Characterization of wood materials requires a range of tests under different loading conditions, such as tensile, compression, shear, and flexure. Instron provides a range of high-performance wood testing fixtures that conform to the requirements of the appropriate ASTM, ISO, EN, JIS, and other testing standards.
The Instron ISO 80369 system is built upon a single column universal testing machine with biaxial capabilities and is designed to support the testing of Annexes B through I*. The system includes an additional pressure transducer as well as a controller capable of generating both positive and negative pressure in line with the standard. Given the wide range of devices that can be tested, the system provides the necessary modularity to support testing syringes, IV hubs, connectors, and more.
The specific device fixture comes in two main configurations. The first is a highly flexible pneumatic grip with interchangeable faces designed to match various user-defined geometries. The entire grip assembly is mounted on a manual XY assembly to ensure consistent alignment between the device under test and the reference connector. The second configuration is specifically designed to support standard syringe sizes. In this setup, the syringe body is secured by a pneumatic lathe chuck while the rotating luer collar is secured by an adjustable pneumatic side acting grip.
* Annex K was released in 2024 and is still under evaluation for compatibility.
Consolidating testing to a single system and performing assembly in sequence with the testing provides an unparalleled level of efficiency, reducing the time required to evaluate devices and minimizing the number of devices required.
To maximize testing time, the fully assembled reference connector-device pair can be removed to allow the required hold period of 48 hours for stress cracking without losing the ability to use the system.
The system can be configured to allow customers to utilize existing reference connectors, considering their significant expense. To ensure proper fit and function, current connectors will need to be provided during the design of the system.
The configuration for testing IV hubs and connectors provides a simple mounting pattern on the pneumatic grips to allow companies to interface their own faces, which match their device geometry. This also enables labs to remain agile, easily prototyping new faces to support device concepts.
The system is properly rated to support performing variable tests as opposed to the standard attribute tests, as it can require destructive testing. This reduces the total number of specimens needed for a statistically significant result.
Please complete the form below and we will be happy to contact you with a response. Our typical response time for an online request is within 1-2 business days. For a faster response, please call +1-800-473-7838.
As the premier extensometer solution, the AVE3 is unrivaled in versatility — offering precision strain measurement down to 1 micron accuracy for tensile, compression, and bend testing. Delivering unparalleled flexibility, the AVE3 can be used for everything — small to large gauge lengths, low to high elongations, sensitive materials like films,
explosive failures of composites, and even non-ambient testing in a chamber or a fluid bath. The AVE3's compliance with ISO 9513 and ASTM E83 means you can reliably test to any standard with one device, eliminating the need to purchase and maintain multiple clip-on devices.
Eliminate Environmental and Operator Influences on Results
Did you know that the environmental conditions in your lab create air disturbances that negatively impact your device's performance? Thermal and environmental disturbances can worsen device accuracy by up to 5 times when compared to the performance you would see under perfect lab conditions. These disturbances can be caused by normal laboratory activity such as people walking by the device, operators having a conversation nearby, or an HVAC system turning on. Instron's AVE3 features patent-pending Constant Density Air Tunnel (CDAT) airflow technology that shields your test space while mitigating any thermal or environmental effects, giving you accurate and repeatable results every time.
The AVE3 eliminates the effect of operator attachment on your strain data, producing more consistent and repeatable results. By measuring strain without contact, the AVE3 eliminates the cumbersome attaching and detaching required with clip-on devices, in addition to preventing premature damage to the specimen from knife edges — optimizing throughput and ensuring the most accurate results.
No two labs have the same lighting conditions, and lighting can change throughout the day, which can lead to variation in results. To ensure the AVE3 always sees the same image, Instron uses a patented cross-polarized lighting system that dynamically adjusts to ensure your markings are perfectly illuminated for consistent results on every test.
Endless Applications
The AVE3 can measure both modulus and strain to failure for almost any application, including static tensile, flexure, and compressive testing for flat and round specimens. Measurements can be collected at ambient conditions or at high and low temperatures when using environmental chambers or fluid baths. Whether you're testing plastics, metals, composites, textiles, films, foils, elastomers, paper, components, or biomaterials, the AVE3 offers the versatility to meet evolving testing demands and the following standards.
