The temperature control system is implemented using thermoelectric (TE) technology, eliminating the requirement for a mechanical refrigeration system. This approach is not only more environmentally friendly but is also substantially more reliable. The thermoelectric assembly provides heating and cooling, removing the need and cost of a heating element.
The DynafloTM Hydraulic Power Supply (HPS) uses a variable-frequency drive to control the speed of the pump motor, thus continuously regulating oil flow to suit the application. This reduces heat generation, noise and power consumption. The microprocessor controlled HPS connects to CDAS via a serial (TestNet) interface, substantially reducing hard wiring and connectors, resulting in significantly increased reliability. As well as controlling all operating functions, the on-board electronics maintains a log of the vital parameters, simplifying fault diagnosis and providing the operator with routine servicing alerts.
The on-specimen transducer mounting system has significantly simplified the process of attaching strain transducers to the specimen … they attach to the gauge points using magnets. The “loose core” LVDT based on-specimen transducers offer a span of +/-1mm, twice that of major competitors and increasing their effectiveness during permanent deformation tests, such as the Incremental Repeated Load Deformation (iRLPD) Test. The gauge points are dimensionally identical to the ones offered by Epsilon, providing the customer the option of using Epsilon strain transducers, if so desired, without the need to reconfigure or replace the gauge point fixing jig.
Furthermore, the gauge point fixing jig has been designed to facilitate gluing gauge points and the (top and bottom) platens for the AMPT Direct Tension Cyclic Fatigue Test. A jig for gluing 4 specimens at a time is now available.
The TestLab software is very intuitive and extremely easy to use. It offers unprecedented levels of flexibility, catering to researchers, engineers and basic operators. Researchers can create and/or modify a new or existing test, whilst basic operators can adopt a “recipe book” approach by invoking the test wizard.