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digiBOX Industrial

Robust Strain Gauge and Piezo Edge-Amplifier with IT/OT Connectivity

 

The new and precise multi-channel strain gauge and charge amplifier impresses with modern automation and cloud interfaces, an intuitive web server and integrated measurement data preprocessing in real time (incl. calibration work-certificate).

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digiBOX Industrial

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digiBOX - Measure Analyze Innovate

Shift your application to the next higher and innovative level 

Benefit from latest technologies:

  • High quality measurements with an accuracy class Strain-Gauge 0.01, Piezoelectrical 0.5
  • Integrated web server for easy-to-use parameterization and visualization with day and night mode
  • OT connectivity for machine controls and IT connectivity for data and process analysis and optimization
  • Real-time functions for various industrial applications
  • 10 parameter sets for pre-defined device settings

ISO9000

  • Individual calibration certificate for each digiBOX available via download:

https://www.hbkworld.com/en/services-support/services/calibration/resources/download-calibration-certificates

digiBOX Industrial - Data Sheet Data Sheets English
digiBOX Industrial - Datenblatt Deutsch Data Sheets English, German
digiBOX - Quick Start Guide Quick Start Guide English, Italian, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, German, Spanish, Japanese
digiBOX Industrial - Bedienungsanleitung Deutsch Manual English, German
digiBOX Industrial - Operating Manual Manual English
digiBOX - Safety Instructions Safety Instructions English, Italian, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, German, Spanish, Japanese

Certificates and Approvals

digiBOX - PNO-Certificate Certificates English
digiBOX - EU Declaration of Conformity Declaration of Conformity English, Italian, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, German, Spanish, Japanese
digiBOX Industrial
Number of inputs Multi channel
Input Piezo electric (charge), Strain gauge full bridge
Interface EtherCAT, ProfiNet, TCP/IP, Digital IO, Analog
Accuracy class 0.01 SG, 0.5 Piezo (charge)
Sample rate 40000 S/s
Housing Field mounted
Internal logic Calculated channel
Legal for trade No

Power Your Process Automation with Next generation Amplifier


CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

  • Connection of strain gauge and piezoelectric sensors (freely configurable 2-4 channels)​
  • 40kS/s sampling rate per strain gauge and piezo channel with 24-bit A/D conversion
  • Sample synchronous data acquisition for strain-gauge and piezoelectric channels
  • Robust and compact metal housing (IP67)
  • 4 digital I/Os and 4 analog outputs (voltage/current switchable)
  • Simple operation via integrated web server
  • Internal calculation channels (statistical functions)
  • PROFINET (IRT/RT 2KHz, 4KHz), EtherCAT® (daisy-chain topology possible)
  • Parallel IT-level connection: TCP/IP-based protocols: openDAQ, MQTT, OPENAPI (RestAPI), 
Characteristic features of digiBOX

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Characteristic features of digiBOX

Sensing Technology

digiBOX Industrial can be freely configured with (2-4) inputs for both strain gauge based and piezoelectric sensors. HBK provides a range of sensors for both sensing technologies that measure:

  • Strain
  • Force
  • Load
  • Torque
  • Pressure

The sensor inputs are synchronized sample synchronous, enabling challenging industrial measurements with a 40 kS/s sample rate and 24-bit AD conversion for both input technologies.     

digiBOX signal processing

Signal Processing

digiBOX Industrial features integrated statistical functions developed for industrial measurement applications:

  • 4x Min, Max, and peak-to-peak tracking
  • 4x capture values
  • 8x limit switches
  • Sum channel (coming soon)

These values are calculated every 25 µs. This enables the execution of complex and demanding process control applications leveraging the digiBOX as decentralized process controller.

Additionally, the digiBOX features an intuitive webserver which is used to configure and parametrize the device. This allows for an efficient system setup and servicing of the digiBOX. 

digiBOX with IT/OT Level visualisation

IT/OT Interoperability

digiBOX Industrial offers parallel IT/OT interoperability ensuring seamless integration with a machine's PLC system while simultaneously making measurement data, calculated results and device parametrisation accessible to IT-level applications without compromising the ongoing PLC process.

