The Testing Times

An established contract manufacturer of high grade materials, state-of-the-art machinery and innovative team-oriented services have recently upgraded their quality testing capabilities with a new Tinius Olsen 5ST, 5kN testing machine. The company deliver everything from spinal implants, pedicle screw systems, implant-grade PEEK spacers and other medical devices.  Of particular interest for their quality program are their implant-grade PEEK spacers. PEEK, short for polyether ether ketone, is a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer, with excellent mechanical and chemical resistance properties that are retained to high temperatures.  This colorless organic polymer has various engineering applications, as well as being considered an advanced biomaterial for the use in medical implants. These are commonly known as PEEK implants and include minimally invasive spinal, lumbar and thoracic implants. It is also used with a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for creating a partial

Strain Rate control of a tensile test Perfect Tensile strain Rate control with a Tinius Olsen using a model AEX automatic extensometer and Horizon test software control at a Chinese Aircraft manufacturer. Strain rate1.5%/min. as per ISO 6892 beautiful… We all know strain rate control is required for strain sensitive materials especially when it comes to composites, but it increasingly has a place in general metals testing because using strain rate control lowers the measurement of uncertainty when comparing test results from different models and types of testing machines and gauge length marking techniques.

    Interesting solution a Tinius Olsen model 50ST tension/compression materials testing machine frame, 25kN capacity capable of 1750mm cross head travel for testing high strain materials

3D printing has evolved from science fiction to science fact and has led to an exciting and rapidly expanding market.  The process enables engineers to check the fit of different parts long before they commit to costly production. Further examples include allowing architects to produce relatively low-cost scale models for their clients and, perhaps most excitingly, allows medical professionals and related technical developers to handle full-size, 3D objects printed from scanned data. Indeed, there are even companies now producing replacement body parts! The continually increasing industry applications include products for automobiles, trainers, jewellery, plastic toys, coffee makers and all sorts of plastic bottles, packaging and containers. This also includes dental labs, who are using 3D printers to create crowns, bridges and temporaries such as night guards There are also a wide range of educational uses. A typical 3D printer is very much like an  inkjet printer  o

Today ASTM D1238 for melt flow does not currently accommodate a closed loop MFI it is a weight loading standard only.  However, the ASTM Committee D20.30 Thermal Properties, specifically D20.30.08 Thermal Processing Properties responsible for the standard are evaluating closed loop technology, in particular accuracy, repeatability and comparison of the same with dead weight systems. At this point they have a path to updating ASTM D1238 to cover both dead weight and closed loop MFI technology. ISO 1133-1 does allow for closed loop melt flow technology see extract from the standard in pic. That said it does not mean ASTM are lagging, rather they take a different approach proving technology works before they add it to a standard by performing actual comparative material tests to verify measurement performance and capability in key parameters including accuracy, repeatability and being able to define a precision and bias statement. In short ASTM wants