BEMCO Environmental Test Chambers

BEMCO Environmental Test Chambers are pieces of equipment that perform scientific testing of a device under a variety of stresses and environmental conditions. These devices are able to simulate environments with extreme temperatures, humidity levels, altitude, radiation, wind, bacteria, dust and chemical exposure. Manufacturers from a variety of industries perform environmental testing including those in the car, aeroplane, computer and communications industries.

Environmental testing is carried out for multiple reasons. From reducing product development time to reducing warranty costs, environmental testing is crucial. For many manufacturers there is a concern about legal liability should someone become injured through use of the product. Environmental testing allows the manufacturer to encounter and repair any potential issues before injuries occur. Another reason manufacturers participate in environmental testing is to make sure that their product does not fail during use. At some point in its life, almost all products are subject to the stresses of vibration and temperature changes and a well-design product needs to be able to operate appropriately when subjected to these stresses. However, the gains to be gained by environmental testing are not limited to evaluating a products function and performance, but also to protect a company’s reputation. Environmental testing gives the manufacturer quality assurance that their product is ready to be put on the market. It also allows them to see how their product will withstand the storage and shipping conditions that it will encounter. Environmental testing allows manufacturers to ensure their product will work perfectly under all conditions it may be exposed to over its lifetime.

Selecting an environmental test chamber

Determining the best environmental test chamber for a test application requires great care and research. With many types and styles of environmental test chambersit is important to exactly determine what features and benefits are required for a successful project. Chamber manufactures and trade magazines offer great insight into how to choose the right environmental test chamber for the job. Evaluation Engineering magazine offers a good article on how to select the right chamber.

One of the most important issues when choosing test equipment is the physical and thermal definition of the unit under test (UUT). Environmental test chamber manufacturers need this description to calculate if the test requirements require a standard environmental test chamber or if custom designed equipment is required. This description includes the dimensions, weight, orientation, quanity, surface area, live load and average specifi heat of the UUT during the testing procedure. The mounting of the UUT should also be defined.

Weight is necessary to calculate the size of the equipment and to ensure the UUT and chamber temperature and time response are adequate for test procedure. With the orientation, quantity and dimensions, the person who designs the test chamber can optimize the workspace. Specific heat of the material determines the amount of thermal energy that must be removed or added to during temperature changes. Finally the live load of UUT provides the amount of steady-state power consumed and dissipated if the product is powered during the test.

Fixturing is a system of mounting the product that is used in instances where the UUT requires power, bias, switching or monitoring during the test. Often, special fixturing needs to be designed when the product is connected to remote power supplies, monitors or other types of operations or diagnostic equipment. A fi

Different types of environmental test chambers

The environmental testing industry offers many types of test chambers ranging from small table top style chambers to chambers as large as a room. The test application and product loading requirements will primarily determine the type of chamber needed.

BEMCO Benchtop Chambers

Benchtop chambers are the smallest size of environmental test chamber typically ranging from 0.5 cubic foot to 5.5 cubic feet. Designed to provide a compact chamber for testing small components and products, benchtop chambers are able to create a full range of temperature and sometimes humidity conditions. Benchtop chambers are great for testing small products, sub-assemblies and components in laboratories with limited space.

BEMCO Upright or Reach-In Chambers

Upright or reach-in chambers are another popular chamber configuration on the market today. These chambers can range from 4 to 70 cubic feet or larger and are able to simulate almost any environment. Temperature, humidity, altitude, rain, solar and vibration are just some of the environments that can be produced by an upright or reach-in chamber.

BEMCO Walk-In Chambers

Walk-in chambers are environmentally conditioned rooms ranging in size from those big enought to walk into or those large enough to drive into. They can be used to test large components, assemblies and finished products,copiers and automobiles to computers and satellites throughout a broad range of temperature and humidity environments. Walk-ins can also be used as a laboratory environment for conducting test procedures in food processing, pharmaceutical, and scientific applications.walk-in chambers can be build for almost any application where size is an issue.

There are two major types of walk-in chambers constructions: modular and welded. A modular or panel walk-in is made from pre-fabricated panels. This type of walk-in is made for fast and simple

Environmental test chambers and environmental testing allow organizations to design and manufacture products that are more reliable and safer for their intended end use. It also saves money and time as well as the organization's reputation by improved customer satisfaction. While there are many things to consider when determining the best features for an environmental chamber and many different methods of tests that can be performed, the decision to perform testing is critical to the success of a product.