MICROTEST

Electromechanical Materials Testing Machines EM1 MICROTEST

Electromechanical Materials
Testing Machines EM1 series

MICROTEST

MICROTEST, S.A.
Instruments and Equipments for Materials Testing
(+34) 91 796 33 32
www.microtest-sa.com
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Electromechanical Materials Testing Machines EM1 MICROTEST

MICROTEST
EM1/FR
electromechanical
testing machines are designed to test a large
range of materials, including: rigid and
reinforced plastics, composites, c e r a m i c s ,
geo-textiles, concrete, rocks, mortars,
wood, sheet metal, welded specimens,
rubbers, adhesives, and medical products
and components, in tension, compression,
flexure, shear, tear and peel. They are widely
used in R&D Centers, Industry, Testing
Laboratories, Education centers, and for
calibration purposes in Force Calibration
Laboratories.
They are built in capacities ranging
from 20kN to 250kN, both tension and
compression. Under demand they can also be
made in lower and bigger capacities.
In MICROTEST EM1 machines the load is
applied by means of a central ball screw
driven system in a dual column frame. The
construction of the machine load frame, with
a double guiding columns and pre-loaded
leadscrew, make these frames have high
rigidity with negligible frame deflection.
This design allows for a single test zone for
both tension and compression tests. The test
zone can be modified by changing the height
of the upper static crosshead along the
columns and fixing it mechanically with the

help of the gripping system of this crosshead.

The machine has fixed end of courses that limit
the displacement of the moving crosshead to
the values of the upper and lower of the
position.
The moving crosshead is actuated by the
central screw driven system and guided by two
robust lateral columns. Thus a very good force
flow with direct force transmission to the
specimen is obtained during the test. The
vertical crosshead travel is determined and
limited for the length of the screw. The moving
crosshead ensures the lateral guidance of the
test axis and is not subjected to bending loads.
This electromechanical system is a double
effect one and is driven by a DC electric motor
(or a brushless motor) and includes an optical
encoder for a continuous measuring of the
moving crosshead position that allows also the
control of the test speed.
Inside the lower frame there is a transmission
system transmitting the mechanical power to
the central screw, usually including a heavy
duty gearbox and a pulley system.

Electromechanical Materials Testing Machines EM1 MICROTEST

The main advantages of electromechanical testing machines over the hydraulic systems are:

High stability, mainly at low speed or long term tests (corrosion under tension tests, creep tests,
etc.).
Capability of keeping the load during long intervals, with error under 0.1% of the applied force,
or even better (< 0,01%) in the case of calibration by comparison force standard machines or
high stability of load tests .
Electromechanical machines can be operated at speeds ranging from a minimum of
0.0001mm to a maximum of 200 or 1000 mm/min, depending on the model, which
accommodates a wide range of materials and specimens.
Minimum maintenance: They do not need oil, filter or joints replacement.
They do not need extra space for hydraulic power source and they do not need any pipe or
external fittings to transmit the mechanical power.
Very low noise in comparison with hydraulic systems and without the risk of leakage of oil.
Low consumption of energy and no need of expensive cooling systems.

Moreover, the displacement of the moving

crosshead allows the application of the load
without impact, in a continuous way,
disregarding the state of cleanliness of electrovalves or servo-valves needed in hydraulic
systems.

MICROTEST EM1/FR machines have ever shown

a very good behavior in long term tests, where
it is necessary to keep the load or the position
during long time at a high level of stability.

EM1 electromechanical testing machines

include one or more force transducers (load
cell)
that
provide
better
precision
measurement of the applied force than
pressure transducers or gages used in
traditional hydraulic systems. In this way the
force measurement is not affected by oil

temperature, local disturbances caused by the

oil flow, friction in the load cylinder, etc.
The test speed is digitally controlled and
measured by means of an incremental optical
encoder placed in the motor axis, obtaining a
high precision controlled movement, helped by
the high gear ratio of the system.

