The Universal Testing Machine is ideal for classroom demonstrations and for safe use by small groups of students. It fits onto any suitable strong desk or benchtop, but TecQuipment offers the optional Support Table and Cupboard (SM1000a). 

A steel frame with four columns supports a hydraulic ram. The ram pushes up a loading platform. The area above the loading platform is for compression tests on a wide range of materials such as wood, brick, and mortar. The space below the platform is for tensile tests. 

A high-impact strength clear-plastic guard protects the user during tests. 

During tests, force sensors measure the load applied by the ram. A digital load meter shows the real-time force and stores the peak force. A digital displacement indicator measures and displays the vertical movement of the loading platform or part of the structure under test. Students use the force and the dimensions of the part under test to find the applied stress. They also use the vertical displacement to find the strain. 

For accurate measurements of the small changes in length of a specimen tested in its elastic region, TecQuipment offers the optional Extensometer (SM1000d). Students use this to find the Young’s modulus of a tensile test specimen. Students can use the Universal Testing Machine to test many materials, engineering parts, and structures, but TecQuipment also offers optional parts for the machine. These allow students to do Brinell hardness tests on materials, and tests on coil springs, leaf springs, and beams. Included with the Universal Testing Machine is a set of different grade steel tensile test specimens. These allow students to compare the tensile qualities of steel in its ‘as drawn’ state and ‘normalised’ steel. You can order extra specimens, and the user guide includes a diagram to help you create your own tensile test specimens from suitable materials. 

For quick and reliable tests, TecQuipment can supply the optional Versatile Data Acquisition System (VDAS®). This gives accurate real-time data capture, monitoring and display, calculation and charting of all important readings on a computer.

Learning Outcomes

• Tensile tests on different materials
• Compression tests on different materials

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