Fluke’s 421D Laser Distance Meter

The Fluke Corporation is one of the leading brands in test equipments, and for decades it has continued to strengthen its credibility and reputation as one of the best creators of testing gears in the world.

Just recently, Fluke Corporation introduced its “most advanced and capable distance measurement device”, the new 421D laser distance meter which measures a distance of up to 100m. Its measurement is said to be more accurate that those devices that uses ultrasonic technology, because its narrow laser beam inhibits reflection of objects that are not targeted, thus ensuring a more accurate readings.

It is IP54 rated for resistance to water spray and dust and are can withstand even a 4ft (1.2m) drop. It conveniently automatically records the last 20 measurements for quick recall. Aside from that, it is designed with an audible feedback for taking room angle and incremental measurements. It also has a +/-45-degree tilt sensor and a superior Pythagoras calculation which enables it to take indirect measurements in hard-to-reach areas, to the user’s expediency. The interface allows the user to adjust measurements and promptly determine area and volume, by pressing the right buttons which are positioned for a one-hand operation. It can do up to 5,000 readings from just a pair of AAA batteries, and it is also equipped with an automatic shut-off feature.

This instrument is not all beauty and extra decorations. Investing into such a device can mean significant capital savings and even a boost to your productivity with its time efficiency, precision and convenience.

Keep your Industrial Business Safe Test Equipments

Most of us entwine our lives with the comfort and ease brought about by modern gadgets, and industrial and manufacturing business have also taken advantage of the efficiency of the modern machineries and facilities. On the other hand, technicians and inventors have also created items that could blunt the negative side of the two-edged sword of technology. They have come up with the creation of test equipments that reduces the possibility of tragic accidents caused by innocent usage of malfunctioning machineries or defective devices.

There are three ways to acquire these test equipments for your own use: Option 1, purchase brand new equipments; Option 2, buy them secondhand or used on; or Option 3, just rent them from a credible rental company. The latter option is slowly becoming more and more popular choice, obviously because it cost lower, and also because of some extra perks in the rental deals such as having free technical support. However, there are still a lot who would want to have their test equipments for keeps.

Between Options 1 and 2, the second one is still the preferred one. Many people would find their budgets short to buy brand new equipments, which is not very surprising actually, considering how expensive these things can get. In today’s time people consider buying used equipments the more practical choice. This is why lot of test equipment businesses are now also selling or auctioning used test equipments, even though their original business is selling the brand new ones. There are also some companies that provide all three options to their customers.

The important thing actually is not the acquisition of test equipments itself. It’s actually conducting test on your machineries and equipments to guarantee your business’ safety against possible industrial accidents.

Four Pointers on Buying Secondhand Test Equipments

Test equipments are vital for the maintenance of a productive and highly efficient machineries and gears, and businessmen know this. To acquire the appropriate equipments the head of a manufacturing company may choose over buying a brand new one, or to purchase second-hand equipment.

Most companies would prefer the second one over the first option, simply because it gives more opportunity for the budget. The only risk to be avoided in shopping for secondhand equipments is purchasing defective equipments and those which their life spans are considerably shortened. Acquiring equipments that are way past its best, or those which are decent, but not for very long would be equivalent to being “ripped off”. So here are a few pointers to guide you when shopping for test equipments (some tips would apply to buying secondhand gadgets too).

1. Decide on what you really need, and even what you want. This means determining what test equipment your machines actually need, and would also include deciding whether to get the latest or the more complicated and sophisticated version available (still secondhand, obviously), or to stay with the simpler, less complex ones.

2. Check out a lot of companies selling secondhand test equipments (you can shop online to save time, effort and gas). See if they have what you want, and check out their reputation as secondhand test equipments provider. No, it doesn’t entail hiring a detective or something, just checking the feedbacks from past customers would do the trick. You may also listen to recommendations made by people you know. See if they have the instruments you need.

3. Proceed to comparing prices. The reason you are buying secondhand equipments is clearly so that you can make the most of your funds. This strategy helps you find which company provides the best deal.

4. When considering the prices, also take into account the services they provide. Between the choices of a company who will give you the equipment and a short-time warranty for a certain price, and another company that provides free technical support and a longer warranty at a slightly higher price, you might want to choose the second one to get a better deal. But if you are not concerned so much with the warranty and the free service than the price, then you can go with the first choice.

Getting secondhand test equipments is not that bad if you get a good deal out of the limited fund you have. But if you want to optimize your opportunities with your capital, another option you can take is to try test equipment rental. A lot of gears are now available for rent, and some companies such as TechRentals are even providing the latest technologies, at very reasonable rental costs.

Automated Test Equipments

The birth of gadgets and technological devices has relieved us from the ultimately hard labors that the people of our distant past had to endure. True, the literal meaning of the statement “sweat and blood builds the most amazing fortresses” is applicable to the creation of some of the most famous landmarks we see today such as the Pyramids of Egypt, but with the help of our advancement in technology we had discovered how to create things that would have been impossible in the past centuries. We wouldn’t have the easy comforts of using appliances and other machines

Yes, we live what we can consider a “good life” because of the electric gadgets. And to assure that these gadgets would actually work and to avoid accidents that can be encountered when dealing with electric materials it is no longer a trend to rely on luck, but we assure ourselves by checking their reliability with appropriate test equipments. The most common devices used for PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) are backplane testers, battery testers, burn-in test equipments and automated ones.

Although it is probably the most costly of all of these testers, the automated test equipment is the most sophisticated, and probably the most labor-efficient especially when there is a need to mass-produce industrial units, considering that it requires the least manpower. With automated test equipment, computers are used to program the device so that it would be able to check and measure apparatuses such as printed circuit boards, integrated circuits and other related contraptions. Automated test equipment can be very complex machineries such as a flying-probe tester, although there are also simple ones, such as the digital multi-meter.

With the expensive cost of automated testing equipments, it might be impractical for starters to purchase one. However, there are rental companies who provide not only the equipment but also the technical support needed for it. Renting the devices needed is an emerging trend today, and this proves to be good investment for business of all sizes too. Aside from the cost you cut from the budget for the purchase of the item you need, it also conveniently saves you from collecting technologically obsolete mechanisms.