The Testing Times

A Tinius Olsen testing machine can be used to test the performance and strength of the very “ BIG ” say a piece 40mm diameter reinforcing bar ripping it apart under a tensile load of 889,644 N (90 metric tons force) or the very “ small ” say micro electronic and electrical components, forces less than 5 N . Testing electronic components requires small attachments which are fitted to the tension compression materials testing machine to hold the material under test and apply the required force. Recently we supplied a tension compression system which included a micro flex bend attachment to facilitate bend tests on flexible membranes used in mobile and cell phones. The unit pictured part 99-1004733-330-034 is a variable span (can be adjusted by the user) 3 point flexural bend attachment with a span up to 30mm and points of contact diameter 3mm. Pictured here with a 5N load cell (Force measuring device) mounted on the testing machine through which the loading fo...

Check out this clip showing our specimen grip technologies and easy configuration on the ST series of Materials Testing Machines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS8P9WvmAh8 Specimen grips are used to hold and or support materials or components under test be it a Tensile or Compression or Flex bend or Shear or Peel test. At Tinius Olsen we literally have hundreds of grip technologies in our standard range and a team of engineers who design, test and implement custom grips to hold specific components, such as packaging enclosure systems, medical devices, electrical and electronic components. Especially on low force materials testing machines these grip technologies are easily put on and or removed from the testing machine for quick test configuration, the clip shows how this is acheived.  

At Tinius Olsen Testing Machine Company we try to constantly listen to our product users and where possible evolve our products to capture suggested improvements in support of efficient materials testing and product use. One such idea which we have implemented is the use of removable inserts in the chassis of our temperature chambers, top and bottom. This allows the user to remove the inserts and then easily slide the temperature chamber back, on its rail support system,   away from the testing machine test area without removing the test specimen grips/holders and tie rods which can stay in place. This feature implemented in the Tinius Olsen chamber model ref 99-1005790 significantly reduces downtime when the testing machine and its tooling are reconfigured for a change in test or test specimen type, enabling the chamber to be quickly removed from or pulled back into the test area and test equipment configuration. Pictures illustrate the removable temp...

Our Tinius Olsen Horizon materials testing software keeps pace with technology now Windows 10 compatible, it is a fully touch screen enabled platform supporting efficient quick use. As a platform it is compatible with all our current and many of our past materials testing machines; Tension Compression machines, Impact, Torsion, Melt Flow, HDT, Vicat and more. As you would expect Horizon is packed with standard features to maximise its focus on meeting a user’s specific needs; Configuring tests, totally flexible results reporting on and off line, full integration capability with users company wide data, measurement, recording and network platforms, on line tech support, multiple license capability in support of results analysis and connection to multiple testing machines enabling results to be drawn into a central storage, recall and reporting function. Want a demonstration? Want to learn more? Contact us @ Tinius Olsen Testing Machine Company 

At Tinius Olsen we have a range of extensometer technologies, LVDT, strain gauge, encoder, video and laser. Each technology base has its strength and weaknesses hence the range and is selected because of its performance for a particular application, material to be tested and users ROI. A laser extensometer such as the Tinius 500L uses a helium neon class two laser, which means it’s very safe for use in a lab and does not require any special safety precautions. The natural blinking of the eye provides protection although we don’t recommend you look directly at the laser, frankly there is no need and it would not be easy when configured with a Tinius materials testing machine. The 500L scans the test specimen 320 times per second and automatically measures the “Gauge length – L0” it does this by capturing the reflection from two reflective marks placed on the test specimen, the leading lower edge of which is actually captured (not the whole width of the tape mark). As the sampl...