Product category:
Materials Testing
News Release from: Zwick Testing Machines | Subject: Automatic hardness testing
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 28 January 2005
Automation means hard speed
Indentec and parent Zwick have introduced an automatic hardness testing system which is fully compliant with international testing standards that is both fast and reliable.
Hardness testing of metallic materials often places high demands on the patience of the user due to the standardized test methods defined within the various ISO and ASTM standards In particular, the mandatory indentation dwell times are to be strictly observed while the time needed for equipment setup plays a significant role
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Oct 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Hardness testing measurement automated
Hardness testing measurement automated by using two hardness testing devices: a machine for testing according to Rockwell and an additional tester for Vickers hardness tests.
Robotic tester frees technicians for skilled work
Thought to be the first of its type in the UK tyre industry, a robotic digital testing machine has improved operational efficiency and freed technicians for more skilled work.
The result - a long test time.
Thus, automating such tests is a logical consequence.
Indentec and their parent Company Zwick have come up with an outstanding solution: an automatic system which is fully compliant with international testing standards that is both fast and reliable.
Further reading
Digital machine tests solenoids automatically
Claiming to be the first digital machine for testing on-off switching and proportional solenoid actuators, it applies and measures force and electrical values simultaneously.
Novel machine performs axial and torsion testing
Axial and torsion testing is carried out on a variety of materials or components that flex in different directions under load, in combination or separately, on a novel testing machine.
Torsional tester is designed for many materials
A new generation of testing machines to study the torsional influence on materials and components feature easy operation, flexibility and accuracy in testing metallics, plastics and products.
The system comprises two hardness testing devices: a machine for testing according to the Rockwell method and an additional tester for Vickers hardness tests.
Both machines are fully automated and designed for testing a range of components.
The specimens are fed into the testers using a 6 axis industrial robot.
The Vickers system has automatic focus and indentation measurement which eliminates any operator influence normally associated with such tests.
Additional workstations include a barcode reader, which recognizes the relevant test to be performed by the label on each specimen and a thickness measuring station with two sensors for determining the specimen thickness.
The system is fully controlled using the Zwick testing software testXpert autoEdition.
Of particular mention is the fact that specimens can be tested in parallel as both hardness testing machines can be operated simultaneously.
If more than one test should be required per specimen, a shifting station will move the specimen the necessary distance.
Thanks to an intelligent test program, the system recognizes which of the hardness testers is free and feeds the next specimen accordingly.
Two buffer magazines are provided to harmonize operations, ensuring that the next specimen is ready on time and adjusting discrepancies in times occurring between the Vickers and Rockwell testers.
The result - fast specimen throughput.
Furthermore, the tested specimens are sorted into containers in accordance with specific criteria e.g measured hardness value within/out of tolerance.
The system can conveniently be connected to a higher-level host computer for automatic upload of the relevant test results.
Dynamics in Production The quality requirements in manufacturing are growing steadily and, with them, the significance of production-geared testing.
In the automobile industry, in particular, dynamic testing is gaining in importance.
Zwick, the testing machine manufacturer based in Ulm, has included a number of servohydraulic testing machines in its offering which are geared especially for these applications.
Tailored to the environmental conditions particular to manufacturing and supporting the user through superior ease of operation, these machines enable a variety of stress tests to be performed over numerous cycles.
The key benefit is quality assurance in the running line.
Two examples of Zwick solutions deployed in the industry are presented in the following: Testing of Rubber-Metal Bearings When rubber-metal bearings are tested in the line in volume production, a variety of characteristic values need to be determined to be able to assure the desired product properties and monitor the production process accordingly.
And it is with this measurement task in mind that Zwick developed a testing system allowing the determination of static and dynamic stiffness as well as the loss angle and loss factor of rubber-metal bearings.
As the testing machines are set up in the production environment, operator safety when inserting and removing the specimens but also during testing is of particular importance.
For this reason, the machine is equipped with a safety light curtain.
Together with an additional two-hand control used to start testing, the safeguard ensures optimal protection for the user.
The measured values are checked against specified tolerances with the results displayed using colored tolerance indicators.
And the testing machine comes with a convenient acoustic signal: a buzzer signals when it is necessary to change specimens or intervene in testing, freeing the operator to perform other activities in the meantime.
Dynamic Torsion Test Bench for Clutch Tests To determine the fatigue rating and the force at break of clutches, Zwick developed a testing concept based on a servohydraulic torsion testing machine tailored to the particular requirements of the customer.
The basic task was to perform tests on the individual components of an automatic clutch.
The test bench was therefore equipped with a multi-functional fixture which the single disks were screwed onto.
As per the customer's wishes, the standard load frame from the servohydraulic product family was not used in this case.
Instead a special torsion testing frame was built to accommodate the torsion drive separately at the back of the machine.
The measurement and control electronics as well as all the hydraulic control components are compactly installed in the lower part of the base.
The testing area is sectioned off and equipped with an electric protection door to ensure operator safety. Request a free brochure from Zwick Testing Machines ...
• Zwick Testing Machines: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
