Materials Testing Machine
Operation
8
012-13762C
Use the sample nut to secure the plunger in place on the load
bar. Remove the screws from the base for the anvils and
align the base on top of the load cell. Use the screws and the
hex key to fasten the base in place.
Place a sample for testing on the two support anvils.
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 sample.
Apply a Force
Turn the crank counterclockwise to apply a compression
force through the plunger onto the sample. (Note that the
default in the software shows the force and position as ‘posi-
tive’ when a compression force is applied.)
Materials Coupon Adapter (ME-8238)
The Materials Coupon Adapter includes two coupon clamps,
a “tee-handle”, and a 3/8” socket (12 point). One clamp fits
in the load cell and the other fits in the load bar. They can be
used to mount a plastic coupon (AP-8222) or metal coupon
(AP-8223) onto the Materials Testing System for testing of
tensile strength.
Loosen but do not remove the hex nut on each clamp. The
jaws of the clamp are spring loaded, so the moveable jaw
will separate from the fixed jaw. Screw the clamp with the
shorter threaded section into the load cell. Put the threaded
section of the other clamp up through the hole in the load
bar, and use the sample nut to hold the upper clamp. NOTE:
Do not completely tighten the sample nut yet.
Carefully place one end of a coupon between the jaws of the
bottom clamp. While holding the moveable jaw to keep it
aligned with the fixed jaw, use the tee-handle and socket to
tighten the hex nut. CAUTION: Each coupon is fragile. Do
not let the moveable jaw twist out of alignment with the
fixed jaw as this might bend the coupon.
Turn the upper clamp so that it is aligned with the lower
clamp. Adjust the position of the load bar so that you have
room to carefully put the other end of the coupon between
the jaws of the upper clamp. Keep the movable jaw aligned
with the fixed jaw so that the coupon does not twist or bend.
Once again, tighten the hex nut.
Hold the upper clamp so it remains parallel to the lower
clamp and tighten the sample nut slightly to remove any
slack in the coupon.
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 sample.
Turn the crank clockwise to apply a tension force to the cou-
pon.
Figure: Materials Bending Accessory
Load
Cell
Plunger
Sample
Anvil
Anvil
Crank
Handle
Sample
Nut
Base
Load Bar
(crosshead)
Movable
Jaw
Fixed
Jaw
Hex Nut
Upper
Clamp
Lower
Clamp
Metal
Coupon
Plastic
Coupon
Figure: Materials Coupon Adapter
