The Testing Times

We have just addes nine new platens to our range of Compression platens, these are for use with our U-Series machine. The New platens are available in 3 different capacities, 100kN, 150kN, and 300kN. The Platens also come in 3 different Diameters, 100mm, 150mm, and 200mm.

This is a special for testing thin cardboard and foam samples. The problem is that the sample goes from zero load to solid in 1 - 2mm. The platen is designed to remain stable up to 3 kN then compress allowing the machine to stop before exceeding 5 kN and destroying the loadcell .

The Compression of a spring can be quite a hard thing to measure, the spring has a tendency to want to exert it's applied force horizontally to the platens (in other words, fly off under the nearest table...) This isn't really a problem, just a nuisance and in some applications a desirable feature of springs... To stop the test sample from flying off these compression platens have a free running guide that retracts into the top body. This holds onto the spring, whilst having a known affect on the test.

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...)

At first sight, one of less intricate but useful tests is compression tests. This is basically applying a force (measured in Newton’s) to the sample and measuring the effect the force has. There are a wide range of tools for doing this but in general platens are used to hold the sample and apply the force. Platens are large flat surfaces that can be used to compress a sample… The S0404 platens are big, very big. They fit on the 100 kN U-series Systems (they can apply a force of 100 kN to an object) Tinius Olsen produce… These behemoth platens are 350mm x 350mm and 35mm thick plough ground plate. I’m a big chap and I can’t lift one on my own… A brute force approach, but the feedback received through the Loadcell and Compressometer is very precise and can show how much force a sample can take and spring back or fail. The results gleaned from these tests can tell a great deal about the product under test, the 'intelligence' comes in the form of the Software, which can be use...