Zhang Zhongkai and Qi Jiayun from JLPP went to Dalian University of Technology for the installation, delivery and test of the micro-Newton level elastic thrust measurement system. The work included the installation of the vacuum system of the elastic thrust stand, electrical signal measurement and processing, etc. The elastic thrust frame is capable of responding to the thrust of the μCAT, using open-loop and closed-loop control method to generate an electromagnetic feedback force equal to the magnitude of the thrust, and a circuit unit to extract the signal and calculate the magnitude of the thrust of the μCAT. The installation process lasted for about a working day, and the calibration results on the same day showed stable thrust stand performance, accurate transmission values and precise measurement values, which finally completed the testing task successfully. Both sides exchanged views on common concerns such as thrust stand working status, working characteristics, working mode and stability of the thrust measurement stand.

After this trip, we will optimize the measurement system for the potential problems and hidden dangers exposed during the test, and improve the thrust measurement system in further work to make it more stable and accurate to ensure the μCAT measurement process is accurate and reliable. We would like to thank Doctor Sun Bin, Mr Zhang Yue and the test team of Dalian University of Technology for their support during the testing process.

Zhongkai Zhang and Jiayun Qi at DUT

The thrust stand made by JLPP for DUT

Article: Ruojian Pan

Photo: Zhongkai Zhang