Charles Marzette | Product Designer
Fluke 729 Automatic Pressure Calibrator
Instrumentation and Calibration technician Performing Pressure calibration on a midstream refinery
Project Context
User:
Title: Instrumentation Technician, or Electrician (Converted). Education: 2yr Technical Degree
Task:
Responsibilities: Perform Calibration procedure for various equipment referred to as “Tags” (mainly Transmitters). Finding the tags (equipment) is often a big part of the task. Calibration equipment is often transported in Bags and buckets. Techs may travel by foot, or bicycle (in plant), or vehicle (in field). Once found, the user connects the pump to the transmitter and the electrical connections from the transmitter to the Calibrator, or Documenting Process Calibrator (or DPC). Pressure measurements are calculated thru mA measurements. Multipoint measurements are required, the number of which depends on the nature of the facility/industry.
Environment:
In Situ: Performing the calibration procedure while the transmitter is affixed in it’s working environment is important because it will allow the most accurate readings. The “in situ” calibration procedure will experience the same rolling temperatures and environmental conditions as the equipment faces when performing its daily functions.
When the Cal procedure is completed “in situ,” the Instrumentation Tech might experience sub-optimal conditions as the transmitters are not always easily accessible. These locations may or may not require climbing a ladder, ducking underneath equipment, finding an access panel, etc.
Project Responsibilities/Contributions
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I was responsible for meeting users onsite in their respective calibration environments to develop an understanding of their needs, and met out any unmet needs that our next generation calibrator should serve.
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When working with our mechanical engineering staff, I put together an initial package model to dictate an ideal device orientation, and weight distribution with respect to customer needs
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I was unimpressed by the softcase that shipped with the previous generation Fluke Calibrator, and based on what I learned from the user in-situ, I was confident that we could design a soft-case that better served their needs and better represented the Fluke brand.
Form Factor Down-Selection
Wearable DPC
Our initial hypothesis envisioned a product that is positioned at the users abdomen hanging from a shoulder harness. This is an affordance for a semi hands free procedure, it however requires the user to divide their focus between the DPC LCD, and the transmitter LCD. It is important to gauge the user’s opinion about a procedure that doesn’t accommodate both screens being viewed simultaneously.
How can we solve for this?
Removable Display Module?
Fluke Connect?
Hand Held DPC
The traditional use model envisions a product in the 75X form factor. This product has the potential to satisfy the users desire to position the DPC’s LCD near the transmitter LCD so that both sets of numbers can be monitored simultaneously (as revealed by first round VOC). The user we interviewed currently accomplishes this by using the magnetic tool pack accessory. This functionality is not accommodated very well by the wearable form factor due to its proportion and LCD/keypad location.
Top View:
Preliminary design concept based on wearable calibrator workflow
Front View:
Preliminary concept with molle strap accessory storage and hose cleat
Back View:
Preliminary design concept with mesh accessory pockets, and Molle strap accessory storage
VOC Investigation: setting up and performing the test
Wearable DPC
Notice where the device hangs when strapped to the abdomen. This position is ideal for testing procedures where the user is focused on maintenance items at or around waist level. Notice how the display and the maintenance items are arranged in the user’s field of view. Also, notice how it’s required to hold the device up when the maintenance item is positioned closer to shoulder level.
VOC Conclusions
The user prefers the PDC display to be near the transmitter display (need multiple user’s opinion)
•The user installs the proper fittings while in the lab prior to going out in the field. (Internal product knowledge expert).
•This device will be rated up to 500psi, therefore a great majority of the pressure connectors and hoses will be of the Prestolok plug-and-play variety (or a more premium variation).
•For the above reasons, I conclude that the wearable form factor isn’t the basis for the strongest solution. Overcoming size is it’s only strength, however there are other techniques that may be more appropriate.
Ideation
With the design of the calibrator underway, I could carve out some time to focus on the accessories, as my user research efforts uncovered a strong need for functional accessories.
The carry case for this automatic Pressure Calibrator would need to stow and provide access to fittings, pressure line(s), and user specific tools. The Carry case would also need to provide access to functional harness points on the calibrator itself.
I designed a carry case with ample stowage for accessories and user specific tools. I also designed a shoulder strap and snap clip system that connects to the calibrator with or without the carry case.
I used this model to communicate general design intent to our soft case supplier. This provided a basis from which to develop a handsome, utility focused solution that met customer need and decreased piece price of the softcase.
Final Soft Case Design