Metal Standards
Plastic Standards
Composite Standards
Elastomer Standards
Film and Foil Standards
Streamlined operator controls, integrated directly in Bluehill Universal software, and enhanced controls allow you to set preferences for when the light bar and fans are on.
On-board measurement technology processes data in real-time (500 Hz), and is capable of meeting strain control requirements.
Easily mounts on nearly any Instron universal testing system and temperature chamber.
Easily integrates with automation solutions for streamlined, high throughput strain measurement.
Lenses are configured and factory calibrated for your unique test setup. Aperture and focus settings are locked to remove any variability of operator influence. Each lens is programmed with an identification number, which allows the test system to automatically recognize the device through a kinematic connection. This new connection method guarantees a repeatable placement of the lens. The AVE3 also uses a simplified calibration plate that can clip directly onto your specimen with your load string intact, making it easier to perform periodic calibration checks to ensure it's dialed in and ready for testing.
Note: When selecting your lens, ensure you know your minimum and maximum gauge length requirements as well as total elongation of the range of specimens you plan to test.
With the new AVE3, you're now able to perform testing that requires strain control, including ASTM E8 and ISO 6892. Between the advancements in accuracy and a data capture rate of 500 Hz, the AVE3 delivers rapid insights that allow the testing system to respond in real-time to changes in strain rate — ensuring you have repeatable and comparable results that comply with testing standards.
Optional Add-Ons
AverEdge32 is an optional advanced feature of the AVE3 that utilizes edge-detection technology to simultaneously measure transverse strain at 32 locations along the specimen gauge length. It then averages them in real time, resulting in a smooth and repeatable transverse strain value, which is essential to calculating the r-value of sheet metal.
Single Gauge Width vs. AverEdge32 Technology
5000 Series Aluminum
6000 Series Aluminum
Digital image correlation (DIC) is an optical technique that compares images of a tested specimen's surface to generate full-field strain and displacement maps. It creates pictures that can be used to visualize strain and displacement over the full two-dimensional surface of the test specimen.
Latest generation CDAT technology for up to 5x improvement in accuracy
(Compared to video extensometer without CDAT technology)
Dynamic Cross-Polarized Lighting
Data capture rate
6 mm, 9 mm, 16 mm, and 35 mm focal length lens options for a field of view up to 685 mm
Strain Control Capable
AverEdge32 Compatible for Transverse Strain Measurement
Digital Image Correlation (DIC) Software Compatible
(Optional)
For static testing applications
Whether you are evaluating the AVE3 for a specific application or looking to replace multiple clip-on devices with a single versatile solution, our team is ready to help.
Instron’s hydraulic grip pumps deliver precise, reliable clamping force for high‑capacity materials testing, supporting systems up to 600 kN. The compact 2718‑700 provides up to 207 bar for wedge grips with optional Bluehill Universal integration, while the 2718‑550 supports both wedge and side‑acting grips with continuous 24/7 operation and a two‑stage flow system for faster throughput. Both models feature front‑mounted analogue gauges for easy monitoring and seamless compatibility with Instron hydraulic grip families.
The 2718-700 compact hydraulic grip pump is designed for use with Instron’s hydraulic wedge action grips ranging up to 100 kN capacity. This pump can be configured to provide between 41 bar (600 psi) and 207 bar (3000 psi) clamping pressure and incorporates two analogue pressure gauges that are easily visible to the operator from the front of the pump.