Electromechanical Materials Testing Machines EM1 MICROTEST

The EM1 machines flexibility is further extended

by a wide array of accessories instrumentation,
grips and fixtures to perform all kind of test with
the higher efficiency. These accessories include
various LVDT extensometers, compressometers,
strain gage extensometers, high temperature

extensometers, as well as grips, holders, jigs or

platens for holding the test specimens. They
can also be delivered with special testing
equipment as high temperature furnaces,
climatic chambers, etc.

MICROTEST can provide a great variety of grips and accessories, depending on the material or test.
Among others:

Compression platens.

Pneumatic or manual grips for tensile tests with different jaws.

Bend fixtures.

Other test fixtures (shear, friction, tear, peel, etc)

Extensometers, furnaces, climatic chambers, etc.

Electromechanical Materials Testing Machines EM1 MICROTEST

This flexibility makes EM1 machines very suitable in most of the standardized axial tests, where
the force to be applied is under the load capacity of the machine, in tensile test or compression tests in
the same single test zone.
Among others, with the suitable fixture, the following tests can be done:

Tensile tests on metal samples: standard shapes, ribbons, springs, screws, fasteners, washers,
wires, cables, elastomeric samples, etc
High temperature creep tests
Corrosion under tension tests.
Tensile tests on polymers, composites, rubbers, textiles, ropes, webs, wood, etc.
Tensile tests on standardized steel samples.
Tensile, shear or bending tests on aluminium samples or profiles.
Compression tests on concrete, mortars, ceramics, foams, wood, rocks, etc.
Friction tests, peel tests. Shear, etc.
Bending tests on mortars, concrete, ceramics, wood, paving tiles, etc.
CBR and Marshall test.
Calibration of force transducers (EN ISO 376).

Do not hesitate to contact us to consult any need about your tests.

Special EM1 version for High Temperature Creep

Testing, 50kN.

Electromechanical Materials Testing Machines EM1 MICROTEST

MACHINE DESCRIPTION
LOWER CHASSIS
It contains the electromechanical driving
system, composed by: motor, gearbox, pulleys,
ball screws, bearings, etc. and electric
elements to control the machine.
Over this lower structure the load frame stands.
The base plate of this frame has also the nuts
and bearing units to allow the soft movement

of the moving crosshead when the screw is

actuated by the driving system.
The dimensions of this chassis can be modified
under demand.

LOAD FRAME: FIXED AND MOVING CROSSHEADS

The load frame has a high stiffness, with two
columns in chromed steel, an upper fixed
crosshead and the single central ball screw
that drives the moving crosshead, guided by
the columns. The test zone can be modified by
changing the height of the upper static
crosshead along the columns.
The upper fixed crosshead usually has the load
cell for measuring the force during the tests.
Several load cells in different lower capacities
can be added with the suitable coupling
elements.
The dimensions of the load frame can be
modified under demand to change the height
or the width in the test zone, for example.

ELECTROMECHANICAL ACTUATOR SYSTEM

This electromechanical system is a
double effect one and is driven by a DC
electric motor (or a brushless motor) and
includes an optical encoder for a continuous
measuring of the crosshead position that allows
also the control of the test speed.
The maximum speed and travel will depend on
the screw, motor and gearbox used.
Under demand, different solutions can be
adopted to have other values for speed or
crosshead travel.

To make possible an easy collocation of the

samples, the machine has a manual control for
the crosshead in the front panel of the
machine that allows the changing of the
position of the moving crosshead. The speed of
this movement is selectable by the SCM3000
software.

SAFETY SHIELD AND PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS

Every standard EM1 machine includes a
protective shield at the front side of the load
frame. This shield is made on a high resistance
and transparent polycarbonate and protects
the user from any potential debris. The
machine has also mechanical and electronic

limits features (including emergency button)

supplied to prevent movement of the actuator
beyond desired regions of operation or in case
of emergency.

