The future of manufacturing automation has arrived – and it doesn’t involve a PLC or an army of controls engineers. With Astra Dash, Uson has engineered a transformative leak testing platform that embeds automation logic, data integration, and scalability into a single, modular solution that empowers users across all levels of technical expertise.
Historically, automated manufacturing required a patchwork of programmable logic controllers (PLCs), dedicated controls engineers, and long development cycles to achieve process sequencing, synchronization, and real-time decision-making. Astra Dash moves beyond that model.
Instead, it features Automation Director, a powerful software suite that enables users to create complex test sequences and logic flows without ever writing a line of ladder logic. Whether you need to run programs in sequence, operate synchronously or asynchronously across channels, or make test results drive downstream actions, Astra Dash lets you do it – visually, intuitively, and without a PLC in sight.
In the era of Industry 4.0, data is currency – and Astra Dash is fluent in every language a factory speaks. With native support for Ethernet/IP, TCP/IP, RS-232, barcode scanning, USB, and REST API, Astra Dash integrates directly with your QMS, MES, ERP, or cloud platforms without middleware or custom scripting.
Key data integration features include:
• REST API for real-time result transfer
• Windows network share for logging
• Digital I/O and fieldbus for external signal interfacing
• Multi-location simultaneous data logging
With these capabilities, Astra Dash ensures that compliance, traceability, and analytics are embedded into your test strategy from the start – no external data logger required.
Modular Design = Zero Downtime & Infinite Flexibility
Astra Dash’s modular architecture enables what used to be impossible: full reconfiguration of your test station in minutes. Each channel box is an independent, pneumatically isolated test module that can be hot-swapped for calibration, serviced individually, or reconfigured for a new product line in just three steps using SMED methodology.
Here’s what this means in practice:
• Run different test types and pressure ranges simultaneously across up to four channels
• Swap a single box without stopping other tests or returning the main unit
• Store thousands of test programs and sequences that can be triggered via barcode, I/O, or remotely
Astra Dash doesn't just reduce downtime – it essentially eliminates it.
Test Experience – Optional
Astra Dash’s interface was designed for engineers, operators, and quality managers alike, with experiences ranging from fresh to seasoned. Experience the following on a full color, 22”, glove-compatible, projected-capacitance touchscreen:
• Interrogative programming: software “asks” the user the right questions to configure the test
• Tooltips throughout to support new or infrequent users
• Widgets and wizards that simplify setup, diagnostics, and run-time visualization
• Customizable user roles and permissions via A3 advanced authorization
The Result? You don’t need to be an expert to deploy and scale Astra Dash. Whether you’re a seasoned test engineer or a new technician, anyone can get a new method up quickly and confidently.
A New Standard for Lean Automation
Smart factories demand lean, agile systems. With Astra Dash, manufacturers can:
• Eliminate costly and rigid PLCs
• Free up their engineering resources for test development
• Reduce downtime via modular servicing
• Integrate deeply into factory networks and systems
• Scale up (or down) instantly
Whether you're manufacturing medical devices, EV battery packs, or consumer packaging, Astra Dash isn't just a new leak tester – it’s a new way to think about automation.
Conclusion
Astra Dash represents a seismic shift in automated leak testing. With its embedded automation logic, plug-and-play integration, and modular design, it enables a level of flexibility, control, and data insight that traditional PLC-based systems can’t match. In a world where smart, adaptable, and downtime-free operations are the competitive edge, Astra Dash is your factory’s next evolutionary step.
Contact us at www.uson.com or schedule a demo to see the Astra Dash in action.
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