Quick Gripping Tips

Q: When I grip a specimen it seems that some force is already being applied. Is there a way to avoid that?

A: The force applied to a specimen when the specimen is being gripped is a result of the compressive force that faces put on the specimen when gripping. To minimize this force, side action grips are recommended. However, if you're using wedge grips, we suggest a mechanical testing frame that features “Specimen Protect”, which adjusts the crosshead to minimize the compressive force that a specimen sees during gripping.

If you have additional questions around your gripping techniques or issues you may experience while gripping your specimen, let us know. Read more

Engaging with Our Readers: Survey Findings

Two weeks ago we included a survey within TechNotes asking our readers to take a few moments to give us feedback on the Instron Community Blog. We received a great response and various comments on what you would like to read about. Everyone who responded will soon receive an Instron Community blog t-shirt!

Did you miss the chance to send in feedback? There is still time to respond for your free t-shirt.

Within this article, we also included a chance for one lucky blog follower to win a new iPod Touch .... Congratulations to Colleen Arendt - your new iPod Touch is on its way to you!

When asked which categories were of the most interest, below is what we saw the trend to be.

In addition to the categories listed above, I asked for specific feedback on what each reader would like to read about. Thank you for your great responses - your feedback was very generous and I'll work on incorporating all of your ideas into the Instron Community Blog.

Readers Choice: Top 10 List

1. Grips & gripping techniques

2. Alignment

3. More tips on tensile & compression testing

4. Plastics Testing

5. Customer FAQs and Instron solutions

6. Software

7. New test methods, equipment, & technology

8. Upcoming training

9. Calibration

10. Tips for various targeted industries

For anyone interested in hearing more hardness testing technical tips / information, you can view that information on our Hardness Testing Connection blog.

Read more

Damage Tolerance: Is it Important to You?

One main topic in composites is “damage tolerance”. Physical testing of wind turbine blades is such an expensive proposition that virtual testing is needed as much as possible – to this end, small-scale flaw testing on a materials testing system is extremely helpful to understand and predict how the larger system will behave in service…

It is a pretty well-known fact that composite turbine blades, when made by hand, will at some place or another, likely include a flaw; by making “simulated flaws” in laboratory specimens, the testing system allows the operator to understand what to expect from these flaws – fatigue crack growth – in a biaxial state (stresses in 2 directions) under extreme conditions (high/low temperature presumably). This information is then passed onto the modeling world, where full scale CAD/FEA models can be used for “virtual testing” at much lower cost than physical testing – to see what happens to the overall structure under certain conditions.

So the idea is not so much to point to flaws that cause failures, but to understand how flaws behave under various loading conditions – as input to the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model.

Read how one wind energy company initiates a pretty cool project. Read more

Going to MD&M West on Valentine's Day?

If you're attending MD&M West in Anaheim, CA, be sure to stop by our booth (#2478) and visit with our crew: Karl Malchar, Theresa Smith, Jim Ritchey, Elena Mangano, and Chuck Gleason.

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than putting hearts to the test ... gooey and candy hearts that is, NOT a real human heart!

We performed a few compression tests to measure the force each type of heart could withstand before breaking or "smooshing". Take a look at the videos and give us your best guesstimate on the results. For every correct answer (or answers that are close), we'll send you a gooey Instron heart of your own (who doesn't want one?!?!).

Candy Hearts Part 1
Candy Hearts Part 2 Read more

Free Whitepaper on Mechanical Testing of Medical Impants

Implants and the materials used for their production undergo extensive tests, which include the evaluation of the static and dynamic mechanical properties of the raw materials, components, and systems. Many of these tests are internationally standardized; other testing procedures are specific to a given application. In all cases, advanced testing instruments and clamping fixtures along with flexible, programmable testing software help in the determination and analysis of the relevant data.

Stents are small tube-like medical devices, usually constructed of a biocompatible stainless steel or metal alloy, which are used by surgeons to widen or unblock clogged arteries to help restore normal blood flow and reduce risk of heart attack. Today, stenting is a common practice, making up more than 70% of the total coronary angioplasty procedures.

This is just a snippet of information you'll find inside the Mechanical Testing of Medical Impants article written by Toby Kemp, Jim Ritchey, and Erik Schmidt-Staubach. Download the free whitepaper to read more on the extensive range of testing applications. Read more

30 Years and Counting ....

This month, we're featuring Randy Riddle, one of our very own Application Engineers. Not only is he a family man, a grandfather to three beautiful granddaughters, and the Mayor of Grove City, PA since 2004, but he has found the time to fit in 30 years of service at Instron.

Q: When did you first join Instron?
A: I started working at SATEC in January 1982 and then became employed by Instron after both companies merged in 1998.

Q. During your 30-year tenure, you've held a variety of positions within the company. What was your favorite and why?
A: I really enjoy working as an applications engineer. Using my engineering background - including my attention to detail - I use these skills in the selling/quoting process and in dealing directly with my customers. Also, I love to draw, so when I worked as a mechanical project engineer, I was able to create new products for SATEC/Instron.

Q: What are a few of your favorite moments?
A: The first one that comes to mind is the project I worked on with Steve Somple. We worked on the drawings used to develop an electromechanical machine. It was quite an experience to be on a team developing a new product line. The other moment that comes to my mind is when we found out that Instron had acquired SATEC. I was actually at a tradeshow, representing SATEC, with the Instron stand in the next row. At this time, we were competitors. However, all of us representing our respective companies learned at the same time of this merger. Well, you can say that definitely broke the ice for our conversation!

Q: What do you like best about working at Instron?
A: I really like that Instron is a smaller-sized company, giving us all the opportunity to know most, if not all, of our coworkers. I've enjoyed the various interactions I've had with our global coworkers. I wouldn't really have this opportunity to do so at a larger company.

Q: What was the biggest change you've experienced?
A: Definitely the SATEC acquisition by Instron. Not only did this provide opportunities for growth, but we now had the opportunity to share customer databases and offer our specific product line to many more potential customers.

Q: What is the most interesting thing you've been a part of at Instron?
A: Being a part of our Industrial Products Group (IPG) business team. This groups makes a collective effort and promotes our productline to create a happy customer with positive feedback.

Q: What has working at Instron taught you over the years?
A: To pay attention to the detail - even those that seem so small-  starting with the very first contact you have with a customer all the way through to the machine implementation and beyond. A customer should not want or need anything.

Thanks so much for your time, Randy, today and for the last 30 years!

If you have a question for Randy, please leave it below. Read more