard Kit, worth £1545 Winner: Jonathan Leonard 3 prizes with the choice of: PicoScope 4-Channel scope, worth £799 PicoDiagnostics 4-axis NVH kit, worth £699 PicoScope WPS500X Pressure Transducer kit, worth £699 Winners: Jerry Smith, Tom Godfrey, Elijah Sumner 5 prizes of a Coil-on-plug and Signal probe, worth £109 each Winners: Ahti Hinnov, Robert Burgy, Mark Stammers, Michael John Eilbracht, Steve Ashcroft We'll be in touch with each of you regarding your prizes, and we are already thinking about our next competition. Thanks to all who took part!

From the forum: Optical Sensor Kit demo

Recently Belet, a user on our support forum, made the following post:

The Optical Sensor Kit includes a new way that teaches you how to balance the propshaft. It's advanced. But I find neither cases nor videos that demonstrate how it works. Can any one share some demonstrations with me?

Pico Technology's Steve Smith responded, and we hope it will help any of out there you who may struggle with this test:

I have attached a step-by-step guide to balancing the propshaft using the hose clamp method. A couple of tips when balancing propshafts:

• This procedure would be carried out after discovering a high P1 (propshaft first order vibration) result when measuring vibration using the NVH software. High P2 levels are not caused by balance issues.
• Ensure propshaft joint angle and alignment are correct.
• Ensure propshaft run-out is correct (there may not be a spec for this value and so a comparison will be required).
• Remove road wheels when balancing but re-install road wheel studs (beware of wheel stud length when refitted with road wheels removed).
• Simulate vehicle ride height and posture as it would be on the road whilst on the lift.

I hope this will help clear up some of the mystery that surrounds this procedure.

To view the post, and indeed access the step-by-step guide to balancing the propshaft when using the hose clamp method, please view the thread on our automotive forum.

Careers at Pico Technology

Pico Technology is an exciting and innovative leader in the design of PC-based oscilloscopes and data acquisition technology. Our products include PC oscilloscopes, data loggers and automotive diagnostic equipment.

At Pico we believe that employing the right people is more important than fulfilling any specific vacancy, so if the right people are interested in working for us we will consider applications. We are particularly interested in applicants with a technical software background or experience of test equipment design.

If you want to be part of a growing company at the leading edge of test equipment design, why not take look at our pico.jobs web page and see what we have to offer? We look forward to hearing from you.

Training

We have a collection of some of the best material for new users to refer to when learning how to use their Automotive PicoScope. To view this content please visit the training section of our website.

For a list of Pico endorsed trainers, please visit the UK or US trainers page.