Thermotron Presents at 2011 IEEE Accelerated Stress Test & Reliability Workshop
Reveals Patented EXTREME AST Invention With Compelling Case Study

HOLLAND, MI, October 27, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Thermotron made a presentation on its patented EXTREME AST innovation at this year's IEEE Accelerated Stress Test & Reliability Workshop held September 27-30 in San Francisco, California. The ASTR Workshop is an annual gathering of the world's finest reliability engineers with focus on accelerated stress testing techniques. The presentation by Clint Peterson, VP of Engineering at Thermotron, began with an overview of the company's patent and its pertinent claims followed by a description of the advantages of the invention. Video footage of four distinct modes of repetitive shock vibration were then shown to the audience: High Frequency Mode, Low Frequency Mode, Synchronized Shock Mode and Programmable Synchronized Shock Profiling.

Mr. Peterson described the benefits of EXTREME AST vibration. Among the most favorable characteristics of the invention are:

Acceleration exceeding 100 Grms
Shock acceleration exceeding 1,500 Gpk applied in six axes simultaneously
Significant displacement in all directions
Greater energy content at lower frequencies
Improved consistency and repeatability
50% decrease in compressed air consumption
Range of operation from less than 1 Grms to greater than 100 Grms

A case study was presented by Steve Laya from Elite Electronic Engineering, an independent third party test lab. The case study concluded that the EXTREME AST vibration system has the additional performance capabilities to find failures where traditional HALT methods did not. Elite also concluded that the machine found failures more quickly using the Synchronized Shock test mode.

Thermotron is a leading manufacturer of HALT & HASS systems for Accelerated Stress Testing. The EXTREME AST system from Thermotron provides superior performance and begins to pave the way for future test methods that may alter the way the HALT & HASS industry defines accelerated stress testing. With complete and independent control of the frequency and amplitude of each impactor the shape of the vibration profile can be configured in different ways. The dual strike impactor makes contact in the upward direction and the downward direction. Some of the benefits of this dual strike action are:

Increased number of high force impacts
Increased fatigue and shorter time to failure
Higher levels of table motion and displacement

About Thermotron

For over 50 years, Thermotron has been developing and refining environmental chamber solutions that set industry standards. Our broad range of products covers a multitude of environmental stresses that are capable of simulating single or multiple environmental use conditions in a variety of testing programs. Our work is defined by high quality, high reliability products and a direct, dedicated service and support network.
For more information on Thermotron's environmental test and instrumentation solutions, please contact us at:

Thermotron
291 Kollen Park Drive
Holland, Michigan 49423 USA
(616) 393-4580 - phone
(616) 392-5643 - fax
www.thermotron.com
info@thermotron.com

Press Release Contact Information:

Kevin Ewing
Thermotron
Mkt Mgr
291 Kollen Park Drive
Holland, Michigan
USA 49423
Voice: 6163934580
Fax: 6163925643
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