Product category:
Materials Testing
News Release from: SMAC Europe | Subject: Micro-Tensile Tester
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 July 2003
Cost Effective Micro-Tensile Tester
One of the significant properties of the SMAC range of linear actuators is the ability to apply a known force whilst registering position, which led to the provision of a micro-tensile test station.
One of the significant properties of the SMAC range of linear actuators is the ability to apply a known force whilst registering position and it is this function which raised the possibility of providing a micro-tensile test station at the Microscopy and Imaging Department of the Dental Institute at King's College London Previously the mechanical testing of biomaterials involved driving a crosshead stage comprising a rotary motor and lead-screw, with a load cell interposed between the sample and the stressing device
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 4 Oct 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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The major drawback of this system was the speed limitations during rapid life-cycle fatigue tests and the sensitivity of the load cells which were both expensive and prone to damage during fracture events.
The standard SMAC actuator uses a copper voice coil to provide linear motion and force is generated by applying and controlling a known current through the coil, equally force feedback can be monitored by the same means.
It also incorporates an integrated optical encoder with resolution options ranging from 5æm to 0.1æm.
This assembly is mounted onto a high specification linear guide and consequently it provides a robust unit capable of both applying and reporting force and position at a fraction of the cost of conventional set-ups.
SMAC carried out a series of trials at their European Technical office before deciding on a LAL90-015 with a 0.5æm linear encoder and driven by a LAC-1 single-axis controller.
This was consequently supplied to KCL through one of SMAC's distributors LINOS Photonics Ltd.
The system provides a large dynamic range of actuating velocities and forces and is small enough to fit onto a confocal microscope stage.
It has since been used in micro-tensile, fatigue and fracture toughness testing, and as a micro-positioning device.
Identical samples have been tested using both SMAC and conventional stages and the results were directly comparable. Request a free brochure from SMAC Europe ...
These results were recently displayed at the International Association Dental Research meeting in Gothenburg where KCL's Professor Tim Watson described the SMAC system as "Exhibiting robust construction, great flexibility in application and simple programming and is equally valuable in many other applications such as shear, micro-shear and compressive modes of strength testing.".
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