JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC SHIELD CASE STUDIES

Tackling Time Head-On
Case #12296

CUSTOMER PROBLEM

A Medical Physics Department at a major university in the South was experiencing electromagnetic interference with the ten computers in its research lab; the monitor screens were being scrambled. While the problem in itself was typical, one of the requirements for its solution was not - completion of the job was needed within a four week period. That didn't mean simple identification of the problem or a proposed plan of attack. The project had to be discussed, and the custom shields designed, built and delivered ... all within the allotted four weeks.

It was nearing the end of the university's funding year when the Medical Physics Department came to us our assistance. While the Department possessed the necessary funds, it would lose those budgeted funding dollars if they were not spent within four weeks. Therefore, the problem facing us was double-edged: we had to overcome the interference as well as the clock.

Finding us did not add to the problem; several years ago, we had assisted the Department in a similar endeavor. Because physicists staffed the Department, they were able to measure the interference and provide us with the necessary information. We were faced with particularly large fields being generated by several pieces laboratory equipment, from electronic imaging to directed energy.

MAGNETIC SHIELD SOLUTION

Because the interference was coming from multiple sources and different directions, the solution was to enclose the 21" CRTs, since we could not enclose the sources. A team was quickly established: our sales and engineering staff worked with a researcher within the lab and the purchasing agent of the Medical Physics Department. The researcher submitted his specifications, and, after careful but rapid consideration, we developed a design solution that was a two-layer enclosure with an air gap between layers created by spacers. After customer approval of the design, we immediately went to work producing and delivering the ten enclosures within the required 4-week deadline. The result: another satisfied customer!

We also offer "off-the-shelf' models - such as our ImageGuard II CRT monitor shields - which provide practical, fast and easy solutions to magnetic interference.