The pump can be configured to run in either Stand-Alone or Integrated mode. In Integrated mode, pressure settings are controlled in Bluehill Universal and can be defined in your methods — reducing errors and time spent manually adjusting pressure settings between different tests.
| Compatible Grips | ||
| Grip Type | Load Capacity | Catalog No. |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Hydraulic Wedge Action Grips | ±30 kN | 2742-301 |
| Advanced Hydraulic Wedge Action Grips | ±50 kN | 2742-450 |
| Advanced Hydraulic Wedge Action Grips | ±100 kN | 2743-401 |
The 2718-550 hydraulic grip pump is compatible with Instron’s hydraulic wedge and side action grips and is designed for continuous 24/7 operation for both manual and automated testing systems in industrial environments. It can be configured to provide a maximum pressure of 207 bar (3000 psi) for use with wedge grips, or alternatively 138 bar (1900 psi) for use with side acting grips. The unit incorporates two analogue pressure gauges that are easily visible to the operator from the front of the pump.
The 2718-550 pump is configured to operate with a two-stage flow speed, with a higher flow rate up to 69 bar (1000 psi) to increase productivity. Once the grips clamp the specimen, the pressure will then increase to the full pressure at the slower flow rate.
| Compatible Grips | ||
| Grip Type | Load Capacity | Catalog No. |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Hydraulic Wedge Action Grips | ±30 kN | 2742-301 |
| Advanced Hydraulic Wedge Action Grips | ±50 kN | 2742-450 |
| Advanced Hydraulic Wedge Action Grips | ±100 kN | 2743-401 |
| Advanced Hydraulic Wedge Action Grips | ±250 kN | 2742-501 |
| Advanced Hydraulic Wedge Action Grips | ±500 kN | 2742-601 |
| Hydraulic Dual Side Action Grips | 250 kN | W-5450 |
| Hydraulic Dual Side Action Grips | 600 kN | W-5420 |
Instron offers a range of testing systems for evaluating melt flow behavior, rheological properties, heat deflection temperature (HDT), and the Vicat softening temperature of plastics, in addition to characterizing impact resistance for a variety of materials and components.
Impact resistance is one of the most important properties for component designers to consider. Impact resistance is a critical measure of service life, and it involves the perplexing problem of product safety and liability.
The Instron line of rheology testing systems are used to measure the rheological properties of thermoplastics to characterize the polymer melt flow behavior in the process conditions.
HDT and Vicat systems are used to characterize the behavior of plastic materials at high temperatures, measuring the heat deflection temperature (HDT) and the Vicat softening temperature.
All Instron® HDT & Vicat testers have been produced since the late 1990s. Hundreds of these systems have been installed around the world, and they have earned an excellent reputation for reliability, with many labs still running units decades after installation. However, as these systems age, component obsolescence is making it increasingly difficult to provide spare parts and associated repairs and service — a natural part of any long-running product line's life cycle.
In these cases, your local sales engineer can offer you a generous trade-in offer, helping you move to a current system without starting your evaluation from scratch. Use the tables below to find your system, check its support phase and available upgrade paths, and see what options make the most sense for your lab.
Did you know that Instron offers a FREE Lab Health Check?
Not sure whether your HDT & Vicat system should be repaired, retrofitted, or traded in? Tell us about your system and we will help you find the right solution.
Tell us about your testing needs, and we'll help you configure the right frame, load cell, grips, and software for your lab. Please complete the form below, and we'll respond within 1-2 business days. For a faster response, call +1-800-473-7838 or +1 781 828 2500 if you are outside of the US.
Instron's Structural Durability Products portfolio is built on more than a century of engineering expertise, offering a complete range of components for servohydraulic load simulation and structural testing across automotive, aerospace, rail, construction, and energy industries. The product line includes the Labtronic EVO® and Labtronic® 8800ml controllers for advanced multi-channel testing, Hydropuls® linear and rotary actuators for precise static and dynamic loading, and a full suite of fatigue-rated sensors for force, torque, pressure, strain, and acceleration measurement. To support high-performance system operation, Instron provides two- and three-stage servo valves, modular hydraulic power packs, and pipeline accessories designed for both dedicated rigs and centralized laboratory supply. A wide selection of test frames and fixtures completes the offering, enabling flexible, configurable test setups tailored to a broad range of durability applications.
