Understanding Scan Speed vs. Processing Speed on Force Gauges

Understanding Scan Speed vs. Processing Speed on Force Gauges
When making an investment in force gauges, it’s critical to examine the measurement variables and properties of each unit. Different manufacturers will tout specific features and capabilities over others, catering to the demands of different applications and industries.
One of the most important features to examine is the capturing potential of a force gauge. Unfortunately, this is also where the vetting process for determining the efficacy of units becomes muddled. The problem rests in understanding the clarification of scan speed versus processing speed.

Realizing peak capturing capability
Scan speed and processing speed are not the same. Nevertheless, many force gauge manufacturers will present them in a similar light. In fact, some misleadingly claim Analog-to-Digital converter (A/D converter) scanning speed as the peak capturing capability of their force gauges. This is incorrect.
It’s not the scanning rate that makes a better force gauge, however: it’s the processing speed. More specifically, it’s the propriety circuit and processing software that make a good, reliable force gauge—one that captures true repeatable peak value. True peak data must not be an undesirable noise value, but rather a repeatable, desirable value.

What’s a true high-speed force gauge?
Force gauges that are advertised as “high-speed” require the most skeptical vetting when it comes to scan and processing speeds. Often, it’s these units that incorrectly tout scan rate in place of processing speed, perpetuating confusion. As an example: a force gauge that offers a 5K Hertz scanning rate, yet processes less than 50 data per second, is not a high-speed force gauge.

Though scanning rate is an important variable, it’s not one used to qualify speed. Imada, focuses on providing only the most reliable high-speed force gauges, without touting a false, meaningless scanning rate to do so.
At Imada, we define “high-speed” differently than the competition: by leveraging incredibly powerful processing capabilities. Our force gauges utilize force recorder software to capture 2000 data per second and generate a smooth force profile graph with statistics and zooming capability to each individual data point of 0.5 ms intervals.

Buyer beware of misinformation
When looking for optimal performance from your force gauge, take into account processing speed first and foremost. Be wary of units that tout exemplary scan rates as “high-speed” and instead, think critically about the viability of a high sampling rate when it comes to capturing peak force data during testing. This data needs to be captured in milliseconds, making processing speed the number one variable of importance.
For access to high-speed gauges, backed by top-tier performance, view Imada’s entire line of destructive and non-destructive force testers.