Automated Dynamic Testing – Your Testing Processes. Redefined.
Who says automation isn't worth it for dynamic testing? With smart robots from ZwickRoell, we prove the opposite: Automation supports dynamic testing through highly precise, fully digitized, and fully automated processes, resulting in more accurate test results and taking your quality to a new level. At the same time, automation frees up valuable time and resources: Qualified specialists are relieved of routine tasks and can apply their expertise where it creates the greatest value – on complex tasks and in interpreting results.
When combined with the powerful software testXpert R for dynamic applications and the autoEdition3 automation software, the result is a perfectly coordinated overall system that delivers maximum repeatability and a consistently high specimen throughput.
Dynamic mechanical analysis DMTA Fatigue tests Fracture mechanics
Why automate dynamic applications? Because perfection can be planned.
Dynamic testing is one of the most challenging tasks in a testing laboratory. It requires precision, patience, and absolute process stability. The right automation will deliver immediate benefits.
Advantages at a glance:
- With automation, you get completely reproducible test results – regardless of the operator. This builds trust in your data and ensures the reliability of your test results.
- Automated specimen handling reduces scatter, ensuring consistently stable test results, which in turn leads to reliable test results and fewer post-tests.
- Your testing laboratory operates 24/7 – including at night, on weekends and during peak periods. This allows you to reduce lead times and respond flexibly to market demands.
- Increase your capacity and productivity – without any additional personnel costs. This reduces costs and improves your profitability.
You will increase efficiency and take your overall testing strategy to a new level.
Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMTA)
Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is a key method for characterizing viscoelastic materials. For these applications, ZwickRoell offers automated DMA solutions based on precision linear motor testing machine. Typical applications include tests on cylindrical elastomer specimens, for example to determine stiffness, energy loss or loss factor.
Especially with DMA tests, a common situation often arises in the laboratory: The individual tests take too long to simply wait them out; at the same time, they are too short to meaningfully start another task during that time. This ties up qualified personnel without creating any real added value.
Therefore, the roboTest N automated testing system handles feeding, positioning and measurement of specimens. When combined with a temperature chamber and automatic height measurement via the testing machine axis, DMA tests can be performed reproducibly and efficiently – even with large specimen series. Operator influences, such as hand temperature or inaccurate specimen insertion are consistently eliminated, which results in significantly reduced scatter in the measurement results.
At the same time, there is no need to repeatedly open the temperature control chamber to add specimens, as the robot feeds the specimens through a side opening with an automatic closure – this significantly reduces temperature losses and heating times.
Fatigue tests on steel and aluminum
Fatigue tests (ASTM E466 / DIN 50100) are particularly time-consuming – and this is precisely where automation excels: An automated testing system transforms these time-consuming tests into an efficient process that operates continuously and reliably.
Especially for fatigue tests, the end of a test often falls outside regular working hours. Without automation, this means either a standstill until the next working day or additional personnel costs. Automated testing systems circumvent this problem: They handle changing the specimen independently and start the next test immediately.
An additional distinguishing advantage is constant specimen handling: This automation enables each specimen to be clamped into the specimen grips in exactly the same way. Operator influence and differences resulting from manual insertion are completely eliminated. As a result, test results become significantly more reproducible and repeatable, while the scatter of test results is noticeably reduced.
Typical applications include determining S-N curves on round, flat or shear specimens using servohydraulic testing machines or electrodynamic testing machines. Automated testing systems such as roboTest R handle the gripping, clamping and testing of specimens – with or without an extensometer (e.g., videoXtens).
The result: reproducible fatigue testing, high utilization of the materials testing machine, and efficient 24/7 operation without the need for constant operator presence.
Fracture mechanics
Fracture mechanics tests, for example, to ASTM E399, are used to determine characteristic values such as fracture toughness K1C. Typically, CT specimens made of steel or aluminum are tested. The test sequence is divided into two consecutive steps: To determine the fracture toughness, pre-cracking takes place first for targeted fracturing, followed by a static tensile test. In practice, these complex tests are often performed by experienced experts, as both their execution and evaluation require a high level of specialist knowledge.
ZwickRoell offers powerful, automated solutions based on the Vibrophore resonance testing machines. The system is complemented by the roboTest N automation solution, which handles the reproducible clamping of specimens. This enables fracture mechanics tests to be performed efficiently, standardized and with a high level of process reliability.
The key to cost-effective and continuous automation is a feature of the Vibrophore resonance testing systems: the automatic hydraulic clamping of the oscillating crosshead enables both test steps – dynamic fracturing and static tensile testing – to be performed on a single materials testing machine without manual conversion. This enables a continuous, uninterrupted test sequence.
As a result, automation can realize its full potential: The user simply places the specimens in the magazine, while all further steps – from specimen feeding and precise positioning to the complete performance of both test phases – take place automatically. The result is a continuous, efficient and operator-independent testing process that specifically frees up qualified personnel to perform more demanding tasks.
Advantages
- Automated processes eliminate fluctuations caused by operator influence – each specimen is prepared, positioned and tested in exactly the same way
- Consistently standardized processes make it possible to compare test results from different laboratories.
- Maximum utilization of the materials testing machine due to 24/7 operation with no downtime and no need for personnel
- The automated process frees up qualified personnel, allowing your team to focus on more challenging tasks
- Dynamic pre-cracking and static tensile tests without manual conversion
- The combination of testXpert R and autoEdition3 ensures seamless documentation and secure results management
Conclusion
Automated dynamic testing means more than just time savings. They represent:
- Greater cost-effectiveness
- Maximum process reliability
- Greater reproducibility of test results
- Significant reduction in the workload of highly qualified personnel
And all of this is backed by the experience of a market leader: With over 40 years of expertise in automation and more than 900 robot-assisted testing systems installed worldwide, ZwickRoell is a reliable partner for the next generation of dynamic materials testing.
