Function as a relatively low cost (< $4,000), portable, spray resistant, user modifiable, open-source uniaxial tensile testing machine for low modulus elastomeric and biologic materials.
-
Strain Rate 0 – 2 m/s
-
Force Measurement Range 1 – 10 N
-
Gauge Length 10 – 150 mm
-
Strain Length 0 – 500 mm
-
Data generation rate 1000 sps
-
Turning on the mains inlet power switch will power the motion control electronics including the “inboard” power on the tensile board
-
Depressing the on button of the momentary on-off button pair will apply DC power to the machine status switches and ESD chain circuit.
-
Release of the ESD switch which will apply AC power to the servo controller.
-
When machine operational and safety criteria are met, motion is affected through operator actuation of the reset function with a control panel and touch screen.
-
The power down sequence is the reverse of the power up sequence with the off button of the momentary on-off button pair being pressed to remove DC power.
The machine state machine operates in three main states with corresponding parameters;
- Self Check
- Charge Pump Activated (ON/OFF)
- Machine Check
- Switched Power (ON/OFF)
- ESD Travel Limits (OK/UPPER FAULT/LOWER FAULT)
- ESD Switch (ON/OFF)
- Servo Ready (YES/NO)
- Servo Communicating (YES/NO)
- Force Gauge Ready (YES/NO)
- Motion
- Mode (Manual or Test)
- Status (DISABLED, ENABLED, SAMPLE LIMIT, MACHINE LIMIT, FAULT)
- Condition (Length, Force, Tension, Compression, Upper Limit, Lower Limit, Door, Stopped, Moving)
Manual Operation Mode controls the motor based on user input. The user can selected from the following functions: Off, Incremental Jog, Continuous Jog, Move to Position, Handwheel Jog, Move to Home Position, Set or Move to a Gauge Length, Set or Move to a Force Level and Hold.
Test Mode controls the motor automatically using the functions: Load, Run, Stop Test (Stop Tst) and Hold/Resume. Motion Profiles are executed by the Run Function.
** Documentation is a WIP **