New control panel for wheel alignment system with our Rocktab S510
The measurement of vehicle axles requires reliable and accurate measuring instruments. Our customer is a leading global supplier of centering, wheel alignment and concentricity testing technology for a wide range of vehicles in over 43 countries and is successful with its core products on all continents. The smoothness of any vehicle has a major impact on safety, tire wear, fuel consumption and other aspects. Achieving optimum smoothness depends not only on preparation and execution, but also on the right tools. Our customer has introduced an innovative solution for wheel alignment with a new system. This enables fast and wireless transmission of measured values directly to the vehicle logbook. In addition to the sophisticated system, new hardware needed to be introduced that could be quickly and cost-effectively integrated into the existing work environment.
Accurate in-drive wheel alignment
The system provides modern, high-precision, high-speed measurement and is up to the standard of automotive wheel alignment systems in terms of ease of use and measurement accuracy. The system measures the centerline of the vehicle frame using accurate and repeatable alignment measurements.
A unique feature is that the measurement is performed while the vehicle is in motion – there is no need to lift the vehicle. With this system, a wheel alignment system has been developed that meets the standard and measurement accuracy of passenger car wheel alignment systems in terms of handling and measurement accuracy. The measurement can be performed by toe difference angle, total and individual toe, axle offset and more. The camera measuring heads, which can be rotated through 360°, allow data to be recorded almost in real time. The measured values are transmitted directly and wirelessly to the report. The entire wheel alignment process is computer controlled by software. Even multi-axle vehicles can be aligned after measurement without removing wheel adapters. The report shows both the before and after (repair) results of the measurement and alignment values. Another advantage is the quick-clamping device, which is also suitable for aluminum rims.
The new system is already proving popular and is being used by a leading truck service provider in America.
Requirements
To optimize customer satisfaction, the customer was looking for an alternative control panel for the existing system. Not only was the previous solution unattractive in terms of price, but long delivery times of over 16 weeks in some cases and a lack of German-language support were also reasons enough to look for an alternative solution. Due to the previous configuration, a 12-inch display with XGA resolution was needed as a seamless replacement. The search was also limited to rugged tablets, as their flexibility and fast data transfer made them ideal for integration into the existing work environment.
Considerations and testing
A Linux-based solution was briefly considered. However, this was rejected due to the software programming required. In the search for a more cost-effective alternative, the robust “Rocktab S510” and “Rocktab S512” tablets from WEROCK were considered. One of the most important requirements was the ability to deliver within two weeks. After a short test phase of the two tablets, it quickly became clear that the Rocktab S510 stood out and was ideally suited for this application.
Solution
The robust and compact design as well as the attractive price in combination with the good availability and the contact person in Germany make the Rocktab S510, despite the smaller 10″ display, a direct hit. Thanks to its compact design, it is also over 50 percent lighter than its predecessor models, making it easier to transport. The readings are transferred directly to the report via wireless radio transmission. Despite initial skepticism, Windows 11 was chosen as the operating system.
The Rocktab S510 is already very popular in industry, garages and fire brigades and is proving to be an all-rounder for mobile use in harsh environments.
Conclusion
Our customer needed hardware for their new wheel alignment system. The system provides accurate wireless transmission of measurements without lifting the vehicle and while the vehicle is on the road. The solution had to be cost effective and integrate seamlessly into the existing environment. The Rocktab S510 was able to replace the previous solution and modernize the end product. With free evaluation units and personalized customer support, the end customer was able to quickly and easily integrate the rugged Rocktab S510 as a new part of the overall solution. Another success is the increased ability to deliver, which leads to increased end customer satisfaction. The lower price compared to the previous control panel also increased the overall margin of the sales product. Our customer’s goal (to optimize customer satisfaction with a new control panel for the new system) was achieved.
Learn more about the rugged and versatile Rocktab S510 at https://www.werocktools.com/rugged-tablets/rocktab-s510/
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