Test and measurement reseller Lambda Photometrics hosted PMK/Iwatsu, its latest signing, at the Engineering Design Show. Luke Shillaber, UK Managing Director of PMK/Iwatsu demonstrated the versatility of the company’s range of probes to Electronic Specifier’s Mick Elliott, followed by Lambda Photometrics Sales Engineer Peter Davenport on solutions for testing wide-bandgap devices like SiC and GaN.
Shillaber showcased PMK Iwatsu’s isolated oscilloscope, a sophisticated 1GHz, 12-bit, eight-channel device. The demonstration highlighted the critical role of selecting the proper measurement probe and the method of connecting probes to test points. Shillaber emphasised that using the best equipment does not guarantee accurate results if connected improperly. For example, adapter cables can introduce unwanted ringing and overshoots in high-speed signals, potentially causing engineers to misinterpret signals and overlook underlying problems. He also addressed issues like power supply coupling through mains causing signal artifacts, which specialised isolated probes can mitigate, resulting in cleaner measurements.
Transitioning to PMK Iwatsu’s product range, Shillaber noted its offerings include analysers for magnetic materials, transistor curve tracers, oscilloscopes, multimeters, and a variety of probes. He explained that testing magnetic materials demands specialised instruments – like the BH analyser – that are finely tuned to eliminate common measurement errors such as DC offsets and equipment-related inductances. The product range has evolved over two decades, continuously adapting to new engineering challenges – especially with the advent of wide bandgap semiconductors and higher switching speeds in power electronics. Combining RF and power engineering has necessitated careful management of isolation and mitigation of RF-related issues like reflections and wavelength mismatches.
Shillaber elaborated that its oscilloscopes, manufactured in Japan under the Iwatsu brand and in New Zealand by Cleverscope, as well as its probing solutions from Germany, are optimally designed for advanced power electronics applications. The recent collaboration between PMK, Iwatsu, and now Cleverscope integrates specialised expertise in probes and oscilloscopes, leading to innovative products such as the isolated USB oscilloscope from Cleverscope.
Significantly, Shillaber announced a new partnership: PMK Iwatsu has signed an agreement with Lambda Photometrics to expand into the UK market, remedying a gap left since Brexit. Lambda will serve as their primary retailer in the region.
Peter Davenport, representing Lambda, added that the PMK Iwatsu partnership broadens Lambda’s range of probing solutions, providing alternative and complementary options to their current manufacturers’ products. Lambda prides itself on being a technical distributor, going beyond just selling products; the firm actively consults with customers to understand their measurement needs and resolve errors that might otherwise go undetected. It offers solutions not just for packaged and system-level devices, but also for complex testing scenarios such as high-power, high-voltage silicon and gallium arsenide devices for automotive and battery applications. Its thorough approach ensures that manufacturers can characterise devices thoroughly and input accurate data into specifications.
Watch more from the show here.
