Meggitt Sensing Systems, a Meggitt group division, recently announced the global launch of its Endevco model 72-60K piezoresistive shock accelerometer. As the newest member of its popular model 72 series, the sensor offers a 60,000 g measurement range, light gas damping and best-in-class four times over-range shock survivability. The series is designed to support a variety of high-reliability acceleration, vibration and shock measurements, and especially, the long duration shocks found in weapons testing, missiles and munitions, fuze/safe and arm and high-shock data recorder applications.

Design of the Endevco model 72-60K features a patented, monolithic, four-active arm bridge circuit design (U.S. patent number 6,988,412) incorporating the use of Meggitt's own proprietary sensing element, all manufactured in-house at its ISO9001 certified MEMS facility in Sunnyvale, California. The element is housed within a low-profile, miniature, seam sealed leadless chip carrier (LCC) package, weighing just 0.16 gram, for minimized mass loading effects and ease of SMT mounting. Included integral mechanical stops at a minimum of 2X allow for 1.5X linear over-range for increased ruggedness and reduced likelihood of breakage under overload conditions.

The Endevco model 72 series also offers a Class 3 rating (>4000 V - Human Body Model) and integral ESD protection against potential process damage. A combination of light gas damping and mechanical overtravel stops serves to attenuate resonance and dramatically enhance shock survivability, even in applications where actual shock levels may not be known. The model 72-60K also exhibits excellent performance stability and frequency response extending down to DC (steady state), with low power consumption and optional input voltage. All units are fully factory tested at full-scale range to ensure minimal zero shift after shock, ensuring their exceptional reliability and performance within demanding environments. Recommended accessories for the model 72-60K include the model 126 three-channel DC bridge amplifier; the model 136 three-channel signal conditioner; and the model 436 DC differential voltage amplifier.