The Instron® AT3 Automated Testing System utilizes an innovative, adaptable design for testing a variety of materials including: rigid plastics, elastomers, rubber, thin film, foam, and metals. In this video, the AT3 is testing medical gloves to EN 455-2: “Medical gloves for single use - Requirements and testing for physical properties” but can also be used for common thin film testing including ASTM D882: “Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting.”

Instron’s® Bluehill software allows you to name your transducers, such as load cells or extensometers, to be easily recognized and linked to Bluehill test methods. Utilizing this capability can prevent the incorrect load cell from being used and ensures the test method can be shared across multiple systems without risk of referencing the wrong transducer.

Strain measurement is a key component of mechanical testing and is required by nearly all relevant ASTM and ISO standards. Instron offers a wide range of strain measurement devices to suit every material and application. From simple bonded strain gauges to the most advanced video extensometry, all of our devices are designed and manufactured by Instron engineers to meet our own stringent accuracy standards. If your testing application requires a creative solution, our Custom Engineering Group is available to design and implement a strain measurement solution that meets your needs.

Instron’s static axial clip-on extensometers are a quick and easy solution for measuring strain and are suitable for use on a wide range of materials such as plastics, metals, and composites. Our decades of strain measurement experience have helped us optimize the design of these devices to include: lightweight, rugged, cross-brace design that eliminates errors caused by physical distortion; built-in protection to reduce damage caused by over-extension of the device; and device arms that are designed to require minimal force to stay attached to the specimen, thus minimizing knife-edge slippage during testing. All extensometers comply with both the ASTM E83 and ISO 9513 standards and are supplied with calibration certificates showing the individual performance of each unit at its factory calibration.

The AutoX750 is a high-resolution, long-travel automatic contacting extensometer. It is ideal for a variety of materials including metals, plastics, elastomers, and composites.

The Instron MPX motorized pendulum impact test system with Bluehill® Impact software is the preferred system for metals impact testing to Charpy and Izod standards. Available in capacities ranging from 300 to 900 Joules, the MPX is efficient and easy to operate, making it suitable for high-volume testing. The testing space is fully enclosed and uses an integrated guard and safety control system that meets the stringent requirements for the European CE mark and ISO 13849 — offering exceptional protection for your operators.

Instron’s 6800 Series high-force testing systems are built to handle the most demanding testing applications. These systems are built with durable work surfaces, fortified against shock and vibration, and designed to reduce ingress from composite shards, rebar scale, and other debris — ensuring performance in some of the most demanding laboratory environments. Internal electrical and mechanical hardware have been isolated from the test area, while an abrasion-resistant coating is applied to the 12mm metal work surface for increased durability. Instron’s 6800 Series high-force testing systems are built to perform and built to last.

Instron’s CT6 can be configured as an automated solution for the required testing of syringes. Break loose and glide force testing constitutes the bulk of syringe testing and is used to determine the real-world forces required to operate the syringe. Cobots can be placed separately or in-lined to improve throughput and efficiency in both of these applications.

In this webinar, we cover tips and best practices around strain and force transducers for universal testing machines. Our discussion includes a look at settings in Bluehill® Universal software as well as an overview of relevant hardware properties. We review a range of topics, including differences between various displacement measurements and how they’re treated in Bluehill, what a composite strain measurement is, how to set up a transverse strain extensometer, the importance of pretest limits, accuracy ranges for load cells and extensometers, when to change data acquisition rates, and more.