How the Colorado Precision Air Bearing LVDT Works   1 - Clean dry air at 60 psi is inserted at the air inlet 2 - The air travels through the channels on the outside of the porous graphite insert 3 - The air then travels through the porous graphite and floats the square stylus shaft on a thin air film 4 - The needle valve on the back of the body is opened to decrease the air pressure on the back of the stylus shaft. The resulting difference in pressure between the front of the shaft stylus and rear of the shaft stylus controls the stylus force 5 - Air at a low pressure can be inserted to the probe front cap. Switch control of this air pressure can serve to automatically retract the probe tip when required   The LVDT is an electromechanical device that produces an electrical output proportional to the displacement of a separate movable core. It consists of a primary coil and two secondary coils symmetrically spaced on a cylindrical form. A free-moving, rod-shaped magnetic core inside the coil assembly provides a path for the magnetic flux linking the coils. When primary coil is energized by an external AC source, voltages are induced in the two secondary coils. These are connected series opposing so the two voltages are of opposite polarity. Therefore, the net output of the transducer is the difference between these voltages, which is zero when the core is at the center or null position. When the core is moved from the null position, the induced voltage in the coil toward which the core is moved increases, while the induced voltage in the opposite coil decreases. This action produces a differential voltage output that varies linearly with changes in the core position. The phase of this output voltage changes abruptly by 180° as the core is moved from one side of null to the other. (The core must always be fully within the coil assembly during operation of the LVDT, otherwise gross non-linearity will occur.) LVDTs possess the inherent ruggedness and durability of a transformer and truly provide infinite resolution in all types of environments. As a result of the superior reliability and accuracy of LVDTs, they are the ideal choice for linear motion control.   © Copyright 2001 Colorado Precision Products, Inc.