AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR TESTING CAPACITORS AND NETAVORKS 1181 



SimTplicity 



This type of equipment is operated by non-technical personnel. To 

 'minimize the possibility of improper operation of the equipment, it is 

 important that adjustments and judgment decisions by the operator be 

 minimized. From a production standpoint, it is important that the ma- 

 chine be designed to permit quick changes to handle the variety of prod- 

 uct to be tested. All "set-ups" are made by the operator and the switch- 

 ing of circuits and changing of contact fixtures are simply and easily 

 done. 



Versatililij 



The product tested by this machine includes a variety of physical 

 sizes and terminal arrangements with a wide range of electrical test 

 requirements (Fig. 1). 



a. Physical Sizes. The aluminum containers for this type of capacitors 

 and R.C. Networks all have the same nominal length and width but are 

 made in three different thicknesses. 



b. Terminals. The product is made with terminals of two different 

 lenths, two different spacings, and four different patterns connected in 

 eight combinations. It is necessary to provide contact fixtures and 

 switching facilities to handle all of these combinations. 



c. Electrical Tests 



(1) Dielectric strength tests are made between terminals, and between 

 terminals and can, on single unit packages. Two-unit packages require 

 an additional test between units. 



(2) Capacitance: The capacitance of the product to be tested ranges 

 from 0.02 mf to 5.0 mf or any combination within this range in one- or 

 two-unit packages with no series resistance in the case of capacitors, but 

 with a series resistor from 100 ohms to 1,000 ohms in the case of net- 

 works. This problem is discussed in more detail in the description of the 

 capacitance test circuit. 



(3) Insulation Resistance : The minimum requirements vary from 375 

 megohms to 3,000 megohms. 



(4) Impedance: The RC networks have impedance requirements at 

 15 kc that range from 100 ohms to 1,000 ohms. 



MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF TESTING MACHINE 



Packaging of the product precludes a magazine type of feed because 

 the variety of terminal combinations associated with two-unit packages 

 necessitates orientation in the contact fixtures that can not be done by 