Electromechanical Materials Testing Machines EM1 MICROTEST

CONTROL, MEASUREMENT AND ACQUISITION SYSTEM

- The control and measurement is performed
by the SCM3000 electronic board developed
by MICROTEST. This electronic board provides a
closed loop control of the machine and
analogue to digital conversion for at least 8
channels.
The
control
includes
digital
input/output lines connected with the machine
and motor driver covering the rest of the
control and security functions of the control
system. The machine control can be monitored
by means of a computer via USB connection.
The software SCM3000 allows also the
recording of the different quantities data
during the test.

parameters are managed using a computer

(included) with the MICROTEST SCM3000
software (English version).
SCM3000 software helps the user to automate
his operations, providing a powerful Method
and Result Editor, with the possibility of
exportation of data to Excel or ASCII files that
allows the generation of customized reports.
The test curves can also be rescale, recall and
re-plot by a Graphics Editor
The control system also includes: software
selectable servo-control by force or by
displacement (or other quantity), displays for
the configured channels, digital zeroing of any
channel,
fully
configurable
channels,
calculated channels, configurable alarms,
digital recording of every configured quantity,
selectable sampling, automation of the tests
(tests methods and complex sequences of
movement or load), definition of test
parameters, calculations, graphical display of
recorded data and test results, etc.

EM1/FR machines make use of this SCM3000

software that enhances the features of the
machine for any kind of test or material,
allowing the user the full control of any of the
functionalities of the machine. Its a very
reliable and adaptable system. The description
of the SCM3000 software specifications is
shown apart. All database and controlled

Electromechanical Materials Testing Machines EM1 MICROTEST

Technical Specifications
MODEL
FORCE
CAPACITY
MOVING
CROSSHEAD
TRAVEL (typ.)

EM1/20
kN

EM1/50

20

EM1/100

50

100

150

Position
resolution
Horizontal test
space
Max. Vertical
Test space (**)

EM1/200/R
(reinforced)

100

200

200

200

250-300

200

350

Other values under request

2 columns

Type of frame

Crosshead min.
Speed

200

EM1/100/R
(reinforced)

mm

Columns

Crosshead
Max. Speed
(typ. values in
bold)

EM1/250
EM1/300

EM1/200

Table top or floor standing

Floor standing
100

mm/min

200
1000

mm/min

0.0001

0.0005

0.0005

0.001

0.001

0.001

0.001

0.005

0.005

0.005

0.005

mm
350-500

mm

700-1000

mm/N

Typical
Dimensions
HxWxD (*)

H(mm)
W(mm)
D(mm)

Weight (*)

kg

Accuracy class typ.

ISO 7500
Typical Main Force
transducer x Resolution
Typical secondary Force
transducer x Resolution
(***)
Std. Nominal
Supply Voltage
VAC
(*)
Std. Power
Rating
kW
Continuous (*)

<0.00005

0.0001

mm

1/Stiffness

500

0.0001

<5.10-6

450-700
950-12501500

<5.10-6

<4.10-6

880-1250-1500
<4.10-6

<1.6.10-6

<4.10-6

1420
700
415

2070
900-1150
500-600

2360-2560
990-1250
500-600

2950
1200
600

150kg(table top)
400kg(floor standing)

400kg

570kg

600kg

500kg

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

PB2/20
X0.5N

PB2/50
x1N

PB2/100
x2N

PB2/200
x5N

PBF/250
x10N

PB2/100
x2N

PB2/200
x5N

TSC1/2kN
X0.05N

TSC1/5kN
X0.1N

PB2/20
X0.5N

PB2/20
X0.5N

PB2/50
x1N

PB2/20
X0.5N

PB2/20
X0.5N

230Vac
1phase

230Vac
1phase

230Vac
1phase

230Vac
1phase

230Vac
1phase

230Vac
1phase

230Vac
1phase

0.7

1.5

2.5

(*) Dimensions, weights and supply voltage can be adapted to the customers needs. They are only approximate
and dependant on the specific technical proposal.
(**) Without accessories.
(***) Other values are also possible, under request.

MICROTEST, S.A.
C/ Valle de Tobalina, 10
28021 MADRID (Spain)
Tel.: (+34) 91 796 33 32
microtest@microtest-sa.com
http://www.microtest-sa.com
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