Impact Hammer WaveHitMAX

Impulse Hammer WaveHit^MAX

The invention of the first smart impact hammer provides new ways of mechanical excitation for structural dynamic applications. Smart means that the device processes its signals internally. The modal hammer WaveHit^MAX guarantees fully automatic, reproducible and high-precision excitation of the test object without double hits. The user can set the number of hits, impact force and the delay between hits accounting for different degrees of damping / delay times. All presettings like zero point or impact force search are made automatically by the hammer. Manual adjustment by the user is no longer necessary.

WaveHit^MAX has new features compared to semi-automatic impact hammers. The advantages of internal signal processing are:

Fully automatic single hits
Automatic search for user-defined impact force
Automatic zero point search and new: possibility of manual zero-point setting for low-weight test objects
Validation of the impact for quality assurance
Change of the position between hammer and test object without new setup
NEW: two new operation modes: micro-hit mode and manual mode

The WaveHit^MAX can be operated quickly and easily by the included software on a Windows enabled device (PC or tablet) through the Ethernet.

New Model: Impuls Hammer WaveHit^MAX MK2.

Additional signal output for various applications.

In addition to the features of the new MK1, the WaveHitMax MK2 offers the option of direct voltage output of the force sensor.

The type of signal output can be selected in the new MK2. In addition to the existing internal signal processing and analysing, the direct output of the force sensor's can be selected at the signal output. This feature provides following advantages:

Lower noise level of the measurement signal
Further analyses of the signal on external data recorders (e.g. for FRF calculations, Experimental Modal Analysis or Coherence Calculations)
Possibility of external calibration of the hammer (DAkkS calibration, ILAC)

Impact hammer WaveHit<sup>MAX</sup> hits on a steel plate — Impact hammer WaveHit^MAX hits on a steel plate

Impact hammer WaveHit<sup>MAX</sup> rear view with all connections — Impact hammer WaveHit^MAX rear view with all connections

Impact hammer WaveHit<sup>MAX</sup> is controlled with a remote control — Impact hammer WaveHit^MAX is controlled with a remote control

Impact hammer WaveHit<sup>MAX</sup> is mounted on tripod — Impact hammer WaveHit^MAX is mounted on tripod

WaveHit^MAX
The First SMART Impulse Hammer

It is the tool of choice for:

Production
Modal testing
Acoustic resonance analysis

We guarantee a fully automatic, reproducible and highly precise excitation free of any bouncing and annoying parameter adjustments or tunings. This smart device called WaveHit^MAX does these adjustments for you just automatically.

Control

The user has several options to control the WaveHit^MAX. Depending on whether he wants to operate it connected to a computer or completely autonomous, both is possible.

WaveHit^MAX software for Windows 10 (64 Bit)
Integrated display with keypad
Wired trigger

Masses & Tips

Four different masses and five different tips of the impact hammer WaveHit<sup>MAX</sup> — Four different masses and five different tips of the impact hammer WaveHit^MAX

There are five different tips for the hammer. The tips are made of different materials and have different hardnesses. They influence the excited frequency range accordingly. You can find the exact correlation on our technical page.

Metal (hard)
Plastic (medium)
Rubber (soft)
Rubber (extra soft)

There are also four different additional masses. These are used to apply additional force.

2 g (Ideally suited for low-weight test objects and low forces. For use in micro-hit operation.)
12 g
60 g
100 g (for high-force operations.)

Connections

On the back panel of the WaveHit^MAX are all necessary plugs and connectors. Among others:

M12 trigger input
BNC signal output
Ethernet connection

Force Sensors

Depending on the excitation force, a different force sensor must be used. They cover different force ranges.

uniaxial with a maximum of 2.224 N and 2.25 mV/N
uniaxial with a maximum of 444 N and 11.2 mV/N

SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Available ICP^® force sensors	ICP^® force sensor – 445 N	ICP^® force sensor – 2224 N
Impact force²	15 – 450 N	20 – 2200 N
Sensitivity MK1 (BNC output ADC/DAC) MK2 (BNC output DIR)	20 mN/V 11.24 mV	4 mV/N 2.24 mV/N
Impact pulse width³	≥ 0.80 ms	≥ 0.80 ms
Linearity error	< 1 %	< 1 %

² Determined for the best possible test object and mounting.
³ The pulse width depends on the combination of the selected impact force, the instrumented impact tip and the physical properties of the test object.