Labtronic EVO is Instron's next-generation servohydraulic controller platform — redefining how test systems are designed, installed, and expanded. Built on a decentralized architecture with five integrated components, EVO places control and measurement electronics close to actuators, reducing cabling significantly and cutting test setup time by up to 80% in select configurations. Fully backward compatible with the Labtronic 8800ml, EVO supports stepwise upgrades to existing rigs without full system replacement — protecting your investment while enabling modernization.
The Labtronic 8800ml is Instron's proven multi-channel test controller, providing an integrated solution for the full range of structural durability applications — from single-channel component tests through to complex service load simulation on complete vehicles. Widely deployed in automotive and aerospace test laboratories worldwide, the 8800ml delivers reliable, high-performance closed-loop control across a broad range of load types and specimen configurations.
Hydropuls hydraulic actuators are the foundation of Instron's structural durability test rigs — used across the full range of static and dynamic applications where precise simulation of movement, force, strain, and acceleration is required. Available in linear and rotary configurations across a wide range of force and stroke options, Hydropuls® actuators are designed for long-term reliability in continuous durability testing environments.
A comprehensive range of fatigue-rated precision transducers for measuring position, force, torque, pressure, strain, and acceleration in demanding structural durability test environments. All sensors are selected and validated for long-term reliability under cyclic loading conditions — essential for test programs that run continuously over extended periods.
Two- and three-stage servo valves covering flow rates from 5 to 2,400 liters per minute — providing the full range of performance needed to drive Hydropuls actuators across low-force component tests and high-force full-vehicle simulation applications. Servo valve selection is matched to the specific force, frequency, and dynamic response requirements of each test rig configuration.
A modular range of variable flow hydraulic power supplies designed to serve dedicated test rigs or configured as a centralized laboratory supply facility serving multiple test stations. Pipeline solutions are also available to safely distribute hydraulic supply throughout the laboratory — with designs that minimize pressure loss and support efficient, reliable system operation.
Instron's modular test frames and fixtures provide a flexible foundation for structural durability test rigs — accommodating a wide variety of specimen types, load configurations, and test geometries. The modular approach allows frames to be reconfigured or extended as testing requirements change, protecting the initial investment and reducing the lead time for new test programs.
Whether you are building a new structural durability test rig, expanding an existing system, or looking to upgrade aging components, our team in Darmstadt can help you select the right products and configuration for your application.
Please complete the form below and we will be happy to contact you with a response. Our typical response time for an online request is within 1–2 business days. For a faster response, please call +1-800-473-7838.
Bluehill Central transforms laboratory management by centralizing the oversight of templates, results, users, and audit trails across your Instron universal testing systems. This remote connectivity not only guarantees procedural consistency and data integrity but also provides the visibility to identify data performance shifts across your operations in real-time.
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Bluehill Central is a centralized hub that connects all your lab's testing data, settings, and files in one place. Instead of managing every lab computer individually, everything is synced through a single server.
Here is the breakdown of how it works:
Testing machines in the lab are connected to your corporate network. They send their data directly to the central database, so you don't have to worry about saving files locally on each machine.
Your IT team hosts a central server that stores all the information. This "brain" manages all the communication between the lab machines and the database, keeping everything organized and secure.
You don't have to be at the machine to work. From your desk, you can:
Bluehill Central eliminates the manual work and data integrity risk of managing separate Instron workstations by putting all your lab's data into one shared, professional system.
Bluehill Central modernizes materials testing through a modular approach that brings control, traceability, and insight together. Built on a secure foundation of Team structures, its core modules — Lab Management, Traceability, and TrendTracker — work independently or as a complete system to replace fragmented, manual testing practices.
