BlueHill 2 on an Instron testing machine runs as a closed loop control system.

This means that the measured value from the transducer is compared with the command signal given by the software. The difference between the actual measured value and the commanded value is known as the error The error signal is passed through an amplifier and the resulting drive signal is sent to the motor.

When we talk about the gain setting, we mean the amount that the amplifier amplifies the error signal. For a given error signal, if there is a high gain, the resulting drive to the motor is large, causing the motor to turn quickly. For the same error signal, a lower gain will result in a lower drive to the motor, causing the motor to turn more slowly. An example of this could be that we command the crosshead to move by a defined amount instantaneously. Obviously it is not possible to move from one point to another in zero time, so a large error signal is formed. If the gain is low (red line below), the crosshead moves slowly to the commanded value. If the gain is larger (green line below), it moves quicker. If the gain is larger again (blue line below), it moves so quickly it overshoots the commanded value, and a negative error signal is formed to return it to the commanded value. However, if the gain is too high(black line), the negative error caused by the overshoot of the command value will be amplified so much that it overshoots in the opposite direction, which causes a positive error to be generated. This again overshoots the command value, and the cycle continues with the machine oscillating out of control.

In 1931, the decibel (dB) was defined as a unit in honour of Alexander Graham Bell. The decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. This unit is used extensively in electronics because of its ability to carry out multiplication of ratios by simple addition and subtraction, meaning that complex electronics are not required. Instrons BlueHill 2 software uses decibels for the proportional gain term in the control loop, and the implied reference level is a gain factor of 1. In other words, 0dB is equivalent to no increase or decrease in the amplitude of the error signal. If we set a positive value for the gain, this is making the amplitude of the drive signal greater than that or the error signal. If we set a negative value for the gain, it is making the amplitude drive signal smaller. In order for the software to correctly control the testing machine, it turns out that a gain of 0dB is too high; therefore, we need to set a negative value for the gain. From experience, a gain of approximately -35dB is a suitable value for most specimens, but you may need to experiment a little to find a gain which is best suited to your specimen and machine setup.