Technical Details


BNC output	MK1 ± 10 V, noise floor < 100 mV (1 %)	MK2 ± 10 V, noise floor < 100 mV (1 %) or ± 5 V direct voltage sensor output (DIR)
Impact interval¹	600 ms – 1 h
No. of hits	1 – 1.000.000 or start/stop mode
Operation	via LED display on device or WaveHit GUI
Impact release	via trigger, WaveHit GUI
Attachment	Fastening via prism rail / prism clamp, optional accessories
Connections	Ethernet, trigger, integrated power supply, 240 V AC, signal out

¹The range is limited by the width of the LED display. Usable range larger when using GUI.

Datasheet

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WaveHit^MAX - The world's first SMART impulse hammer.

In this video, we are introducing the WaveHit^MAX by gfai tech GmbH. The invention of the first smart impulse hammer provides new possibilities of mechanical excitation in structural dynamic applications. The WaveHit^MAX guarantees a fully automatic, reproducible and high precision excitation of a test object without any double hits.

Benefits

Automatic zero point search and possibility of manual zero-point setting for low-weight test objects
Reproducible single hit excitation
Internal sensor evaluation and process control
Automatic impact force search and adjustment
Changes in position are automatically anticipated
Configuration of the pulse properties by accessories
Trigger functionality via remote control or integration into the customer system
Designed and assembled in Germany. From the printed circuit board up to the final assembly
CE certified

Applications

Experimental modal analysis
Acoustic resonance testing
Condition monitoring
Material testing
Impact hammer testing
Frequency response function testing

System Integration

Software

Use the WaveHit^MAX within your software. The WaveHit API (Application Programming Interface) for C++ helps you to integrate the full range of functions into your own application with little effort. A MATLAB® interface is coming soon.

Hardware

Use the WaveHit^MAX together with your automation technology. The impulse hammer can be triggered directly via photoelectric sensors or controlled via programmable logic control.

Features

Smart

All presettings like zero point or impact force search are made automatically by the hammer. This makes it the first smart device of structural dynamics.

Single Hit

We guarantee a single hit excitation in almost all environments, positions and materials.

Automated

The WaveHit^MAX finds its excitation point and its excitation force automatically.

Movable

If the test object is on a moving base like a production line or if it has simply been moved by accident, the WaveHit^MAX can easily compensate for this.

Technical

What do I have to consider in order to perform a correct EXCITATION?

For a correct excitation, the following must be ensured:

Excite the frequency range of interest with high amplitude (above the background noise of the sensor)
An amplitude uniformly distributed over the frequency range to be examined
Enough energy must be generated to excite the entire frequency range of interest, but not significantly beyond. The force must not drop more than 20 dB in the excited frequency range to get a sufficient energy input.
It must be ensured that enough force is induced into the structure to excite the modes of the structures.

A correct excitation should have the following course over the frequency range to be examined:

When do I use which hammer tip for excitation?

The general idea is that resonant frequencies can be more easily identified by applying the same force level over the entire frequency range.

The width of the input force is controlled by the duration of the shock pulse. However, the shorter the duration of the impulse, the wider the frequency range response.

To controll the input force frequency range, you can change the hammer tip in two ways:

Hammer mass – Reducing the mass of the hammer tip causes the hammer to touch the structure for a shorter time. Because the reduced mass allows the hammer to reverse direction more easily after hitting the structure, thus reducing the contact time.
Hammer tip stiffness – Increasing the stiffness of the tip also allows the hammer to shorten the time of contact. For example, a rubber tip could be replaced with a metal tip.

A hard tip has a very short pulse and excites a wide range of frequencies. Whereas a soft tip has a long pulse and excites a narrow frequency range. But the hammer tip itself does not completely determine the excited frequency range. The local flexibility of the structure must also be taken into account.

Generally applies: The lighter the hammer and the stiffer the tip, the higher the excited frequency range.

Choice of tips:

How do I recognize a doublel-hit excitation?

A double hit excitation can often be detected in the time domain as well as in the frequency domain.

If a second peak occurs in the time domain, this is an obvious evidence for a double hit excitation.

If this is not the case, it is possible that the second peak is just too small or too close to the first peak. In this case, the double hit excitation can be detected in the frequency domain.

It shows one of the following significant forms: