1. Temperature and humidity simulation test
Temperature and humidity are important factors that affect the environmental adaptability of Embedded Industrial Computer. In environmental simulation testing, the first thing to do is to build a test environment with variable temperature and humidity. For temperature simulation, a high and low temperature test chamber can be used to place the Embedded Industrial Computer in it and set different temperature ranges, such as -40℃ to 85℃, which covers extremely cold and high temperature environments. At each temperature point, let the computer run a specific industrial control program or perform data processing tasks to observe its performance.
Humidity simulation is also critical. By adjusting the humidity of the test chamber, simulate environments from dry (relative humidity 10%) to high humidity (relative humidity 95%). In a high humidity environment, focus on checking whether the computer has condensation, short circuit or corrosion, and in a low humidity environment, pay attention to the impact of static electricity on the computer. At the same time, combined with the changes in temperature and humidity, simulate industrial scenes with large temperature differences between day and night or humid and hot weather, and perform multiple cycle tests to ensure that the computer can run stably under various temperature and humidity combinations.
2. Electromagnetic compatibility simulation test
There are a large number of electromagnetic interference sources in the industrial environment, so electromagnetic compatibility simulation test is essential. To build an electromagnetic compatibility test environment, you need to equip an electromagnetic interference simulator and an electromagnetic shielding room. During the test, first set electromagnetic interference signals of different strengths and frequencies to simulate electromagnetic radiation generated by surrounding equipment, conducted interference on power lines, and electrostatic discharge.
Place the Embedded Industrial Computer in the electromagnetic shielding room, apply electromagnetic interference in its normal working state, and observe whether the computer has data transmission errors, program crashes, or hardware damage. For some industrial scenarios with extremely high requirements for electromagnetic compatibility, such as power monitoring systems, more rigorous anti-interference tests are required, such as increasing the intensity and duration of the interference signal, and monitoring the electromagnetic radiation of the computer to ensure that it does not interfere with other sensitive equipment around it.
3. Vibration and shock simulation test
In the industrial production process, vibration and shock are common physical factors that may affect the stability of the Embedded Industrial Computer. Use vibration test benches and shock testers to simulate these environments. The vibration test bench can simulate vibrations of different frequencies, amplitudes, and vibration directions, such as low-frequency vibrations generated when industrial equipment is running and high-frequency vibrations during transportation.
In the vibration test, the Embedded Industrial Computer is firmly mounted on the test bench, and the test program is run to observe whether the hard disk reading and writing, interface connections, and electronic components on the internal circuit board are affected. The shock test uses the shock tester to simulate accidental collisions or sudden impact forces, such as collisions that may occur during installation or maintenance. After the impact, the computer is fully functionally checked, including power-on self-test, data integrity check, and communication tests of each interface to verify its ability to recover after the impact.
4. Dust and Waterproof Simulation Test
For Embedded Industrial Computers in dusty industrial environments or where they may be exposed to water, dust and waterproof simulation tests are essential. For dustproof testing, a dust test chamber can be used to place the computer in it to simulate different levels of dust environments, such as the dust concentration and particle size specified by the IP5X or IP6X standards. After the test, check whether there is dust intrusion inside the computer, especially in the cooling fan, interfaces and vents, and whether the dust affects the operation of the computer, such as causing poor heat dissipation or short circuit.
Waterproof test requires different test methods according to the protection level requirements of the computer. For computers with general waterproof requirements, a drip test can be performed to observe whether water drops can penetrate into the computer; for computers with high waterproof levels, an immersion test may be required to completely immerse the computer in water for a certain period of time and check whether it can still work normally, including checking whether the internal circuit is damp, short-circuited, and whether each function is normal. Through these dust and waterproof simulation tests, the adaptability of Embedded Industrial Computer in harsh environments is fully evaluated.
