Comprehensive testing is a vital part of our manufacturing process. We invest significant time, money, and effort into our test systems and processes to ensure that all our coils, linear drives, and power supplies are functional, high-quality, and reliable.
How are our power supplies tested?
SFC has created interfaces to test all of our products. The interface connects the device that needs to be tested to the testing tower, enabling a full investigation of the power supply’s ability to function and withstand pressure. This interface includes both testing towers and software that can test our power supplies, regardless of their complexity.
What sorts of tests does SFC perform on its products? We perform various tests on our power supplies. The initial tests are HiPot and EarthBond. We use specialized equipment for these tests to ensure they are carried out smoothly, and the outcomes are recorded and tracked.
HiPot Testing The HiPot test subjects the power supply to high voltages, beyond typical operating levels, to assess its dielectric properties.
EarthBond Testing
The EarthBond test ensures that the probe part of the plug, which should be connected to the power supply’s earth connection, remains securely connected with low resistance. Without a proper earth connection, the device could cause electrical issues or even fires.
Functional and End-of-Line Testing
Depending on the power supply, these tests are conducted using a 3-phase testing tower (3PHT), a 1-phase testing tower (1PHT), or a dedicated test system (LAPS-R Test Tower and LACS Test Tower).
3PHT (3-phase testing tower)
This test uses state-of-the-art equipment designed to test new-generation power supplies. It incorporates four custom-designed towers with integrated safety systems. Our software test engineers continuously develop and refine test sequences to ensure optimal testing processes.
1PHT (1-phase testing tower)
The 1-phase testing tower is specifically designed to test single-phase power supplies, which have lower power requirements. Five testing towers are retrofitted to meet modern power supply standards. As with all our products, this test ensures that customer specifications are met.
Burn-In Testing
Quality assurance is one of our top priorities at SFC, which is why Burn-In testing is so important. We use the National Instruments TestStand and LabVIEW environments to create future-proof, maintainable test systems. By using TestStand and LabVIEW, we ensure that our power supplies are consistent, easily maintained, versatile, and independent of specialized mechanics.
SFC has developed five Burn-In towers capable of testing up to 12 power supplies simultaneously. The ability to conduct so many tests at once significantly increases productivity, helping to keep costs low and deliver products faster.
LAPS-R and LACS Test Tower
For our new generation of platform products, SFC has created dedicated test towers for each power supply. These towers are designed to perform both End-of-Line and Burn-In tests without needing to remove the power supply between tests (for the Burn-In test, a Load Tower is also part of the setup).
SFC’s Load Tower SFC has developed a versatile load tower (five identical towers in total) for use with various power supply during Burn-In testing.
Lifetime Testing
The final test we perform is the Lifetime test. SFC has heavily invested in equipment that outputs reliable data, which is used to ensure product longevity.
What is special about the Lifetime test tower?
This tower is designed to simulate wear on the power supply to identify faults and failure modes under extreme conditions. SFC has created two test setups. The first setup can test up to 10 power supplies simultaneously using one test cabinet, one climatic chamber, and one chiller. The second setup tests 9 power supplies at once using one test cabinet and one climatic chamber.
Want to learn more?
We are dedicated to delivering customer satisfaction and maintaining strong partnerships with our clients and suppliers, which enables us to consistently produce high-quality, high-performance products.
Please contact our team if you’d like to learn more about our test systems or anything else. We look forward to hearing from you!
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