This provides the IT-Level with critical process data from force measurement processes, enabling new possibilities such

  • historical data storage and tracking
  • complex monitoring
  • data acquisition (miniDAQ) and analysis
  • building machine learning models
  • digital twin applications
  • Remote access and cloud integration

These capabilities are easily implemented using the integrated openDAQ™ protocol, which allows for streaming 40 kS/s sensor data and seamless integration into programming environments based on Python, C# and C++. 


Strain Gauge Technology and Applications

Strain gauge-based sensors provide highly accurate, drift-free measurements for both static and dynamic applications. Their measurement principle allows for tensile and compression measurements, making them the optimal choice for process control and monitoring applications, and reference standards.

digiBOX, when combined with strain-gauge sensors is ideally suited for force measurements such as

  • force joining processes
  • press applications (load monitoring, sheet metal forging, tablet/powder pressing)
  • assembly processes
  • industrial process control applications (process monitoring, end-of-line testing, handling systems)
  • monitoring applications (tooling, processes)

All mentioned processes can be realized with using force, torque, pressure or strain sensors depending on the specific application.

digiBOX strain gauge based

digiBOX piezoelectric based

Piezoelectric Technology and Applications

Piezoelectric sensors offer a wide measurement range, making the suitable for applications with high preloads (high overload capacity). Their compact size makes them ideal for installations where space is limited.  While they excel in dynamic measurements, they are also effective for quasi-static applications.

digiBOX when combined with piezoelectric sensors is ideally suited for

  • force joining processes
  • punching and clinching tools
  • spot welding and resistance welding
  • Measuring low forces under high preloads
  • assembly and testing
  • process and quality control applications

HBK offers piezoelectric force, torque, pressure and strain sensors. In combination with a new low-latency software reset function integrated into the digiBOX signal-path, dynamic processes with short cycle times can be efficiently achieved.  


Piezoelectric and Strain-Gauge Technology Combined

The K-DBX-4M variant features sensor inputs for two strain-gauge and two piezoelectric sensors. This allows customers to combine these measurement technologies, leveraging the sample synchronous data acquisition for both sensor technologies. This unique combination of sensor setups enables more cost-effective solutions and highly precise teach-in procedures.

The digiBOX K-DBX-4M variant allows for a sample synchronous calibration procedure of strain-gauge and piezoelectric sensors, ensuring the most accurate calibration results. This is realized with an automated calibration assistant (coming soon) 

digiBOX with as modular sensor concept

Hottinger Brüel & Kjær MSIUK 25 banner

HBK’s digiBOX Edge Amplifier Earns Top IoT Innovation Award


The Manufacturing Today Manufacturing Supplier Innovation Awards honour suppliers and solutions that are leading the way in innovation across the manufacturing sector. We’re honoured to be recognised for our digiBOX Edge Amplifier — a solution designed to push the boundaries of what's possible in industrial IoT.


IT-Level connectivity allows for new solutions

  • It is possible to integrate the digiBOX into cloud services and realize remote access for monitoring and parametrization tasks
  • The vertical integration into productivity software is also possible and allows for analysis of product quality and enables process traceability
  • Leveraging the 40kS/s data streaming with the openDAQ protocol can be used for DAQ analysis tasks in parallel to the running process
  • Connecting the digiBOX to edge devices can be used to train machine learning algorithms for process optimization and digital twin solutions
Parallel IT/OT connectivity. A connection chart

Webinar: digiBOX Measure & Automate made easy

Discover modern solutions transforming the industry: precise measurements, real-time control, and user-friendly tools – no programming skills needed.

Our experts will show you how to easily integrate HBK measurement chains into your processes. Watch live demonstrations and tackle your automation challenges in the era of Industry 4.0:

  • Insights into combining strain gauge and piezoelectric sensor inputs
  • A look at digiBOX’s innovative web server operation
  • Real-world examples of IT/OT integration for industrial applications
  • Demo

Take your systems to the next level!

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