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Me Lab 1 Experiment

This document describes an experiment to measure rotation speed using a tachometer. The objectives are to demonstrate tachometer measurement and develop professional work skills. It discusses how tachometers work by detecting light pulses from a rotating object to measure revolutions per minute. The procedure involves aiming the tachometer laser at rotating parts like fans or motors, triggering it to take readings over multiple trials, and averaging the results. Materials needed are a tachometer and rotating objects.

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ErikShun
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848 views

Me Lab 1 Experiment

This document describes an experiment to measure rotation speed using a tachometer. The objectives are to demonstrate tachometer measurement and develop professional work skills. It discusses how tachometers work by detecting light pulses from a rotating object to measure revolutions per minute. The procedure involves aiming the tachometer laser at rotating parts like fans or motors, triggering it to take readings over multiple trials, and averaging the results. Materials needed are a tachometer and rotating objects.

Uploaded by

ErikShun
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiment No.

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Tachometer Measurement
Course Code: ________________________________ Program: ________________________
Course Title: ________________________________ Date Performed: ________________________
Section: ________________________________ Date Submitted: ________________________
Members: ________________________________ Instructor: ________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________

Objectives:

This activity aims to demonstrate the measurement of rotation speed using the tachometer.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) :

The student should be able:

 Measure the rotation speed of a shaft, or disk, as in a motor or other machines using the tachometer.
 Develop professional work ethics, including precision, neatness, safety and ability to follow instructions.

Discussion:

A tachometer (revolution-counter, tach, rev-counter, RPM gauge) is an instrument measuring the rotation speed of
a shaftor disk, as in a motor or other machine. The device usually displays the revolutions per minute (RPM) on a
calibrated analogue dial, but digital displays are increasingly common. The word comes from Greek (tachos "speed")
and metron("measure"). Essentially the words tachometer and speedometer have identical meaning, a device that
measures speed. It is by arbitrary convention that in the automotive world one is used for engine and the other for vehicle
speed. In formal engineering nomenclature, more precise terms are used to distinguish the two.
The first mechanical tachometers were based on measuring the centrifugal force, similar to the operation of a centrifugal
governor. The inventor is assumed to be the German engineer Dietrich Uhlhorn; he used it for measuring the speed of
machines in 1817. Since 1840, it has been used to measure the speed of locomotives.

Every now and again we come upon the need to know the “speed” of something. In the electro-mechanical field we
usually want to know the Revolutions per unit of time, usually in minutes; which gives us the term; RPM or Revolutions
per Minute. At real slow speeds we can put a mark on the shaft and count the marks for a minute. Simple enough but
above 60/sec it can get real tedious to count. The advent of the LASER/LED Photo Tachometers the need for speed
became much easier. Basic aim, press the trigger, hold for a few seconds and read the display, but here again there are
a few basic things to understand about LASER Tachometer operation. They are a light source, light detector, a counter
and an accurate time gate. The LASER/LED provides a light source, the detector receives the reflected light and the time
gate enables the counter for a precise amount of time. How we get these light pulses back to the detector can be a
challenge. If the moving surface is too uniform in contrast and reflectance, we get no pulse to count, so we need to make
part of shaft a non-reflecting, or contrasting surface. If the shaft is readily available say sitting on the bench, you just color
part of the shaft an even, contrasting color. We use a black marker to color half or more of the shaft. Now we have an
On/Off reflectance of the LASER/LED light that can be counted. As long as you can get a uniform reflectance sequence,
the LASER Tachometer will read it. With a small Axial fan, we just stick a piece of aluminum foil on the edge of the
rotating motor hub. If the hub is not reachable then stick foil to a blade. Sometimes sticking something is not possible, so
then we put something reflective or contrasting behind the blades. We just divide the displayed RPM by the number of
blades.

Be sure that you have enough contrasting surface so that most of the light spot from the LASER Tachometer is within the
area of the contrasting mark(s) or space on the rotating part. Be sure the light beam is at its most focused point on the
rotating object. With most of today’s economical LASER Tachometers this focus distance is around 6-12 inches.
Remember that the LASER/LED Photo tachometer must be able to “See” the rotating object. It can’t read through a
opaque cover or around a corner! Flickering ambient AC Powered lights can have an affect so less interfering light the
better.
Materials and Equipment:

 Tachometer
 A rotating fan, motor, or blades

Procedure:

 Check the tachometer to make sure it is working.


 Aim for the rotating parts that you will measure.
 Press the trigger of tachometer, and hold for a few seconds and read the display, make sure that the laser is
pointing to the parts that needed to be read.
 Repeat reading speed in different materials.

Data and Result:

Materials Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average


Computation:

Conclusion and Recommendations:

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