Released June 2025

• Support for AVE3 / SVE3 video extensometers
• Automatic loop control gain setting available for strain transducers on 3400 Series systems
• Support for compact hydraulic grip pump (catalog number 2718-700)
• Bluehill Elements supports portrait monitor orientation
• Fixed IP address warning for computer communication
• Smart-Close Air Kit option to use supply pressure during test

Released July 2024

• New autoinjector method types (basic and TestProfiler) to support Autoinjector Testing Systems. Hardware required.
• New System Suitability feature to require daily transducer checks before testing. Currently only available for Autoinjector Testing Systems.
• New sample option for Pass/Fail linked to mean and median statistic failure bounds, which can be displayed in the Pass/Fail workspace component and report. Previously available for individual specimens only.
• New soft key to toggle digital I/O output states.
• New export option to reduce the number of raw data points in the Export 1/2 file. Up to three domains can be configured with a specific number of points retained in each.
• Mettler Toledo scale supported for mass measurements. Hardware required.
• Advanced Performance (K1 option) now included in base Bluehill Universal, supporting up to 2,500 Hz data capture rate for 5900 Series systems and 5,000 Hz for 6800 Series systems.
• New export option to override the default location of TestCam video files.

Released January 2023

Revision History Revision history is now available to all Bluehill Universal users, automatically recording changes to methods, samples, and report templates. Previously an optional purchase with the Traceability add-on, the change log that captures the who, what, and when of changes to Bluehill files is now available as part of the standard offering. Please note: revision history data is stored exclusively in the file itself. The Traceability add-on is required to (1) store revision history in an audit trail database, and (2) use electronic signatures for change approval. Revision history is not accessible in Bluehill Elements.

Calculation Status Calculation status details are now easily accessible to the user in the results table. If a result fails to calculate or a warning is triggered, an information icon appears in the associated cell of the results table, and the user can select the cell to find out why.

Released August 2022

• Added support for the Eurotherm EPC 3016 furnace controller.
• New ability to change the default IP address used by Bluehill to communicate with the frame's controller. Note: overriding the default IP address is only necessary in rare cases. If required, please contact Instron Service, as the change must be initiated from Service Tool Universal.

Released April 2022

• New plug-in for Bluehill Central's TrendTracker module to perform statistical process control (SPC) on all your Instron test results. Trends and outliers in your material can be identified with statistics and a variety of visual charts.
• New auto-balance option for tensile, compressive, and flexure strain is now available in TestProfiler test methods.
• New pre-configured test methods added to the Metals application module: ASTM F606-21, ISO 898-1:2013, ASTM C39-21, ASTM C78-21, and templates for Instron Spring testers.

Released December 2021

• New plug-in for Bluehill Central's Traceability and Lab Management modules to remotely manage all Bluehill Universal users, test templates, file revision approvals, and audit trail data from multiple Instron systems. Bluehill Central, released in December 2021, has its own viewer application and uses your corporate domain to share data and files with all connected Bluehill Universal or Bluehill Central clients.
• New crosshead "Return destination" — in a Bluehill test method, you can now configure the crosshead to return to a non-zero value.
• New "Displacement" data filtering option for 5500 controllers. This option is currently available for other frame controller types and can be found in Admin > Frame > Frame Options > Override Default Data Filter Settings.
• New Collision Mitigation "Transition time" — Collision Mitigation (active on all 6800/3400 frames) now gives you the option to set a time delay before becoming active (not recommended unless instructed by an Instron representative).
• Qualified* on the Windows® 11 operating system. Please note: Bluehill Universal software (the application) is qualified. You must ensure the computer running Bluehill Universal also meets Windows 11 requirements.

Qualified means the product is tested and fully supported.

Released May 2021

• New live display available — "Active Zone" — to visually indicate the current zone of the current test in your test workspace.
• New ability for users with pneumatic grips and the Smart-Close Air Kit: Operator Protection settings can be configured to allow any user to change the pneumatic grip control mode without requiring Admin permissions.
• New export option: prepend method parameters to the Results table.
• Improvement to date/time value management. Selected date/time values now store time zone information, using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Date/time values continue to display to the user in local time.
• Added support for Torsion Add-On 3.0 on the 5900 frame controller.
• Added support for the AT2 Automated XY Stage on the 6800 frame controller.