| The “Old” Way Isolated Systems |
The Bluehill Central Way Connected Lab |
Module | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Method Control | Uncontrolled Method Versions Operators may accidentally use outdated method files saved locally on a PC or USB drive. |
Single Source of Truth Every frame pulls the same approved method from the server with automatic revision history. |
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| Risk Management | Single Point of Failure If a local PC fails, test methods and historical data may be permanently lost. |
Enterprise Security Data is backed up to a secure Microsoft SQL server and is fully recoverable. |
|
| Data Integrity | Manual Review Process Reviewing tests requires physical lab access, specific PCs, and paper-based logs. |
Instant Traceability Managers review, approve, and electronically sign results directly from their desk. |
 |
| Audit Preparation | Manual Audit Preparation Tedious manual tracking of testing process that is difficult to prove end-to-end traceability. |
One‑Click Compliance Generate a complete, tamper‑proof audit trail across all systems in seconds. |
|
| Analysis | Fragmented Data Analysis Hours spent manually aggregating data from multiple machines into spreadsheets. |
Automated Insights TrendTracker automatically aggregates data and flags trends and outliers. |
 |
| User Access | Machine-Level Access Difficult to restrict changes on local machines, increasing risk of mistakes. |
Centralized Access User permissions are managed in one place. Teams provide flexibility to support different levels of security for different groups. |
All Modules |
What is the Lab Management module? A centralized file system that stores all test methods, results, and templates network-wide.
What it does for you: Eliminates "version chaos" by ensuring every machine runs the same approved, up-to-date method.
Each Bluehill file contains its history, detailing all changes associated with each revision of the file.
Storing and retrieving files from the database is simple with upload and download functions.
Limit which users can make changes or access files by configuring read and write access for files and folders.
Operators can continue testing if connection to the database is lost by making critical files or folders available offline in Bluehill Universal.
Included With the Lab Management Module
What is the Traceability module? Electronic signatures and audit trail recording "who, what, when, why" for Bluehill activity on all systems.
What it does for you: Simplifies compliance for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and ISO 17025 with indisputable documentation.
Perform file reviews from all connected test systems from the comfort of your desk.
Query, filter, and print the audit trail of all connected test systems.
The detail pane provides further information associated with the selected audit trail entry.
What is the TrendTracker module? A data analysis tool that aggregates and plots results across multiple systems and dates.
What it does for you: Replaces manual data analysis with instant statistical insights and visual quality-control charts.
Learn more about the statistics and charts available in TrendTracker.
Discover how TrendTracker optimizes lab workflows across three common use cases - from medical device manufacturing to adhesive quality control and product design. Watch Video
Perform data analysis on results from multiple samples produced by multiple test systems.
Create queries defined by test parameters or results that provide insights to trends and outliers.
Plot a variety of chart types to visualize data sets.
Export the data to a CSV file and open it in an application, like Minitab®, for further analysis.
What are Teams in Bluehill Central? A secure permission engine that groups users and controls access to specific lab functions.
What it does for you: Reduces human error by showing operators only what they need while supporting multiple groups with different workflows.
Learn about security options in Bluehill Central.
Team Configuration Overview
For Flex, Bend, and Fracture Toughness Bond Testing
The flexure fixture allows a variety of flexural and fracture toughness bond tests to be performed, including determination of flexural modulus, flexural strength and flexural yield strength. Easy to install, the 3-point fixture can be modified with an optional conversion kit to provide a 4-point bending conversion. Lower anvils are adjustable to accommodate specimens of different spans. Deflection of the specimen can be measured either through crosshead displacement, or for more precise measurement you can use a mid-span direct measurement plunger with a clip-on extensometer.
Principle of Operation
The specimen is supported on two precision machined anvils of a defined radius. The force is applied either centrally (3-point) or at a defined distance either side of the center (4- point). The support beam is graduated lengthways in metric units for accurate positioning of the anvils, equally spaced to the center line.
Features
Application Range
Type of loading: Static flexure, cyclic flexure tests
Specimen material: Plastics, metals, alloys, composites, ceramics and other materials
Specimen shapes: Strip, bar, components
Common standards: ASTM D790, ISO 178
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Catalog no. | 2810-400 |
| Maximum Capacity | 5 kN (1125 lbf, 500 kgf) |
| Temperature Range | -100 °C to 350 °C (-148 °F to 660 °F) |
| Adjustable Span Distance | 10 - 200 mm (0.39 - 7.87 in) |
| View Full Specifications | Download Brochure |
