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Some time ago I posted a message asking for installation "tricks" about AMTI
force platforms. Many thanks for those who replied. Here comes the summary:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From D.R.Mullineaux@tees.ac.uk Thu Apr 2 21:41:32 1998
I have just had the same platform installed, which is working very
well, although a few installation 'hick-ups' caused a few worries.
Things to ensure are:
- the concrete block is to the right height so that when the resin,
mounting fixture, floor boards, new carpet (which will be
thicker than any old carpet around), etc are replaced that the force
plate will be flush with the floor.
- that during the setting of the concrete block (or somewhere near by)
that there is the means to earth the force plate.
- the bolts fixing the force plate to the mounting fixture are
tighten sufficiently so that any impact vibrations will not losen
them.
Generally, the force plate is very simple to install, however it is
probably likely that the contractors would not have experienced such
a job before and would not pay enough attention to the points above.
May be the solution is that AMTI should, where possible, recommend
approved contractors and then their experience may enable them to
recognise any other small points that could be overcome and aid in a
problem free installation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From ariel1@ix.netcom.com Thu Apr 2 21:41:39 1998
Set the plate on 1/2" steel plate 4x8 feet. Emerse the 4x8 in a cement.
Drill holding holes in various places on the 4x8. This will allow you
to move the AMTI to any location within the 4x8. Do not install the plate
itself in a cement as describe. You will be stuck with the location.
Also, if you will purchase additional plate in the future, you will be
able to integrate both plate to a full walking stride or golf swing etc.
I used to have 8 plates and I had the flexibility to move them around in any
geometry.
Just a thought
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From soutas@egr.msu.edu Thu Apr 2 21:41:43 1998
We have been through 4 installations and have gotten better with each
installation. Here are a few suggestions.
The depth of the pit is critical as you will level the plate with
the floor by using the epoxy under the mounting plate. You have a
tolerence of about 0.5 to 1.5 cm in the pit depth and if the pit has a
high spot, you will have some problems. In our instillations we made
the pit bigger than the mounting plate to all room for wrench and hand
during mounting and then constructed a wooden frame that was screwed
to the mounting plate to complete the installation. This makes the
initial mounting easier and allows easy access to the instrument if
necessary at later times. We had large PPC conduits running from the
pit to the point that you want the force plate cable to leave the
floor to your amplifier and control center. In the last installation
we had channels placed for this purpose with cover plates. We set up
a channel layout such that we could use these same channels for camera
cables or other cables. If you use the PPC pipe, make very sure that
the long connector on the force plate cable can make any bends. That
connector will not make a 90 turn with ease.
We have been using AMTI plates for over ten years and I think you
will be very happy with this instrument. The best resourse at AMTI
for technical installation questions is Gary Blanchard and he is a
great person to work with. Please let me know if I can be of any
additional help.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From eac@emgsrus.com Thu Apr 2 21:41:49 1998
The AMTI plates are very easy to install (I think I've done about 40 to 50
over the years) - you can either glue the mounting plate down (recommended
by AMTI) or use quick-set concrete (my personal favorite). The main thing
is to take your time and do a "dry-run" first without the adhesive/concrete
and check that everything lines up while you can still fix things. The main
points are:
1. Check that you've got the heights right - does the force plate surface
match the floor surface? Don't forget to allow for any final floor finish
like carpet or tiles etc.
2. If you want the plate axis to align with anything in the lab then check
and double check this before you mix up the adhesive.
3. Is the lab floor level? If not then make sure that the mounting plate is
set to match the fall of the floor.
4. Check that the mounting plate doesn't rock - you need to get this level
and firm before you apply the adhesive. If you have a large gap underneath
the mounting plate then you may need more adhesive.
5. Make sure that you're fitting the mounting plate the right way around -
does the signal cable come off the plate in the corner that you expect? I
usually pop the double threaded FP screws into the mounting plate so that I
can double-check this. If you leave the threaded inserts in the mounting
plate and put the mounting bolts on then you have something to grip the
mounting plate with if you need to make a slight adjustment in position
while the adhesive sets.
6. You're going to have to tighten these mounting bolts down after you have
the mounting plate(s) fixed in position - there's not a lot of room to
tighten then so check that you're going to have enough room in the pit
before you glue the mounting plate in position.
7. Are you mounting two plates or will you want to add a second plate that
butts up against the first plate at any time in the future - if so then
check the alignment of the plate. If you want to add a second plate later
or butt two plates up against each other then your mounting options are a
bit limited.
