Machine Retrofit and Upgrade Service

Transform Older Materials Testing Machines with Today’s Technology

Materials testing machines were initially manufactured in the United States in the 1800s and many older machines are still in use today. Often, the equipment remains functional decades after initial purchase, thereby returning the initial investment back to the owner. This is a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of our American engineers and workers.

However, older machines should be upgraded to benefit from newer innovations and capabilities.  The replacement costs for older mechanical testing machines can be in the tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. At ADMET, we have worked with thousands of professionals at retrofitting their materials testing systems across sixty countries on six continents.

Upgrade Your Materials Testing Machines with ADMET’s Retrofit Service

Some certification services may indicate high standards that outdated machines do not have and some manufacturers or engineers feel forced to purchase completely new equipment. However, this is not necessary, as ADMET staff can provide the accessories and add-ons needed to accomplish the test procedures at substantial cost savings for the end-user. This may be in the form of software, digital controllers, environmental baths, grips/fixtures, or extensometers.

The make or model of the testing machine – whether made in the United States or abroad, designed for static or fatigue testing, or powered by an electric servo motor or hydraulic power unit – will not affect the retrofit process in any consequential way. Any testing system can be upgraded with ADMET’s retrofit service.

ADMET’s Controllers and Indicators

By pairing an older system with an ADMET controller or indicator, the functionality of the system is transformed, such as a new range of testing, the production of metrics and calculations and the output of essential reports. Our advanced PC-based MTESTQuattro(R) software incorporates a wide array of reporting, data acquisition, analysis and control. Alternatively, ADMET offers the eP2 Digital Controller, a standalone touch panel unit, for quality and process control measurements.

Adding indicators to a materials testing system can also provide the option to measure and record peak load. ADMET can pair the GaugeBuster 2 or Pi Peak Load indicator with a load cell or pressure transducer to determine the live peak load/stress of a sample. In addition, ADMET can upgrade a system with a new servo motor, actuator, load cell or pressure transducer as well as convert the system to full closed-loop automatic control.

Benefits

By choosing to retrofit your materials testing machine with ADMET services, you will gain:

Retrofits Save Money

To expand upon a point mentioned previously, by retrofitting an older machine the owner will gain clear cost benefits over the purchase of a new system. The reason for this is because the most expensive and durable part of a new system is the load frame. By keeping that old load frame in place and merely adding digital controllers and Windows-based software, you expand functionality for minimal investment.

A retrofit costs between $1,500 for the integration of a simple digital indicator to $35,000 for a new servo-hydraulic power unit with a Windows-based materials testing system. Since a brand new 200,000 lb capacity universal materials testing machine costs between $250,000 to $300,000, a retrofit will save more than $200,000 for a company. A smaller 60,000 lb. machine would cost $70,000 to $85,000 to replace. In this scenario, a retrofit would save between $30,000 to $40,000 for the customer.

Meet New Standards

Testing requirements of major organizations such as ASTM, ASME, AASHTO, ISO, DIN, JIS, and others undergo regular changes and continuous revisions as materials science and its applications evolve. Machines that were designed decades ago may not have the correct capabilities to conduct the test and produce the data required by current and future standards.

ADMET addresses this problem by combining modern transducers, electronics, software, and full servo control with an older system. Retrofits enable users to conduct more sophisticated tests using better control of the testing machine and more thorough reporting.

For instance, Dexter Axle upgraded its Riehle electro-mechanical testing machine at its manufacturing plant, located in Fremont, Indiana, to perform modulus tests on rubber cords used in its Torflex axle system. “Before the upgrade, I was using the manual system,” James Bryan, Dexter Axle quality technician, said. “It was very difficult to accurately control the different speeds. Our results were all over the map and I had no confidence in the results. Now we get results that we can rely on and we can easily transfer them to our statistical quality control system or to a spreadsheet.”

How can I add fully automatic closed-loop control to my static or hydraulic testing machine?

Enhance your testing processes and performance by:

• Upgrading hydraulic testers: Replace aging hydraulic power units with new ADMET models or integrate servo-manifolds for improved precision and efficiency.
• Modernizing electromechanical testers: Install powerful new servo motors and amplifiers to boost testing capacity and accuracy.
• Centralizing control: Implement a new ADMET controller with advanced software across our hydraulic and electromechanical testers for streamlined operations and data management.

For this upgrade, we recommend our MTESTQuattro controller, a full featured PC-based system that provides cyclic and static testing capabilities the ability to generate comprehensive test reports according to ASTM/ISO test standards. Our eP2 standalone push-button controller is also well-suited for repetitive quality control testing.

How can I add PC-based data acquisition for my manually controlled machine?

Gain the capability to indicate load, load rate, stress, stress rate, position, position rate, axial strain, and axial strain rate with our MTESTQuattro or eP2 controllers. These controllers also give you the ability to perform many ASTM/ISO tests under manual control, without the servo control capabilities.

How can I replace the existing dial gauges and digital indicators on my manually operated machine?

Our GaugeBuster series of Load/Stress indicators measures peak load and peak stress with simple set up and operation. Our Pi Peak load indicator is our most affordable readout and features live load and peak load with load rate, stress, and stress rate display available as options. The Pi has multiple calibration points to ensure maximum system accuracy.