TECHNOLOGY NEWS:
Fully automated high temperature metals testing
Lloyd Instruments has interfaced up to two furnaces to its 100 kN LR100K materials testing machine which allows the tensile strength of materials to be tested not only at high temperature but also at the end of a temperature conditioning cycle. This new system will be of particular interest to steel and other metals manu-facturers whose materials are required to experience demanding environmental conditions.
At the heart of the new system is Lloyd Instruments’ NEXYGEN™ MT data analysis software and Ondio™ application builder software which allows temperature values from the furnace controller(s) to be read and independently controlled. The system may be pro-grammed to run any number of heating and cooling cycles as well as holding the sample at a particular temperature for specified time periods.
Once the temperature cycling process is completed, the tensile tests are also performed completely automatically. The NEXYGEN/Ondio software continuously records the temperature throughout the test allowing graphs of time,
load, extension, stress and strain to be plotted against temperature, to give a high level of traceability.
Once the tensile tests are completed,
the furnace is automatically cooled to allow loading of the next sample. The automation of this process brings two key benefits. Firstly a huge a mount of operator time is saved as the operator is only required to load the sample at
the beginning of the test and unload it at the end.
It avoids operators having to be present
to adjust furnace temperatures over cycle times that may last hours. Secondly, the automated process is carried out under identical operating conditions each time, eliminating any possible human errors in setting temperature values incorrectly or for the wrong periods of time.
The system can be fully automated
using a single furnace. However, by fitting two furnaces to the LR100K test machine, one furnace can be used for sample conditioning while the
other is positioned for the tensile
test itself.
Once the first tensile test is completed,
the furnace positions are physically exchanged, allowing the next conditioned sample to be tested. In this way, sample throughput can be even further enhanced.
The LR100K twin column materials testing system can be used for testing applications with capacities up to 100 kilonewtons (22,000 pounds force). The large working test space between columns – 620mm (24") – provides room for the furnace to be fitted.
The furnaces used in this application can generate temperatures up to 950˚C. The LR100K has a total crosshead displacement of 1200mm (47") to provide accurate and consistent testing on a wide variety of materials.
Company: |
Lloyd Instruments Ltd |
Country: |
UK |
Fax: |
+44 1489 885118 |
Email: |
|
Website: |
www.lloyd-instruments.co.uk |