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Some certification services may indicate high standards that outdated machines do not have and some manufacturers or engineers feel forced to purchase completely new equipment.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.
Questioning whether a retrofit is the right option for you?
Compare the numbers to a new system purchase with our sales and engineering team.
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:
- Cost savings in the tens of thousands of dollars when compared to purchasing a new machine
- Increased capabilities, flexibility, and accuracy of your materials testing system
- Reduced testing times
- Archived test results to generate comprehensive reports
- Fast and error-free calculations according to national specifications
- Reliable reports, in the preferred format
- Simplified reporting of test results over networks or the Internet
- Streamlined operations and effortless training
- Increased credentials surrounding your product to support your business development efforts
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.
Ready to see how ADMET can breathe new life into your testing machine?
Work with us to see how ADMET can upgrade your testing machine with a retrofit.
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.”
Retrofit Options
Capabilities
Upgrade static and fatigue based hydraulic testing machines with a new ADMET hydraulic power unit or a servo-manifold incorporated into the existing hydraulic power unit. Upgrade static and fatigue based electro-mechanical testing machines with new servo motors/amplifiers. Install a new ADMET controller with software on existing servo equipped hydraulic and electromechanical testers.
Units Offered
| MTESTQuattro | eP2 Digital Controller |
|---|---|
| A Full featured pc-based system for quality control and research. Provides cyclic and static testing capabilities. Able to generate comprehensive test reports according to ASTM/ISO test standards.
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A standalone push-button controller well suited for repetitive quality control testing.
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Capabilities
Indicate load, load rate, stress, stress rate, position, position rate, axial strain, axial strain rate. Perform many ASTM/ISO test under manual control.
Units Offered
| MTESTQuattro | eP2 Digital Controller |
|---|---|
| Gain all of the benefits of a full featured pc-based testing system minus the servo control capabilities.
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A standalone push-button controller well suited for repetitive quality control testing.
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Capabilities
Calculate peak load, peak stress. Indicate load/stress rate. Store test results to permanent memory for upload to a computer or factory LIMS.
Units Offered
| Gauge Buster Load/Stress Indicator | Pi Peak Load Indicator |
|---|---|
| Simply connect the Gauge Buster with a load cell or pressure transducer to a machine capable of compressing or pulling materials, components, and devices to measure their live and peak load/stress.
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The Pi Peak Load Indicator is ADMET’s lowest cost readout. Features include live load and peak load with load rate, stress, and stress rate display available as options. The Pi has multiple calibration points for maximum system accuracy.
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Accessories
Heated fluid baths are offered to facilitate testing in vitro. Environmental chambers are available for testing at sub-zero or elevated temperatures. Custom fixturing specific to an ASTM or ISO standard is also available. Both contact and noncontact extensometers can be provided for improved strain measurement. In addition, ADMET offers a full line of standard grips and fixtures which can be viewed from our online catalog.
Service
Training and Service – ADMET testing machines are configured and simplified for customers’ needs as well as easy to install and utilize. We provide introductory online training along with on-site training and installation. A retrofit from ADMET can be quickly installed at the customer’s site in one to three days. In addition, we offer phone and email support throughout the lifetime of a system.
ADMET Retrofits have been installed on the following testing machine makes
| Adelaide | Denison | Lloyd | Roell | Test Mark |
| ATS | Detroit | Macom | Satec | Testing Machines |
| Amsler | ELE Soiltest | Mayes | Schenck Trebel | Thwing Albert |
| Baldwin | Forney | Mohr & Federhaff | Scott Testing | Tinius Olsen |
| Chant | Galdabini | Monsanto | Shimadzu | ToniTechnic |
| Chatillon | Instron | MTS | Shin Poong Works | United |
| Dayco(Schenck) | LAB Testing | Reihle | Sintech | Wolpert |
| Dillon | Lansmont | Roberts | Smipo | Zwick |
To receive a quote for an ADMET retrofit of your testing machine, please fill out the retrofit form and email it to sales@admet.com.
Have questions regarding the retrofit options for your machine?
We are here to help!