The Testing Times

As mentioned before, we do a wide range of platens (two parallel plates that are used to compress the test specimen...) Often the sample is uneven or has protruding features, the fixed platens are less effectual in this instance. In cases like this, self aligning platens distribute the load across the sample by increasing the contact area. (The arrows show movement...)

It's really nice to be able to show you some pictures of the finished products, rather than renderings. The attachments, once checked, go straight to the customer... (so we don't often get time for pictures). This test is for Bituminous Materials, like tar -or- polymer modified asphalt (depending on you professional inclinations). The ASTM Standard calls for a very precise procedure that includes warming and filling a 3oz. pot with the sample and lowering a semi-sphere into it. This is then extracted and the forces required measured... It's quite a demanding test for the equipment as the sample material is quite, well, sticky... so we've made the parts that would come in contact with the sample out of stainless steel, this should allow the parts to be cleaned without having to worry about affecting any surface finish.

This attachment consists of a bath and holder to test the tension applied to a section of artificial skin. The sample is tiny, only 0.508 mm in section. The sensitivity of the system allows for small samples to be tested. Testing Artificial Skin has some unique requirements, the sample needs to be kept moist, in this case there is a simple saline bath. The sample is lowered into the bath and then can be tested...