Aerospace GWA-10 Touchscreen Glow-Wire Test Apparatus
| Brand | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Origin | Beijing, China |
| Model | GWA-10 |
| Price Range | USD 3,500 – 7,200 |
| Application Fields | Wire & Cable |
| Test Objects | Electrical Insulation Materials, Engineering Plastics |
| Repeatability Error | ±0.1 s |
| Primary Function | Glow-Wire Ignitability Testing (GWIT/GWFI) |
| Glow-Wire Temperature Range | 500–1050 °C ±2 °C |
| Glow-Wire Duration | 0–999.9 s ±0.1 s |
| Ignition Time & Extinction Time Measurement | 0–999.9 s ±0.1 s (auto-recorded, manual pause enabled) |
| Glow-Wire Specification | Ø4 mm Ni80/Cr20 alloy wire |
| Applied Force | 0.95 ±0.1 N |
| Penetration Depth | 7 ±0.5 mm |
| Linear Actuation Speed | 14 mm/s |
| Thermocouple | Ø1 mm imported K-type armored thermocouple |
| Test Chamber Volume | ≥0.5 m³ (standard) |
| Background Illuminance | ≤20 lux (black background) |
| Power Supply | 220 V ±10%, 50 Hz, 500 W |
| Net Weight | ~100 kg |
| Footprint | 1160 mm (W) × 600 mm (D) × 1310 mm (H) |
Overview
The Aerospace GWA-10 Touchscreen Glow-Wire Test Apparatus is a precision-engineered instrument designed for standardized glow-wire ignitability testing of solid electrical insulating materials and non-metallic components used in electrotechnical equipment. It operates on the principle defined in IEC 60695-2-10/11/12 and GB/T 5169.10–2017: a calibrated Ni80/Cr20 glow-wire (Ø4 mm) is resistively heated to a precisely controlled temperature (500–1050 °C ±2 °C), then applied vertically to a test specimen under a defined mechanical load (0.95 ±0.1 N) for a preset duration (typically 30 s). The apparatus evaluates critical fire safety parameters—including Glow-Wire Ignition Temperature (GWIT), Glow-Wire Flammability Index (GWFI), and ignition/extinction behavior—under reproducible thermal stress conditions. Its robust architecture ensures compliance with regulatory requirements for product safety certification across wire & cable, consumer electronics, household appliances, and industrial control systems.
Key Features
- 7-inch full-color capacitive touchscreen interface with intuitive icon-based navigation—enabling one-touch initiation of full test sequences including heating, positioning, contact, timing, exhaust activation, and data logging.
- Dedicated microcontroller-based temperature control system using silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) power regulation and high-stability K-type armored thermocouples (Ø1 mm), delivering superior thermal accuracy and immunity to electromagnetic interference compared to generic PLC-based implementations.
- Motorized X–Z axis sample stage with 7 mm precision limit-stop fixture—accommodating irregularly shaped specimens while ensuring consistent penetration depth (7 ±0.5 mm) and orthogonal alignment relative to the glow-wire tip.
- Integrated flame-height gauge and low-illuminance black-background chamber (≤20 lux) optimized for unambiguous visual assessment of ignition and afterglow phenomena per IEC 60695-2-20.
- Self-contained flame-retardant test trolley with fully enclosed design—preventing specimen displacement during thermal loading and eliminating risk of tipping during automated actuation.
- Dual independent timing channels with ±0.1 s resolution: automatic capture of both ignition time (ti) and extinction time (te), with manual override capability for event annotation during dynamic combustion observation.
- Red-light photoelectric end-position sensors for repeatable, wear-free mechanical limit detection—ensuring long-term positional fidelity without calibration drift.
- Over-temperature cut-off protection circuitry and real-time thermal monitoring—halting operation if sensor readings exceed preset safety thresholds, safeguarding both operator and equipment integrity.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The GWA-10 supports standardized test specimens conforming to IEC 60695-2-10 (thickness 0.75 ±0.1 mm; dimensions 60 ×60 mm) and accommodates engineering plastics, thermosetting resins, elastomers, laminated composites, and insulated wire jacketing materials. Optional chamber configurations—including 0.75 m³ and 1.0 m³ stainless-steel enclosures—meet extended volume requirements specified in UL 746A and DIN 695 for large-format assemblies. The apparatus fulfills essential hardware and procedural criteria outlined in GB 4706.1, IEC 60335-1, IEC 60950-1, IEC 62368-1, VDE 0471, and EN 60695-2 series standards. All operational parameters—including force application, dwell time, thermal ramp rate, and background lighting—are traceably aligned with metrological requirements for GLP-compliant fire testing laboratories.
Software & Data Management
Test execution and data acquisition are managed via embedded firmware with no external PC dependency. Each test cycle automatically generates a timestamped record containing glow-wire temperature setpoint, actual measured temperature profile, applied force, penetration depth, ignition/extinction timestamps, and operator annotations. Data files (CSV format) are stored internally and accessible through the touchscreen’s “Historical Records” menu—supporting search-by-date, keyword, or test ID. Export is enabled via USB flash drive. While the system does not implement FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic signature functionality natively, audit trails—including user login events, parameter modifications, and test result edits—are logged with immutable timestamps and can be exported for third-party LIMS integration or internal QA review. Calibration history and maintenance logs are separately maintainable within the device memory.
Applications
- Qualification of polymeric insulation materials for UL/CSA/CE-marked electrical connectors, switches, and terminal blocks.
- Development-stage screening of halogen-free flame-retardant (HFFR) compounds in wire & cable manufacturing.
- Verification of GWFI compliance for PCB substrate laminates (e.g., FR-4, polyimide) and housing polymers in medical devices subject to IEC 60601-1.
- Comparative thermal stability analysis of biobased engineering plastics versus conventional thermoplastics under standardized pyrolytic stress.
- Root-cause investigation of field failures linked to localized overheating in consumer appliance housings and power supply enclosures.
- Supporting technical documentation for Declaration of Conformity (DoC) submissions to EU Notified Bodies and CCC certification bodies in China.
FAQ
What standards does the GWA-10 comply with out-of-the-box?
The instrument meets the core hardware and procedural requirements of IEC 60695-2-10/11/12, GB/T 5169.10–2017, UL 746A, and VDE 0471. Optional chamber upgrades enable conformance with UL 746A Section 21 (large-volume testing) and DIN 695 Clause 4.2.
Can the GWA-10 perform GWIT and GWFI determinations simultaneously?
Yes—the apparatus supports both sequential and iterative test protocols required for GWIT (stepwise temperature escalation until ignition occurs) and GWFI (fixed-temperature pass/fail evaluation at three escalating levels: 650 °C, 750 °C, 850 °C, and optionally 960 °C).
Is stainless-steel chamber construction available as a factory option?
Yes—customers may specify 0.75 m³ or 1.0 m³ chambers fabricated from 304 stainless steel with electropolished interior surfaces to minimize soot adhesion and simplify post-test cleaning.
Does the system include calibration certificates for traceable metrology?
Each unit ships with a factory calibration report covering thermocouple linearity (at 500 °C, 750 °C, and 960 °C), load cell verification (0.95 N ±0.1 N), and timer accuracy (±0.1 s). NIST-traceable calibration services are available upon request.
What consumables are required for routine operation?
Standard consumables include silver foil (for thermocouple junction calibration), surgical-grade gauze or ISO-certified tissue paper (as ignition indicator substrate), and replacement Ni80/Cr20 glow-wires (supplied in packs of five with certified dimensional and compositional documentation).
