Search Results for automated testing

Automated mechanical testing can reduce results variability, save time and money, and enhance safety. This article gives some examples of testing automation and the advantages it confers.

Recently developed open-source software based on standard test and normalization methods simplifies the process of generating J-integral versus crack-growth resistance (J-R) curves to evaluate fracture toughness in the ductile region.

Labs without fully automated testing systems can benefit from adapting one or more parts of the process to increase throughput, decrease costs, and improve safety. This article discusses six emerging solutions and how their automated nature adds value to a lab: automated crosshead positioning, automated fixture collision detection, automated grip pressure control, automated file change tracking, barcode integration, and laboratory information management system (LIMS) integration.

Several industries are now expanding robot integration beyond production tasks into new areas such as testing, where it has been shown to increase throughput and eliminate operator influence.

Measuring material properties is disproportionately more complex for fiber-reinforced composites than for materials such as metals and plastics. It is further complicated by more than 150 composite test standards in use around the globe. This article assesses the challenges involved in testing fiber-reinforced composites and presents a rational approach for specimen preparation, handling, and fixturing that can simplify testing and improve throughput without sacrificing measurement accuracy.

Automation, ease of use, safety, and data integrity are driving changes in the mechanical testing industry, and they rely heavily on the software platform used to control the testing system. This article describes five of the most common trends: (1) Barcoding, (2) Integration with laboratory information management systems and databases, (3) Data integrity, (4) System and software usability, and (5) Enhanced safety features.

Advances in software algorithms and design enable automation of microstructure image analysis, leading to cost savings, reduction in measurement variability, and access to important metrics.

In steel production, an automated particle workflow can increase the efficiency and statistical relevance of nanosized precipitate analyses, resulting in increased productivity and accuracy.

Automated mineralogical analysis using near-infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction can improve ore control and process efficiency resulting in reduced processing costs and higher yields.

Finite element representations of crash test dummies are widely used in the simulation of vehicle safety systems. The biofidelity of such models is strongly dependent on the accurate representation of the nonlinear behavior of constituent rubber, plastic, and foam materials. This article presents a simulation workflow in which material parameters are more easily optimized and demonstrates its use in the calibration of a viscoelastic model for the behavior of rubber-like materials in a side-impact dummy.

Single crystal and directionally solidified casting processes are among the most complex techniques available, requiring stringent process control and a thorough understanding of engineered materials and specialty alloys. This article examines how an aerospace material company utilizes advanced investment casting techniques to create components that meet the increasingly demanding requirements of modern aerospace and gas turbine engines. The article highlights how solidification modeling and integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) have accelerated development processes by predicting material behaviors and optimizing casting parameters without extensive experimental testing.

This article describes traditional methods for identifying particle contamination in manufacturing processes as well as a new alternative method that uses scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The new system provides efficient, accurate microanalysis to identify the size, shape, and chemical composition of particles. A case study in automobile manufacturing is presented.

Multidisciplinary optimization techniques provide a novel method for rapid product development that also meets sustainability goals.

Structural features, spatial locations, and morphological measures not readily attainable with 2D methods are now accessible using 3D microstructure characterization techniques.

Laboratory tests conducted on shape memory alloy valve actuators show them to be a viable green alternative for oil and gas applications.

Vacuum solution nitriding is a promising technique for increasing the surface hardness, load-bearing capability, and fatigue strength of martensitic stainless steels without sacrificing corrosion resistance. This article examines the effects of nitriding pressure and temperature on surface nitrogen content and case depth in four martensitic stainless steels.

Advanced instrumentation combined with effective test procedures gives manufacturers an edge in measuring and analyzing welds.

Advanced technology and digitization have enabled new remote monitoring features that can increase the efficiency of a testing lab. Benefits of remote monitoring of test equipment include real-time data monitoring, predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics and troubleshooting, enhanced security and compliance, and data analytics and performance optimization.

The latest advancements in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) systems are changing the landscape for rare earth element analysis.

New designs of precision cutters are optimizing sample preparation for greater efficiency, consistency, and precision. This article describes how three main factors impact the sample cutting process: blade speed, blade composition, and control of heat and cutting load.