Materials Testing Machine
Operation
4
012-13762C
Mount the Calibration Rod for Tension
To mount the calibration rod for tension, screw the
short-threaded end of the rod into the top of the load cell.
Lower the load bar until the threaded part at the top of the
calibration rod goes through the hole in the load bar. Screw
the load bar round nut onto the top of the calibration rod.
Mount the Calibration Rod for Compression
To mount the calibration rod for compression, screw the
short-threaded end of the rod into the top of the load cell.
Screw the calibration nut onto the top threaded part of the
calibration rod until the nut is at the bottom of the threaded
section. Lower the load bar until the bottom of the load bar
rests on the top of the calibration nut.
Attach the Safety Shields
Attach the Velcro® hook material on the two safety shields
to the Velcro® loop material on the front and back of the
Load Bar. Adjust the position of the shields so that they will
block any fragments that may come from the calibration rod
in case it accidentally breaks.
Prepare to Record Calibration Data
Connect the plug on the sensor cable into a PASPORT inter-
face, such as the USB Link. Connect the interface to a USB
port on a computer.
Start the PASCO Capstone software. Prepare to use the soft-
ware to calibrate the Material Testing Machine.
Optional: Change Sign
Note that the default for the Materials Testing Machine in the
software shows force and position as ‘negative’ when a ten-
sion force is applied.
•
To change the sign for the force and position data, click
the “Hardware Setup” icon in the Tools palette.
•
In the Hardware Setup window, click the “Properties”
icon (shaped like a gear wheel) to open the “Properties”
window for the Materials Testing System.
•
In the “Properties” window, click the check box for
“Change Sign”. Click “OK” to close the “Properties”
window.
Load Bar
Round
Nut
Load Bar
(crosshead)
Calibration
Rod
Crank
Handle
Load
Cell
Figure: Mount Calibration Rod for Tension
Calibration
Nut
Figure: Mount Calibration Rod and Nut for Compression
Load
Cell
Load Bar
(crosshead)
Sensor
Cable Plug
PASPORT
Input Port
Figure: Click “Change Sign”