MTS Material Test Systems - Manual (Page 37)

laboratory personnel, use of an overhead crane, lifting straps or a forklift might be necessary to handle
components or fixtures.
Heat dissipation
To provide adequate heating and air conditioning to the test area for comfortable working conditions and
proper operation of the equipment, the heat dissipation of the hydraulic power equipment, electronics console
and other equipment must be considered.
Heat dissipation for the console and other electronic units can be estimated by summing the heat loss from
the equipment, personnel, and other heat sources such as furnaces. Add 20% additional heat gain to this
figure to allow for future changes in test requirements.
The hydraulic power Unit (HPU) is normally located in a room separate from the test system to reduce heat
and acoustical noise near personnel. Heat dissipation from the HPU is typically about 10% of the motor
horsepower. This heat dissipation is typically compensated for by providing exterior ventilation or cooling. A
40°C (104°F) maximum environment is recommended for the HPU. For specific HPU requirements, refer to
the atmospheric heat and noise rating specifications located in the specification tables found in the HPU
product manual.
Altitude
Operating a system at high altitudes can present additional heat dissipation problems. This type of problem
can require the use of an air-conditioned environment or cooling fans to reduce the heat load. The maximum
allowable operating temperature should be reduced by 1.8°C for each 1000 meters (1°F for each 3280 feet)
above sea level.
The maximum altitude for non-sealed flying-head disk drive systems is normally 2450 meters (8000 feet).
Check the drive manufacturer's product specifications.
Temperature
Room air heating and cooling outlets should be directed so that they spread air uniformly throughout the
room. This will help to prevent changes in specimen characteristics and test data associated with varying
temperatures.
The operating temperature range of the electronic equipment is 10-50°C (50-122°F). This includes most
temperature-sensitive equipment, such as disk drives, which are dependent on cooler air to maintain the
proper height of their read/write heads.
The operating temperature range of the HPU is 10-40°C (50-104°F). Care must be taken to ensure that it is
not placed in a location subject to freezing when water cooling is used. Reservoir heaters and oil-to-air coolers
are available from MTS.
Relative humidity
The recommended control for relative humidity in the test room is a range of 10-85% (non-condensing). The
risk of static discharge, which easily damages logic components and causes loss of data in memory devices,
is increased by low humidity. Excessive humidity can result in electrical leakage currents or component failure.
Acoustics
Some types of testing can produce excessive noise that can cause hearing loss. The use of hearing protection
is recommended for personnel involved in long-term testing in a noisy testing environment.
Acoustical treatment of walls and ceiling might be necessary to prevent harm to personnel. If disk drives are
included in the system, acoustical materials used should not be of a type that generates or collects dust. In
MTS Material Test System Operation 37
5.0 Installation Guidelines