Capacitive non contact displacement and thin gap sensors have made significant contributions to improving R&D, quality and manufacturing efficiencies for aircraft and aircraft engines manufacturers around the globe. Aircraft manufacturers range from Boeing, McDonnel Douglas, Northrop and General Dynamics to Airbus, BAE and Casa while engine manufacturers include GE, Snecma, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce and MTU.

As new Quality Control methods such as Six Sigma, In-process and 100% parts inspection become more commonplace, contact and non-contact displacement and gap sensors are being used in a greater number of locations throughout the aircraft and engine manufacturing process as seen in Figure 1.

Aircraft Applications: (figure 1)

Aircraft Engine applications that use Capacitec technology include:

• Blade tip gap measurement of compressor and turbine stage for concentricity
  
  
• Fan Blade clearance measurement using newly developed contact type gap sensor wands in conjunction with Gapman® (see figure 2)
  
  
• Displacement measurement under 1832°F (1000°C) temperature conditions in engine R&D.
  
  
• Spin pit rotor rotational analysis
  

Advantages such as the ability to handle 1832°F (1000°C), accuracy in the sub-micron range, and small size are some to the determinants driving the increased demand for these sensors, The benefits fall into the two major categories of improving quality/performance and reducing cost.



Aircraft Applications: (figure 2)
Contact type gap sensor wand with Gapman^®