1. What are the power requirements? EMA’s only run on 220 VAC. The 2K EMA needs 50 amps on single phase or 30 amps on three phase. For the 4K EMA, it needs 50 amps on three phase and 100 amps on single phase. Outside the US, most places only have 380VAC-440VAC, so we add a step down transformer to the unit to get to 220 VAC. 2. What are the columns made of and is there other options? Steel with a Nickel coating. You can custom order lengths for the columns. Each side is actually two pieces screwed together and then clamped. The user could easily remove them and replace them with different length columns for another test requirement. 3. What is the thread pitch of the clevises? 5/8-18 threads. 4. How many data points do tests/graphs produce and is this adjustable? Standard set-up leaving Roehrig is for 2000 hz per channel / second. This is user adjustable in the Hardware section of the software. 5. What is the recommendation for slow blow fuses and type of power box to hook EMA up? We prefer a switch box so that we can hardwire directly to it. The slow burn fuses depend on the amperage. For the 2K EMA: 50 amps for single phase and 30 amps for three phase. The 4K EMA: 60 amps for three phase and 100 amps for single phase. 6. Does the EMA know what kind of shock it is testing (gas shock –vs. - bladder shock –vs.- twin tube –vs.- mono tube) ? No it does not know. It also does not know if it is a shock. You are able to test elastomers, rubber bushings, etc. 7. How do you test a shock that has bump rubbers on it? Depends on what you want to see. You can test outside the range of the rubber, or let the amplitude of the test actually go into the rubber to see how it adds to the graph. The user defines how to run the test and it is helpful to have data from the vehicle to test where the damper is actually running. 8. Is it ok to start an EMA with “0” offset? No. The offset must be slightly larger than the amplitude of the test, otherwise, you are trying to run below the BDC point of the machine. The EMA should not allow you to do this, although you can run the offset and amplitude at the same value. 9. What is the Peak Force? 2K EMA will make up to 2,100 lbs and the 4K will make up to 4,100 lbs, depending on the curve of the damper/elestomer and velocity of the test. 10. What is the Frequency Response? Standard from the factory, 100 hz at 3dB down to the drive profile. We are capable of going to 250 hz on specific user requested machines. This tends to be vibration testing. 11. What does CVP stand for? Constant Velocity Plot. This method collects data through the entire sine wave. 12. What does PVP stand for? Peak Velocity Plot. This method collects data only at the peak velocity or a small window (user definable) around the peak velocity. As a side, we can also collect at mid stroke. 13. Which is better CVP or PVP test? Depends on what you want to do. Some manufacturers require a given test. 14. What is a good starting temperature and why? Common sense says to test at na ambient temperature slightly higher than you will encounter. If your shop is at 75 degrees and you test at 80 deg F, then you go to the track and the ambient is 95, you can not cool back down to 80, so, in this example, do all your testing at 100 deg F. 15. Why would you remove the Gas Test from a run? Because you do not want to compare the static affects of the gas force shock to shock. By measuring it and removing it, you can compare different dampers regardless of the gas pressure. Handy when your front dampers have a different gas pressure than the rears. 16. Can you run a Shock with spring on the EMA? Yes, but in a limited range. 17. Is there any “free fall” of EMA armature (Forcer) during a run? No, it is controlled by a displacement feedback so it never goes into free fall, it is always being told where to be. 18. What is the accuracy of the load cell and is there an option to get more accurate? Load cell manufacture states +-0.05% of full range. The easy thing to do is run a test with no damper and see what the load cell reads during the test. The readings are effectively the digital gitter and gives a better reading of what you can see. With the 16 bit data acquisition, it is usually +-0.3 lb for the 2K EMA with 200 lb load cell. You can use different ranges of load cells to get better fit for your range of testing needs. The software lets you quickly go back and forth between configurations to allow this change. 19. Can you do a static test with the EMA? For short periods of time and with cooling provided. 20. How do you export / create drive profile and what format does it need to be (ASC / TXT / CSV)? See Technical downloads section of the website or read the EMA manual. 21. What is the squealing noise I hear from my EMA? That is the sound electrons make when squeezed. :) Actually, it is the sound of the motors and the encoder working together at a very fine scale of movement. 22. Does Roehrig do any consulting with companies, teams and manufactures? Not at this time. We are open to the suggestion. 23. What is a “shock clock”? A type of data acquisition for collecting displacement data from a vehicle. We do not sell it, it is sold by another company. 24. Is there any built in safety measures for setting “offset” and “amplitude” in Shock software? You can not run the offset less than the amplitude. You can run them equal, and this means that your test will run through BDC of the machine, which may or may not cause a problem. 25. What is the benefit of running track data and what are looking for in the graph? This is a very long answer. The short answer is it is good to test the damper exactly how the car runs it. 26. Can EMA run at 100hz as delivered? Yes, within the 3dB down tolerance. 27. Can I load Roehrig Software on other computers? Yes, as many as you want. It is free on our website or load it from the disk that came with the machine. You can look at data, print, export, add math channels, etc…, the only thing you can not do is collect data without having the key / dongle. 28. Can I run the EMA machine on a laptop? Not at this time. 29. What mechanical parts on the EMA need to have regular service? None. There are three guide bearings on the machine, currently we see no reason to do any type of service other than keeping them clean and free of dirt / dust. The main parts of the machine do not contact each other, so the are no contacting surfaces. 30. How often do I need to calibrate my EMA? User defined. If you need an NIST traceable report, then have it done on a scheduled basis. Roehrig Engineering is able to this for you at a fee. Otherwise, there is no real reason to do it other than peace of mind. 31. How do I update my software for EMA off the internet? Ususally, you can download the zip file, extract and install. It is helpful to have a EMA technician on the phone when you do it. 32. Is there a searchable data base on Roehrig Software? Not at this time. It has been requested by several users and we plan on putting it into the next major release of software. 33. Why does my shock have -400 lbs at zero velocity? Because there is a pressure differential across the piston based on the interaction of bleed and shim stack during the transition from rebound to compression. It has to do with the amount of bleed in the damper and how easily it can equalize before going in the opposite direction. This is another long answer best handled in training or over the phone. 34. Is there a way to add a moving crossbar to simulate the front motorcycle shock? Yes, contact Roehrig for help. 35. Can you test tire deflection by mounting a front / rear wheel in the EMA? Yes, you could turn it into a single post tester. The 2K EMA may not be strong enough to do this and a 4K EMA might be required.