Released December 2020

• New ability to customize the default units for new methods at the Admin level. When default units are configured to the desired preference, users will not need to specify them when creating new methods.
• New ability to specify the Cycles parameter for a TestProfiler cyclic step as an expression. Users can now link the expression to a number input, choice input, or develop their own function to define the number of cycles.
• New ability to end a TestProfiler Hold step with an absolute rotation angle (limited to Torsion Add-On users). Users can now select Absolute Rotation rotary control and define an End of Rotation angle to complete the current Hold step.
• New ability to define a warning range on results that identifies a valid result close to the defined failure range. Warning and failure bounds are found in the Results section(s) of a method.
• New ability to create a Virtual measurement that is a derivative.
• Additional functionality to specify the measurement to average when using the Average Value calculation. Previously, the Average Value calculation was limited to Force (Y-axis) and Displacement (X-axis).
• Additional functionality to set acceptance (failure) ranges on mean/median independently of individual results. Previously, failure bounds were shared between individual specimens and the mean/median of the sample.
• Added support for the new Instron RTS, Powered by Connect platform (formerly called Instron Connect).

Released June 2020

• New screen-lock functionality to lock Bluehill on demand or after a set period of inactivity. Users can configure this functionality to work with or without Bluehill security. If Bluehill security is enabled, users must re-enter their username and password to unlock the software. Once locked, users can customize their away message to notify other laboratory personnel of the status of the machine and testing.

Released February 2020

• New controller support for 3400 and 6800 Series systems, including support for Collision Mitigation, the Smart-Close Air Kit, software safety coaching, and auto-positioning on 6800 systems.
• New Traceability module. This optional module provides users with method, sample, and report template revision history, electronic signatures, and a secure, searchable audit trail built into Bluehill Universal.
• XY Stage test control in Bluehill Universal Compression and Compression Test Profiler methods. Allows users with XY Stage hardware to create grid, diamond, or custom test control sequences directly in Bluehill Universal, eliminating the need for TestMaster™.
• New soft key to make a relative move on demand. Ideal for users who want to move the system crosshead on floor models or extra-height systems without manually jogging the system.
• Automatic frame enable/disable when using Security and a user logs in or out.
• New operator input for entering grip pressure. Appropriate for users with the Smart-Close Air Kit.

Released June 2019

• RS-232 exporting capability. In addition to exporting to a file type, this feature allows users to export directly to a serial port.
• Reminder to set safety limits. When opening a new method or sample file, users must acknowledge that crosshead limits are set.
• New button and switch calculations for testing electronics and components. These new calculations help users quantify the usability of their products.
• Sample data inputs. Allows users to easily select a date in a test using a calendar icon.

Released December 2018

• Tension/Torsion TestProfiler and Compression/Torsion TestProfiler method types. Used with the Torsion Add-On 2.0 for biaxial testing (hardware required).
• Enhanced Bluehill Security with expanded permissions, and Windows® login and Active Directory support. Watch this on-demand webinar to learn more.
• Quadratic fit calculation, allowing users to define a curve from 2nd to 6th order polynomial fit.
• Ability to balance a transducer directly from the Live Display.

Released June 2018

• Generalized End of Test criteria allow users to specify test endpoints with more physical and virtual measurements.
• Choice Inputs (customized drop-down menus) now available at the Sample level.
• More options for customizing export files and post-test actions, such as file naming and launching an executable file at the end of a test.
• 4-bar weighted average now available as a sample statistic.
• Prompted Test and extensometer removal now supported by multistation systems.

Released November 2017

• New Sub-Samples allow you to quickly sort your results table by similar parameters, such as warp/weft, operator name, or machine/cross. This can be used to show statistics for individual sub-groups, helping you recognize trends and differences quickly within a test sample.
• QuickTest results are now displayed with indicators on the graph.
• Support for 59-R5 and 59-R6 data-acquisition-only retrofits of manually controlled systems.

Released August 2017

• New Visual Pass/Fail Indicator for the test workspace allows you to quickly see, from across the room, whether a test passes or fails based on acceptance range criteria set in the method.
• When modifying a calculation or input post-test, there's no longer a need to recalculate the Results Table from the test workspace.
• Gains are now modifiable within individual TestProfiler blocks.
• Expression Builder may be used to define acceptance criteria for inputs and results.

Released February 2017

• QuickTest: Create a QuickTest method by entering a few basic parameters, and start running simple single-ramp tests in seconds.
• Enhanced Exporting Capability: More flexibility to create customized results and raw data output files, making it easier to send test information to your data management systems.
• Instron Connect: A revolutionary way to get in touch with Instron Technical Support. Send inquiries directly from the Bluehill software.