Silicon Designs, Inc.

G-Logger_TM -- Shock, Vibration & Shipping Recorders

The G-Logger_TM system was originally designed as a vibration monitor for NASA and the Space Shuttle Program.  It provides portable, light weight, and easy to use Acceleration and Temperature acquisition for a variety of applications.  As a shipping recorder, the G-Logger_TM can be used to provide time and date stamped evidence of physical mishandling or temperature fluctuations of cargo in transit.  Attached to equipment, it can collect acceleration data for vibration or shock analysis.  Its compact size is ideal for use in experimental applications, crash testing, or to provide data for complex motion analysis.  Each unit provides up to three axes of sensitivity for acquiring, storing and analyzing AC/DC acceleration, AC velocity , shock, vibration, and temperature data.  Self-contained and sealed from the weather, individual units can operate unattended for up to three weeks on two D-cell alkaline batteries.

The G-Logger_TM is easily programmed through a serial link to your PC or notebook computer running Windows 95/98/NT4.0/2000 and can be set to record continuously, at set intervals, or in a variety of event triggered scenarios.  Once programmed, the unit can be disconnected and securely bolted in place to provide hands free, unattended, data acquisition for the length of the desired mission.  The availability of an external power source (5-18 V DC) extends mission life indefinitely within the memory restrictions of the desired program.  When active, the G-Logger_TM stores up to four million samples of acceleration and temperature data in non-volatile flash memory.  Efficient use of this memory is made by preprocessing the data to include only the information of interest before being stored.   The unit can store sampled, peak or RMS acceleration or velocity at a rate of from 1 to 4000 samples per second over various intervals or set trigger conditions.  Upon completion of the mission, the data is down-loaded via the serial connection to your PC or notebook for display and analysis.

Both models come complete with an RS-232 interface cable and the G-Logger_TM Software Program.  No data acquisition card is needed because all communication is handled via the RS-232 COM port on your PC.  The G-Logger_TM Software program is meant to be used in conjunction with the optional EasyPlot data graphing and plotting program.  We recommend this software option because of its low cost and our G-Logger_TM Software program contains a “PLOT” button which provides a direct call to EasyPlot with automatic formatting and scaling of your plot.  In addition, EasyPlot has general math, FFT and integration functions for post collection analysis of your data.  Visit www.spiralsoftware.com for more information on EasyPlot.  Should you already own or choose to provide your own plotting software, the G-Logger_TM Software Program can be set to output the data in an ASCII comma delimited format which is readable by most data graphing software packages.

The original model 3310 is an entirely self contained unit which includes an internal 3-axis accelerometer module and a temperature sensor.  Its weather tight 3.5 x 4.5 x 2.2 inch case is constructed of die cast aluminum and weighs 29 oz including 2 D-cell batteries.  It can be bolted down via two #8 screws without compromising the weather seal.

The model 3320 is built around the same weather tight case as the 3310 and has the same internal temperature sensor, electronics and program interface.  The internal 3-axis accelerometer module however, is replaced with an connector which can be used to attach a variety of external accelerometer combinations.  The 3320 is designed to be used with either one model 2420 triaxial accelerometer or up to 3 model 2010 single axis accelerometers.  These small and light weight acceleration modules can be used in applications where the physical surface(s) to be monitored would not support the size and weight of the self-contained model 3310.  If model 2010 accelerometers are to be used, a model 3901 (tri-Y) Adapter Cable is also required which allows the individual 2010’s to be separated by up to 6’ from each other.  The 3320 also includes a 10’ extension cable which can be inserted between the model 3320 G-Logger_TM and either a model 2420 Triax or a model  3901/2210 combination.  

Please see the model 3310 or 3320 Data Sheets for Operational Specifications, or contact Support@SiliconDesigns.com with specific questions.