MIL/DO testing solutions for Teslab, Italy
In the heart of Italy’s military activities, we recently delivered a brand new chamber for Teslab that complies with MIL-STD-461 and DO-160 standards. Why a third chamber? Uliana Trucchi, Senior Technical Consultant at Comtest Engineering, states: “Teslab is a highly successful and fast-growing test facility, founded in Livorno, Tuscany, about thirty years ago by three brilliant men. One of them is Giorgio Romano, my primary contact during this project.
15/04/2025
Neglecting proper maintenance of test chamber doors can result in considerable performance loss. Our Service Engineer, Edwin Van Der Ploeg, explains the associated risks and offers guidance on mitigating them.
Edwin: “When I carry out an H-Field measurement, I measure the doors four times across seven points at varying frequencies. During these measurements, I verify whether these seven points comply with the standards. When these points do not exhibit radiation within the standards, it is often due to dirt. Ideally, you want 100 per cent steel on steel without any interference from other materials, such as dirt, which creates unwanted isolation. When testing at higher frequencies, dirt significantly reduces contact between the leaf and the door frame.”
So what do you advise, Edwin?
Edwin: “The section of the doorpost in the photograph I’m referring to is known as finger stocks and is a typical area where dirt, dust, corrosion, liquids, and grease create issues. The challenge is that some forms of contamination are not visible to the naked eye. Prevention is crucial; the best approach is to inspect the doors annually. You wouldn’t want to disassemble the door and replace all its components.”