Computer-Aided Laboratory Durability Testing at John Deere Harvester Works

Due to the variety of durability tests conducted at John Deere Harvester Works, a computer based monitoring and control system was designed. The system consists of six mini-computers organized by function into two groups. The first computer group provides data monitoring and limit checking as well as simple cycle control and test stand shut down. The second computer group provides the same kind of data monitor and limit checking with the added capability of complex load cycle control including feedback control loops. The multi-user batch p recessing utilities on the computers are used to custom design the monitoring and control software as well as report and plot software for each new test stand.