Testing machines: Launches and updates

For 2013 – the 22nd testXpo – more than 30 exhibitors displayed a diverse selection of products for materials and component testing. Equipment ranged from static testing machines, fatigue testing systems, hardness testers and pendulum impact testers to extrusion plastometers. Zwick also used the occasion to present its new zwickiLine and ProLine with testControl II measurement and control electronics. These testing machine ranges combine an innovative operating concept and state-of-the-art drive technology with powerful, flexible electronics to accommodate a wide range of testing applications.

testControl II has established itself via Zwick’s AllroundLine range. Its data transfer rate of 2kHz offers advantages, for example in rapid testing, tests involving short, brittle specimens and in tear-growth, adhesion and peel tests. It also has a minimum of six flexible time-synchronised slots. This enables simultaneous, time-synchronised measurement using different types of sensor. For example, an extensometer and a measurement transducer can be used in addition to the force-measurement channel. 

 

Using the display-equipped remote control it is possible to perform the entire test independently of the PC. In addition, the machine can be controlled directly from the electronics or via the user interface of the testXpert II software. The interaction of electronic and mechanical safety components and the software testXpert II is said to guarantee maximum protection for user, specimen, test data and testing system.

 

ProLine has a new industrial drive with AC technology, controlled via EtherCAT. This enables faster return and test speeds to be achieved, improving cycle times and allowing more tests to be performed in a shorter time. For zwickiLine the load-frame concept has been optimised with regard to stiffness, test-area depth and mounting options.

Servo-hydraulic testing

Zwick’s testControl II measurement and control electronics and testXpert Research testing software form a powerful package for servo-hydraulic testing systems. The software assists the user in intuitively defining, evaluating and documenting tests, while testControl II electronics offer high measured-value rates, modularity and a high level of safety.

 

As well as individual control algorithms, testControl II firmware has a 10kHz measured-value acquisition-rate plus 24-bit resolution with a 400kHz sample-rate, ensuring ample test data and control quality. An expanded peak-value controller is available in addition to standardised PID controllers. User-specific control algorithms can be developed, with Matlab, for example, while open export interfaces enable data exchange with all popular formats such as Excel etc.

 

With testXpert Research software the ‘Low Cycle Fatigue Tests’ program is used for strain-controlled determination of low-cycle fatigue in metals in accordance with ASTM E606. A triangular wave-form with constant amplitude is generally selected as set value. Sine signals are also possible.

 

Also available for testXpert Research are two test programs for determining the principal fracture mechanics properties: for determination of critical stress intensity factor K1C in accordance with ASTM E399 and for crack growth dA/dN as per ASTM E647.

To assist with the development of simple and complex test sequences, testXpert Research Sequencer is available as a graphical block editor. As many blocks can be parameterised as required.

 

In addition to testXpert Research, testXpert II testing software can be operated with testControl II, allowing all quasi-static tests such as tensile, compression or flexure tests to be carried out on one servo-hydraulic machine.

Robotic testing systems:

Plastics laboratory staff spend a lot of time conducting tensile, flexure and impact tests, together with other mechanical standard tests to determine material characteristic values. For these routine tests Zwick offers an easy route into automation: the roboTest H robotic testing system for impact testing and roboTest B for tensile or flexure tests.

Easy to operate and of compact design, they can be connected to existing Zwick equipment. The machine can still be used for manual tests whenever required.

Update package

Zwick also modernises materials testing machines and has so far updated more than 3000 testing machines incorporating over 40 different makes and models. The knowledge gained has provided a solid basis for the introduction of its RetroLine tC II Modernization Package, now available for all electro-mechanical testing machines with drives up to 4kW (250kN) regardless of manufacturer. The package includes the new testControl II measurement and control electronics which brings an ‘old’ testing machine fully up to date.