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During 1999, Aish were approached by Broadgate
Ltd to develop a protective capsule as part of a Voyage Data
Recorder System.
Aish were asked to develop a protective capsule that would protect a number of
PCBs against the following conditions. Firstly the PCBs would be subjected to
shock and vibrations tests. Then they would experience a drop test
comprising of a 250-kg pin being dropped from a height of 3 mtrs. Then the boards
were exposed to temperature; they first saw a temperature of 260 degrees
celcius for a period of 10 hours and secondly exposed to 1100 degrees celcius for one
hour. Finally and possibly the most harsh condition was to immerse the boards for
a period of 24 hours in seawater at a depth of of 6,000 metres. Not only were the
PCBs to survive these conditions and for data to be read from them in the event
of an incident, we also needed to send and receive signals to the PCBs during normal
operating conditions. As always the usual cost, time, size and weight constraints
were bought into the picture. In short the prototype product needed to be ready
for testing 12 weeks from receipt of contract. Pulling “rabbits out of
hats” is a skill well practised at Aish and with all departments involved
and working together we managed to have the product ready for testing within the 12 week deadline.
Our capsule passes the qualification test with flying colours
and we became the first company the have a type approved protective capsule on
the market. Since that time we have manufactured capsules worth nearly £1.5
million.
We are now involved in the development of the next generation of capsule. This
time the PCBs will have to survive the above test conditions, however
this time we are aiming to produce a capsule that will be half the original cost
and 1/10th of the original weight. |
