By the time 7 years have passed since its launch, the cumulative shipment of UTMII exceeded 30,000 units. During the time, we received a variety of requests from many customers. To meet those demands, we were faced with a decision to redesign some functions fundamentally.

We therefore decided to develop "UTMIII" which satisfies those requests.

Major improvements achieved are as follows:

1. Improved response speed from 1kHz to 5KHz
2. Expanded analog voltage output range from ±5V to ±10V
3. Added digital communication function
4. Added zero correction function with external signal
5. Added variable filter function with external signal
6. Adopted a metal connector. Incorporated customer's idea
7. Downsized the width from 40mm to 32mm. Multiple units can be set up in line!
8. Added "Centering location type" option, which allows easier mounting

When we developed UTMII, we considered that the response speed of 1kHz would be sufficient. However, customers' requests were 5kHz. Therefore we changed the sampling speed from 6kHz to 20kHz, then expanded the analog bandwidth from 1kHz to 5kHz.

Input voltage ranges of the AD converters for major PLCs are either 0～5V, 0～10V or -10～+10V. Input voltage range of ±10V is the only choice if we were to connect UTMII to those PLCs. However, the resolution will be only half of it, as the output signal range of UTMII is only ±5V.

Therefore, we changed its internal power voltage and expanded the output range to ±10V.

In order to allow digital communication with external PCs and PLCs, the numbers of connector pins were changed from 6 to 12, implementing RS-485 signal communication.

By this improvement, UTMIII can retrieve measured values without being affected by noise.

With the extension of the digital interface, a Zero Correction Function, which adjusts an analog & a digital output value to "0", was added.

This function can be used for testing machines etc. For example, you can set value to "0" before starting a test, and take the difference as the measured value.

The range of application broadened by this improvement. 

Thanks to the extension of the digital interface, cut-off frequency of internal low-pass filter can be changed by external signal.

By removing high-frequency noise, necessary signal change can be measured with a high degree of accuracy.

The connector on UTMII was made of resin. There has been no problem in noise characteristics with the resin connector, but a connector made of metal was what customers wanted.

The change from resin to metal connector enabled a shield of shielded cables to be connected to the main body of UTMIII. By this change, the noise immunity of UTM improved more than ever.

When placing multiple units in line, the widths of main body is an important parameter. The width of UTMII was 40mm. However, the cable was positioned on its lateral side of the main body, which made difficult for multiple units to be set closer to each other.

UTMIII downsized its width to 32mm, and what's more, the cable was positioned on the top side of the main body. Thus, multiple units can be set closer to each other.

We have usually recommended not to fix the main body of UTM series firmly when use, as axis adjustments will be considerably easy.

However, for some cases such as interlocking the axis of a torque meter and the axis of a workpiece or incorporating a torque meter in equipment, the torque meter can be used more efficiently by fixing its main body.

That's why we made the Centering Location Type option, which has extended parts on the bearing cases. 

Because the center of the extended part is almost the same as the center of the bearing case, the axis of UTMIII can be positioned without misalignment when jointing.

This option made installations to automatic inspection devices and such much easier.

UTMIII was one of a most challenging product to us that achieved variety of improvements: Response speed in 5 times, expansion of voltage output range in 2 times, addition to the external digital output and downsizing of its main body.

In addition, the dedicated torque monitor was upgraded from TM301 to TM320. The sampling speed was improved from 300Hz to 16kHz. Detecting speed of a peak in waveform was improved to a large extent.

Moreover, another torque monitor TM380 which is compatible with rotary encoder option was upgraded as well. With its sampling speed improved to 16kHz, detecting speed of rotation angle vs. waveform was improved. Besides, a torque converter series TC80 which can read torque, rotation speed and rotating angle (compatible with rotary encoder option) through various interfaces such as CC-Link, analog 3ch output, & Ethernet/IP was newly released.

As a front runner in torque measurement manufacturing, UNIPULSE will continue listening to opinions from users and meeting versatile demands of torque measurement.