8. Don't drop the force plates - they don't like it! They're quite heavy so
you'll probably want someone on either side as you lift the plate. It's
very easy to get into some very bad biomechanical lifting while you get the
plates into position.
9. Don't panic and take your time - there's nothing to be gained rushing the
installation. I usually take about a day to put two or more plates in. If
you're putting in two or more plates then get the first one right and then
do the others one at a time.
10. The adhesive is very viscous and takes about 30 minutes to go to the
tacky stage. This gives you about plenty of time to mix the epoxy (use the
gloves and mixing tools provided), apply it to the floor and get the
mounting plate in position and level with the floor.
If you need it there's a link to the AMTI web site from our web site.
http://www.emgsrus.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From garyb@world.std.com Sat Apr 4 00:07:27 1998
I will try to reach you via telephone on Friday, April 3rd. At that time =
I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have about force =
platform installation. If you have a particular time that is convenient =
for you please let me know. I usually arrive here at AMTI around 7:45 =
AM (12:45 PM your time)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From Bob.Colborne@bristol.ac.uk Sat Apr 4 00:07:29 1998
I have installed two AMTI platforms in my labs in the past, and they are
very easy to fit. The only trick is trusting the builders of the floor to
finish the pit to the right depth...what we did was to rough in the pit
and then fill it to the proper depth after with a cement/polymer mix...the
plans supplied by AMTI will give you the right depth measurement for your
particular mounting. Other than that, it is very simple, just follow the
plans and instructions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From G.Giakas@staffs.ac.uk Sat Apr 4 00:07:30 1998
We recently installed an AMTI force plate here at staffs.
The manual was quite clear, and we did not have any problems.
Probably the most important issue there is to make sure the floor is
absolutely horizontal, although you can make some corrections afterwards on
the
base. Watch out for the cables, to have space there because they might behave
strange if they do not have adequate space.
More or less these are the important things you need to be carefull about. If
you follow the manual you shouldn't have any problems.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Dr Gabor Barton MD mailto: G.Barton@gaitlab.demon.co.uk
Manager, Gait Analysis Laboratory UIN (ICQ): 2625928
Alder Hey Children's Hospital tel: +44 (0)151 252 5949
Eaton Road, Liverpool, L12 2AP, UK fax: +44 (0)151 252 5846
Some time ago I posted a message asking for installation "tricks" about AMTI
force platforms. Many thanks for those who replied. Here comes the summary:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From D.R.Mullineaux@tees.ac.uk Thu Apr 2 21:41:32 1998
I have just had the same platform installed, which is working very
well, although a few installation 'hick-ups' caused a few worries.
Things to ensure are:
- the concrete block is to the right height so that when the resin,
mounting fixture, floor boards, new carpet (which will be
thicker than any old carpet around), etc are replaced that the force
plate will be flush with the floor.
- that during the setting of the concrete block (or somewhere near by)
that there is the means to earth the force plate.
- the bolts fixing the force plate to the mounting fixture are
tighten sufficiently so that any impact vibrations will not losen
them.
Generally, the force plate is very simple to install, however it is
probably likely that the contractors would not have experienced such
a job before and would not pay enough attention to the points above.
May be the solution is that AMTI should, where possible, recommend
approved contractors and then their experience may enable them to
recognise any other small points that could be overcome and aid in a
problem free installation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From ariel1@ix.netcom.com Thu Apr 2 21:41:39 1998
Set the plate on 1/2" steel plate 4x8 feet. Emerse the 4x8 in a cement.
Drill holding holes in various places on the 4x8. This will allow you
to move the AMTI to any location within the 4x8. Do not install the plate
itself in a cement as describe. You will be stuck with the location.
Also, if you will purchase additional plate in the future, you will be
able to integrate both plate to a full walking stride or golf swing etc.
I used to have 8 plates and I had the flexibility to move them around in any
geometry.
Just a thought
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From soutas@egr.msu.edu Thu Apr 2 21:41:43 1998
We have been through 4 installations and have gotten better with each
installation. Here are a few suggestions.
The depth of the pit is critical as you will level the plate with
the floor by using the epoxy under the mounting plate. You have a
tolerence of about 0.5 to 1.5 cm in the pit depth and if the pit has a
high spot, you will have some problems. In our instillations we made
the pit bigger than the mounting plate to all room for wrench and hand
during mounting and then constructed a wooden frame that was screwed
to the mounting plate to complete the installation. This makes the
initial mounting easier and allows easy access to the instrument if
necessary at later times. We had large PPC conduits running from the
pit to the point that you want the force plate cable to leave the
floor to your amplifier and control center. In the last installation
we had channels placed for this purpose with cover plates. We set up
a channel layout such that we could use these same channels for camera
cables or other cables. If you use the PPC pipe, make very sure that
the long connector on the force plate cable can make any bends. That
connector will not make a 90 turn with ease.
