Measuring Shock and Vibration
Analog signal conditioning for accurate shock and vibration measurements
It’s not easy to collect valid data for shock measurements. The measurement system itself may contaminate the spectrally rich data. To avoid clipping, the amplifier must have sufficient gain for in-band signals while leaving headroom for out-band signals. The signal conditioner requires a suitable slew rate to avoid signal distortion on the waveforms’ sharp edges. The low-pass filter characteristics must be thoroughly understood so the filter can faithfully pass signals of interest, attenuate transducer resonances, avoid aliasing—and ultimately collect valid time-domain data.
Precision Filters offers signal conditioners specifically designed to maximize accuracy when measuring shock and vibration. Three amplifiers—the 28144, 28304, and 28608B—all feature a high slew rate, wide bandwidth, and sharp programmable filtering. Gain is distributed before and after the filter, so you can attenuate the resonant frequency of the sensor before amplification of the in-band signal. This optimizes signal-to-noise ratio for pyroshock measurements. Equipped with Precision’s FLAT/PULSE filter technology, these amplifiers provide outstanding response for applications in either the time domain or the frequency domain. REZCOMP™ sensor resonance compensation technology increases sensor bandwidth without affecting rise time.

Using distributed gain to avoid clipping on accelerometer resonance.
Testing for shock is expensive, and you often have just one chance to get it right. Precision Filters builds confidence into your testing with automated tests that verify sensor and cable health. Prefilter overload detection helps to ensure your data is valid.
Amplifiers for Shock and Vibration
Precision Filters’ suite of conditioning cards for shock measurement provides solutions for strain and bridge sensors (28144), charge and IEPE accelerometers (28304) and low-level voltage inputs (28608B).
28144
Strain/Bridge Conditioner

- 4-channels/ card,
64-channels/ system - Excitation: Balanced Constant Current™
or constant voltage - REZCOMP™ technology to extend frequency response of accelerometer, microphone and pressure sensor measurements
28304
Charge/IEPE
Conditioner
w/ LDTEDS™
- 4-channels/ card,
64-channels/ system - Dual mode: IEPE or charge
- REZCOMP™ technology to extend frequency response of accelerometer, microphone and pressure sensor measurements
28608B
Programmable Filter/Amplifier

- 8-channels/ card,
128-channels/ system - Input: balanced differential with AC/DC coupling
28000 Signal Conditioning System
The 28000 System makes it easy to manage a test with up to 256 channels of fully programmable transducer conditioning. Choose a mix of bridge, charge, IEPE w/TEDS, voltage (filter/amplifier), strain, thermocouple, RTD/potentiometer, frequency or other transducers.
- Mix up to 256 channels of fully programmable transducer conditioning
- Choose from 4 or 8-pole programmable filters
- Choice of 4, 8 or 16-slot chassis
- Ethernet network interface
- Automated factory acceptance and go/no-go tests verify system performance
View the 28000 Brochure/Spec Sheet