David Ezekiel

Recent Posts

Lessons Learned & Staying Relevant In Today's World

Posted by David Ezekiel on Mar 8, 2022 12:53:35 PM

air-pressure-pressure-head-resized-600It's an understatement to say "the world has changed" over the past 25 years. Aside from the multitude of external factors surrounding our lives, the traditional method of transacting business has changed, but not all of it is helpful for engineers in the sensors world.

For an engineer, the wealth of product information available with just a few keyboard clicks is empowering yet overwhelming. We see the value our website brings to customers with the ease of finding products and respective technical information. However, many sensor providers fall short of providing the accessibility sometimes needed when questions arise. We also noticed the diminished use of the telephone when customers have questions. Email, chat boxes, and forms are the primary methods when customers have questions. Creating relevant, useful content on both our website and blog has proven to be of utmost interest to our audience. Nevertheless, we encourage our customers to continue to chat one-on-one (telephone, online meeting, etc.) because often a 5-minute conversation can make a difference when choosing a part number. With the plethora of choices available, it is very easy for an engineer to overdesign (and overpay) for a part or accidentally pick the wrong part for their application. 

To stay relevant, Servoflo focuses on providing useful, application-specific information for our audience. Additionally, the value of relationships plays a vital role in helping customers choose the best part for their needs. Some examples of where direct relationships play an important role include:

  • Working with purchasing to maintain and manage inventory requirement
  • Connecting customers to suppliers to discuss in-depth technical understanding
  • Customizing a physical attribute of a sensor such as providing special packaging or terminations
  • Modifying sensor performance to focus on the specific range of high performance needed by a customer

Servoflo provides the one on one service that has fallen by the wayside in today's world. Our core values keep us focused on providing customers what they need when they need it. Founded by engineers for engineers in 1968, these values include:

  1. Only offer those products and services which provide our customers BOTH high value (price/performance) and reliability
  2. Always make it easy and simple for engineering and purchasing professionals to work with us
  3. Never take an opportunity to work with a new or existing customer for granted - treat every application with thoroughness and urgency
  4. Never misrepresent the capability of any product we carry

Our goal is to stay true to these values while adjusting the delivery of these values to meet today's business models.

While it may feel "easier" to browse anonymously online for parts without feeling pressured by salespeople, we ask that you remember at Servoflo, we pride ourselves by focusing on YOUR needs and requirements. We promise that you will save time, gain efficiency, and obtain the best possible solution for your application. A few minutes can save you significant amounts of time and reduce endless browsing.

Please reach out to us to let us know what you see happening in engineering design decisions by contacting us or leaving a comment below!

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Additional Solutions From Servoflo’s Mass Flow Sensors

Posted by David Ezekiel on Feb 6, 2020 9:28:14 AM

Companies across a range of different industries use mass flow sensing technologies to meet specific application requirements in a variety of applications. Here, the team at Servoflo provides a few examples of the advantages of mass flow sensors in machines and mechanisms being designed today.

Solutions for Servoflo’s FS6122 Bi-Directional Medical Respiratory Sensor

fs6122-header

In the medical industry, mass flow sensors play a key role in the functionality of respiratory monitoring equipment, such as CPAP or anesthesia delivery systems and other types of medical equipment. For example, the Servoflo FS6122 Bi-Directional Medical Respiratory Sensor has been especially designed for suitability in medical applications. It is an energy-saving, fast-responding sensor that can measure mass flow rate in the range of -250 to 250 SLPM (standard litres per minute). This bi-directional sensor also has a unique additional feature of an optional humidity sensor, giving users even more environmental measurement capability.

Some typical flow sensor applications in the medical industry include:

· Air mattresses and cushions

· Anesthesia equipment

· Asthma detection products

· Biological chamber air circulation devices

· Drug delivery solutions

· Endoscopes

· Gamma knives

· Infusion pumps

· Oxygen concentrators and conservers

· Other oxygen therapy tools

· Respirator and breath detection machines (especially for cases of sleep apnea)

· Smart oxygen homecare cylinders

· Spirometers

· Veterinary machines and tools

Solutions for Servoflo’s FS5001B MEMS Mass Flow Sensor

Other mass flow sensors from Servoflo have exceptional operational capabilities for industrial and electrical applications, among many others. For instance, the FS5001B MEMS Mass Flow Sensor has the following key attributes:

· An effective operational range anywhere from 0 to 200 SCCM (standard cubic centimeters per minutes) up to 0-1000 SCCM

· An exceptionally quick response time of 10 milliseconds

· A pressure rating that can go up to 5 bar (72 psi)

· A small form factor of 48.5 x 48.5 x 18.5 mm

· Accurate readings within a range of ±2.0%, in addition to a ±0.5% range for full-scale readings

· Outputs that include linear analog from 0.5 to 4.5 volts, digital RS232, or I2C

Additional Applications of Mass Flow Sensors

Mass flow sensors are highly versatile. For instance, most car engines use mass air flow sensors to inject the correct mix of fuel and air into the engine’s combustion chambers. Mass flow sensors also allow welders that use oxy-fuel equipment to work safely.

The following list includes several examples of common use cases for mass flow sensors:

· Medical: specifically the FS6122 Bi-Directional Medical Respiratory Sensor

· Electronics

· HVAC Engineering: particularly for variable air volume (or VAV) systems, cleanroom management, and refrigerant monitoring

· Industrial: for use in process gas monitors, gas mixing solutions, and welding gas controls, among many other applications

· Food and Beverage: for oven flow monitors, food freshening solutions, and even food packaging

Servoflo’s High Quality Mass Flow Sensors

Mass flow sensors are critical for organizations that run the gamut of commercial and industrial sectors. High quality mass flow sensors lead to better products, durable applications, and benefits for all.

At Servoflo, our expertly trained and dedicated professionals are committed to providing only the best mass flow sensor solutions for our customers. To learn more about our sensor products, request a free quote today.

Topics: Mass Flow Sensors

The Most Common Mistake Made When Selecting A Pressure Sensor

Posted by David Ezekiel on Sep 26, 2012 11:52:00 AM

sample pressure sensorSelecting a pressure sensor for your application sounds simple, but with the huge amount and range of performance options, it's easy to get overwhelmed with what the best model is for your application.

We have seen situations where designers choose the most expensive and most accurate part for their needs at the beginning of the design. It's the path of least resistance. However, once production arrives and cost reduction is required, most especially for high volume applications, the established, set-in-stone design specification does not allow for a lower cost option without sacrificing performance. The engineer is stuck or needs to initiate a costly redesign.

To prevent this situation from occurring, we suggest starting with the widest tolerance (and hence lower cost) pressure sensor. Through your testing and evaluation phase, you may find that the lower tolerance models can work. In particular, if you have the ability to provide your own calibration or additional signal conditioning, you may discover that an acceptable specification is met. Furthermore and most importantly, it is significantly easier to move up the price/performance chain than going down it. Flexibility is designed in should performance requirements tighten in the future.

Once the target accuracy is determined for a product, designers should then look at sensor options in conjunction with their ability to add value (such as calibration, temperature compensation, signal conditioning). This is the classic make versus buy question which must be asked. We can help with the answer!

If you have an application for a pressure sensor and have limited resources on finding a solution, tell us your needs and let us do the work for you.

Try Our Sensor Selector Tool

Topics: Pressure Sensors