PCB Piezotronics debuts miniature MEMS high amplitude 20,000 g shock accelerometers for aerospace & defense and extreme test & measurement applications

The Aerospace & Defense division of PCB Piezotronics (PCB®) has announced the launch of Series 3991 & 3993, a family of MEMS-based, miniature high amplitude 20,000 g shock accelerometers, which are among the industry's smallest.

Series 3991 & 3993 MEMS-based miniature high amplitude shock accelerometers, available in both single axis and triaxial configurations, represent the state-of-the-art for miniature, high-amplitude, DC response acceleration sensors, capable of measuring long duration transient motion, as well as responding to and surviving extremely fast rise times, typical of a high-g shock event. Several configurations are offered to fulfill a variety of installation requirements, with a standard footprint that is a drop-in replacement for competitive models. Each style shares the same air-damped acceleration sensing element, which is micromachined from silicon using the latest advances in etching techniques. This tiny element measures just 2.5 x 1.7 x 0.9 mm (l x w x h) incorporating a seismic mass, protective over range stops, and a full-active, piezoresistive Wheatstone bridge, which provides minimal zero shift, very low power consumption and DC response capability.

Sensors also feature internal stops for large over-shock survivability, and high-strength, low-weight titanium housing, with integral very low-noise integral Kevlar® cable. With 5% damping capability on Model 3991A1020KG, for lower-noise, better data fidelity (cleaner signal) and phase accuracy, quick response, and near-field pyroshock measurement capabilities, models within Series 3991/3993 are intended to fulfill demanding aerospace and defense requirements, as well as a wide assortment of product testing applications. Typical applications include fuze/safe and arm applications; penetrator tests; crash/impact testing; metal-to-metal impacts; drop testing; blast loading of structures; and consumer electronic products testing.

Design concepts for these PCB® sensors were born from more than 20 years of expertise in very high g shock (> 20,000 g) measurement applications and sensor development, with designs developed by one of the world's most renowned experts in this technology.