If it was easy and cost effective to perform fatigue testing, everyone would do it. Right? Fatigue testing allows manufacturers and researchers to get a critical understanding of how a material or component will perform in real-world loading scenarios over the course of time. This is extremely important for certain industries like aerospace and automotive. However, manufacturers and researchers alike face a serious dilemma when it comes to being able to execute reliable and efficient fatigue test results.
Typical servo-hydraulic fatigue machines required to execute high frequency fatigue testing can cost upwards of $100,000, $200,000, or more! This makes for a pretty high barrier to entry for many companies and institutions. Sending out materials to a third-party testing laboratory is always something to consider, but it may cost several thousand dollars per test and the wait time for a fatigue machine to become available could be months at a contracted lab. So when time and money are the biggest concerns, where do you turn?
The answer may lie in ADMET’s eXpert 5900 Series Electrodynamic Fatigue Testing Machines. These systems perform fatigue testing up to 10Hz in frequency and provide up to 14kN in load capacity. Custom designs are also available.
- For people working with plastics and composites where you might not want to exceed 2-5Hz cycle frequency due to thermal softening concerns, the 5900 Series provides a nice option at a price that might be 25%-50% of a servo-hydraulic fatigue test system.
- The 6″ stroke of the eXpert 5900’s high precision ballscrew actuator opens the door to a wide range of testing applications.
- Soft metals and other materials can also be tested on the system up to the performance limits.
- As an additional benefit, you don’t have to worry about periodic hydraulic fluid and filter changes or infrastructure for water cooling or 3-phase power.
But wait… why can’t I just use an electromechanical machine for my fatigue testing?
Historically, fatigue testing with electromechanical actuators has been a sure fire way to destroy a testing machine. Electromechanical machines being used to perform small amplitude cyclic tests are prone to bearing failure due to false brinelling of the bearing housing when subject to small oscillations or vibrations no matter the load.
ADMET eXpert 5900 Series actuators don’t encounter the same issues. The 5900 series actuators are a unique electromechanical design featuring a direct drive bearingless motor, flooded bearing stack, and ball screw with continuous lubrication. This design greatly extends the life of the actuator and is ideal for performing cyclic tests at small or large amplitudes over millions of cycles. This makes Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) and High Cycle Fatigue (HCF) tests a possibility up to the 10Hz range. Click below for further information and system specifications.
eXpert 5900 Dynamic Systems can be equipped with ADMET’s MTESTQuattro or the DC1x Fatigue Controller. MTESTQuattro includes multiple channels of high resolution input, fast sampling and servo update rates for accurate control and measurement. The DC1x Controller is a single channel PID servo controller with a four line display and 24 key tactile keypad for creating test setups and adjusting control parameters during testing.
eXpert 5900 Series Electrodynamic Fatigue Testing Machines certainly aren’t the answer to every fatigue testing application. If needing to run 108 or 109 cycles, you’re likely better off with a servo-hydraulic fatigue testing machine that can handle much higher frequencies and turn around test results faster. But why pay more if you don’t need to? Contact ADMET to discuss your fatigue testing application and equipment options.