We have been using AMTI plates for over ten years and I think you
will be very happy with this instrument. The best resourse at AMTI
for technical installation questions is Gary Blanchard and he is a
great person to work with. Please let me know if I can be of any
additional help.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From eac@emgsrus.com Thu Apr 2 21:41:49 1998
The AMTI plates are very easy to install (I think I've done about 40 to 50
over the years) - you can either glue the mounting plate down (recommended
by AMTI) or use quick-set concrete (my personal favorite). The main thing
is to take your time and do a "dry-run" first without the adhesive/concrete
and check that everything lines up while you can still fix things. The main
points are:
1. Check that you've got the heights right - does the force plate surface
match the floor surface? Don't forget to allow for any final floor finish
like carpet or tiles etc.
2. If you want the plate axis to align with anything in the lab then check
and double check this before you mix up the adhesive.
3. Is the lab floor level? If not then make sure that the mounting plate is
set to match the fall of the floor.
4. Check that the mounting plate doesn't rock - you need to get this level
and firm before you apply the adhesive. If you have a large gap underneath
the mounting plate then you may need more adhesive.
5. Make sure that you're fitting the mounting plate the right way around -
does the signal cable come off the plate in the corner that you expect? I
usually pop the double threaded FP screws into the mounting plate so that I
can double-check this. If you leave the threaded inserts in the mounting
plate and put the mounting bolts on then you have something to grip the
mounting plate with if you need to make a slight adjustment in position
while the adhesive sets.
6. You're going to have to tighten these mounting bolts down after you have
the mounting plate(s) fixed in position - there's not a lot of room to
tighten then so check that you're going to have enough room in the pit
before you glue the mounting plate in position.
7. Are you mounting two plates or will you want to add a second plate that
butts up against the first plate at any time in the future - if so then
check the alignment of the plate. If you want to add a second plate later
or butt two plates up against each other then your mounting options are a
bit limited.
8. Don't drop the force plates - they don't like it! They're quite heavy so
you'll probably want someone on either side as you lift the plate. It's
very easy to get into some very bad biomechanical lifting while you get the
plates into position.
9. Don't panic and take your time - there's nothing to be gained rushing the
installation. I usually take about a day to put two or more plates in. If
you're putting in two or more plates then get the first one right and then
do the others one at a time.
10. The adhesive is very viscous and takes about 30 minutes to go to the
tacky stage. This gives you about plenty of time to mix the epoxy (use the
gloves and mixing tools provided), apply it to the floor and get the
mounting plate in position and level with the floor.
If you need it there's a link to the AMTI web site from our web site.
http://www.emgsrus.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From garyb@world.std.com Sat Apr 4 00:07:27 1998
I will try to reach you via telephone on Friday, April 3rd. At that time =
I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have about force =
platform installation. If you have a particular time that is convenient =
for you please let me know. I usually arrive here at AMTI around 7:45 =
AM (12:45 PM your time)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From Bob.Colborne@bristol.ac.uk Sat Apr 4 00:07:29 1998
I have installed two AMTI platforms in my labs in the past, and they are
very easy to fit. The only trick is trusting the builders of the floor to
finish the pit to the right depth...what we did was to rough in the pit
and then fill it to the proper depth after with a cement/polymer mix...the
plans supplied by AMTI will give you the right depth measurement for your
particular mounting. Other than that, it is very simple, just follow the
plans and instructions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From G.Giakas@staffs.ac.uk Sat Apr 4 00:07:30 1998
We recently installed an AMTI force plate here at staffs.
The manual was quite clear, and we did not have any problems.
Probably the most important issue there is to make sure the floor is
absolutely horizontal, although you can make some corrections afterwards on
the
base. Watch out for the cables, to have space there because they might behave
strange if they do not have adequate space.
More or less these are the important things you need to be carefull about. If
you follow the manual you shouldn't have any problems.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Dr Gabor Barton MD mailto: G.Barton@gaitlab.demon.co.uk
Manager, Gait Analysis Laboratory UIN (ICQ): 2625928
Alder Hey Children's Hospital tel: +44 (0)151 252 5949
Eaton Road, Liverpool, L12 2AP, UK fax: +44 (0)151 252 5846