The Testing Times

Testing long compression springs comes with many challenges, the most severe of which is the tendency of the spring to buckle under compression forces. Tinius Olsen engineers developed a solution to ensure accurate and reliable test results, by using a support post fitted to the lower compression platen.  This support post centers the spring and provides support during the initial stages of compressive loading, when buckling is most likely to occur.  The load cell is mounted on the machine base and the support post passes through the cross-head as it compresses the spring, preventing and buckling of the spring. T his configuration can be easily applied with a standard U series Tinius Olsen machine. For more information on Compression/Tension testing machines, click here

Many of the world’s major seat belt manufacturers use Tinius Olsen tensile testing machines to test seat belts and associated components to prove strength and performance. Tinius Olsen’s H100K-U tensile testing machine along with test specific grips HT43 proves to be the best solution for testing seat belts complying with international standards such as ASTM D6775 and BS 3254.  Seat belts store a great amount of energy before breaking, hence the break is violent. One of the nice feature of Tinius Olsen machines is TO offers a range of safety screens compatible with its U series tensile machines to protect users and contain component fragments. And the Horizon software produces the output graph (force against displacement) which gives a graphical representation of the seat belt performance during the test.   Quick Facts: A typical seat belt in a modern car can withstand a tensile breaking force in access of 2.5 tons (25kN)

Testing thermoplastic materials for puncture resistance is recognized as an important aspect for ensuring product quality as stated in the ASTM D4830 standard. Tinius Olsen’s test specific attachment, the model S348, implemented on a H5K-S machine, is best suited for this test. The configuration complies with the key test parameters of ASTM D4830, having a tensile testing machine, ring clamp attachments capable of clamping without slippage, and solid steel rod with hemispherical end & hardness range of 50 to 60 HRC. A specimen of the fabric is clamped between grooved, circular plates of the ring clamp attachment, which is itself secured in an H5K-S tensile testing machine. A steel rod, attached to a load cell in the movable cross-head of the tester,   is lowered onto the specimen at a constant rate until the specimen ruptures; the resultant rupture force, in N or lbf,   of the thermoplastic fabric is captured and reported. Now what makes it even better is that the punct