Spirit’s Sean Macdonald is chatting with Marti this week on our Spirit: Behind the Screen podcast about how to determine the electrical testing and ranges you need to run a successful component test program.
Tailor Electrical Tests to Application Requirements
Product applications in aerospace and defense run the gamut from a missile performing for mere seconds to a satellite surviving in low earth orbit for 5 years. The test and qualification needs for parts on these applications vary wildly. That’s why Spirit’s testing services start with an in-depth discussion around what your application is and in which conditions you need your components to perform.
Sean talks about two approaches: the data sheet vs the source control drawing. You may be working from a source control drawing that details tests and ranges you’ve been measuring for years. Or you may be working from a product’s data sheet that offers performance specs, but you need to know if the product can truly perform at the extremes.
“We can screen to that type of depth within each component, but in a lot of cases that tends to be overkill,” says Sean. “It’s a lot more cost and effort and time than what might be required. So our preference is to really engage with the customer and understand exactly what is your mission.”
Understanding Requirements to Drive Efficiency
When working to specs and standards, there can be an “it’s always been done this way” mentality. If your electrical test parameters are chosen just because your workflow has always run that way, you may be running more tests than needed for your specific application.
With the right testing partner, you can find ways to tease out electrical performance in the exact range that you need to eliminate extra cost and shorten your production schedule. Spirit can even produce a custom data sheet and part number to support your unique test flow.
“We certainly understand the amount of time and engineering support and effort and internal cost for our customers to develop these types of data sheets,” says Sean. “We’ll put the technical data sheets and documentation in place for you. Your procurement team just needs to order this dash part number, and that tells us to perform all of the specified screening.”
More Tips in Episode 23!
Listen in to this week’s episode for more insight on how to streamline electrical testing and give your production schedule and budget a boost. And if you’re interested in working on a custom workflow, you can reach out to Spirit for a quote or check out our full offering of test services.