Segment Information (Detail) - The following table presents certain operating segment information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Sales:
Product	$ 23,512	$ 20,345	$ 56,834	$ 58,320
Service	7,020	6,567	18,930	19,407
Total sales	30,532	26,912	75,764	77,727
Income (loss) from operations	1,060	1,853	1,580	3,074
Assets	58,107	48,399	58,107	48,399	$ 48,707
Capital expenditures	95	141	273	486
Depreciation and amortization	169	191	498	542
High Performance Products Segment
Sales:
Product	1,635	3,354	5,155	8,165
Service	1,680	2,248	4,331	3,712
Total sales	3,315	5,602	9,486	11,877
Income (loss) from operations	388	1,585	802	661
Assets	17,277	17,486	17,277	17,486
Capital expenditures	32	28	90	193
Depreciation and amortization	58	59	168	176
Germany
Sales:
Product	428	1,074	4,827	4,365
Service	3,675	2,892	10,803	11,691
Total sales	4,103	3,966	15,630	16,056
Income (loss) from operations	(282)	(139)	(124)	1,042
Assets	16,509	13,306	16,509	13,306
Capital expenditures	17	30	104	149
Depreciation and amortization	46	36	137	118
United Kingdom
Sales:
Product	1,748	1,805	4,611	5,150
Service	252	325	565	777
Total sales	2,000	2,130	5,176	5,927
Income (loss) from operations	58	(10)	(183)	(58)
Assets	2,078	2,641	2,078	2,641
Capital expenditures	0	60	0	93
Depreciation and amortization	2	39	7	77
U.S.
Sales:
Product	19,701	14,112	42,241	40,640
Service	1,413	1,102	3,231	3,227
Total sales	21,114	15,214	45,472	43,867
Income (loss) from operations	896	417	1,085	1,429
Assets	22,243	14,966	22,243	14,966
Capital expenditures	46	23	79	51
Depreciation and amortization	63	57	186	171
Total
Sales:
Product	21,877	16,991	51,679	50,155
Service	5,340	4,319	14,599	15,695
Total sales	27,217	21,310	66,278	65,850
Income (loss) from operations	672	268	778	2,413
Assets	40,830	30,913	40,830	30,913
Capital expenditures	63	113	183	293
Depreciation and amortization	$ 111	$ 132	$ 330	$ 366