TE 79 MULTI-AXIS TRIBOMETER





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    Description

    The TE 79 Multi-Axis Tribometer is for friction and wear testing under moderate loads in pin or ball on rotating disc or reciprocating plate configurations. In pin on disc mode the machine complies with ASTM G 99 and DIN 50 324. In both modes, the indexing capability allows tests to be performed in accordance ASTM G132, which requires indexation of the pin, so that it is always presented with a fresh abrasive surface.

    TE 79 Base Unit

    This comprises the loading and friction force measurement system mounted on a base plate, control hardware, USB interface unit and control software. The machine is bench-top mounted and includes a transparent enclosure and ambient humidity and temperature sensor. The fixed pin or ball sample is carried on a trunnion and gimbal mounted beam. This is counterbalanced to give a neutral balance and to bring the centre of gravity onto the contact plane. Load is applied by ball-screw actuator, with a force transducer for load measurement. The actuator can be used to lower and lift the pin or ball specimen, in and out of contact. This allows tests to be run with programmed dwell time between load application and start of motion. This dwell period is an important parameter in determining the starting friction in elastomeric contacts.
    The loading beam is restrained by a strain gauge force transducer in a sliding link, which ensures that only the tangential component of force in the contact (the friction force) is measured, even with the large deflections associated with elastomeric test pieces.
    Test modules are mounted on a ball-screw actuator driven cross-slide, allowing plate or disc specimens to be index perpendicular to the direction of sliding.
    The unit can be provided with a plastic safety cover, which also acts as a chamber for the user to run under controlled humidity conditions. An ambient temperature and humidity sensor is mounted inside the chamber.

    TE 79/P Indexing Pin on Disc Module

    This module comprises a rotating disc assembly mounted on the base unit cross-slide, allowing the pin sample to follow a spiral track on the disc, if required. The disc is driven by a d.c. servo motor. The disc specimen is mounted in a rotating fluid reservoir. The control software may be set to run with a constant rpm or constant velocity during a traverse.

    TE 79/H Non-indexing High Temperature Pin on Disc Module

    This module allows pin on disc tests to be run at a fixed track radius (hence non-indexing) at temperatures up to 500°C. An electrically powered hot air gun provides the heat source.

    TE 79/R Indexing Reciprocating Module

    This module mounts on the base unit cross-slide and incorporates a d.c. servo motor driven linear slide, which is used to generate reciprocating motion between the pin or ball specimen and a plate sample. The assembly can be indexed sideways to produce multiple tracks on the same plate specimen, or, for example, a wear track following a rectangular path. The fixture for the lower (moving) specimen includes an electrical resistance heater and a thermocouple for temperature measurement and control.

    TE 79/R/S Stick-slip Adapter

    The stick-slip adapter is used in conjunction with the reciprocating module. A plate specimen is supported on a linear bearing, with axial movement constrained either by elastomeric stops or adjustable springs. By adjusting the axial stiffness of the system, the stick-slip response can be tuned. For evaluating a slide-way lubricant, the system is first adjusted to give a stick-slip response, either with a base oil or a poor reference fluid, then tested with the candidate sample, to determine its ability to suppress stick-slip.

    TE 79/R/R Rubber Friction Test Tooling

    Based on an original test method developed in collaboration with Rubber Consultants, part of the UK Malaysian Rubber Producers Research Association, the tooling allows tests to be run with contact configurations of ball on rubber flat or plate on rubber hemisphere. With this second configuration, thin rubber sheet samples can be tested, by clamping them over a rubber hemisphere, producing a fully conformal contact. This type of arrangement can also be used to study the friction of cosmetic products, using a suitable sheet material to model human skin.

    TE 79/R/C Cooler Pad and Laboratory Chiller

    This test assembly replaces the standard fixed specimen heater block in the reciprocating module with a cooler pad. Used in conjunction with a Laboratory Chiller unit with water/glycol mixture as the coolant, temperatures from -25°C to ambient may be achieved. To avoid ice formation, this adapter is best used in conjunction with a simple desiccant dehumidifier system used in conjunction with a controlled air supply.

    Control and Data Acquisition

    Control and data acquisition are implemented via host PC running COMPEND 2020 Windows compatible software, in conjunction with a Phoenix Tribology USB micro-controller interface.
    Automatic control is implemented via user programmable test sequences. Manual control is implemented using on screen toggles. Data is stored to hard disc in either .csv or .tsv file formats.

     

  • Technical Specifications

    Contact Configurations: Ball on Flat
    Pin on Flat
    Customised Specimens
    Normal Load: 0.1 to 100 N
    Load Measurement: Databeam (strain gauge transducer)
    Friction Force Range: 0 to 50 N
    Friction Measurement: Databeam (strain gauge transducer)
    Humidity Sensor: 10 to 90% RH
    Drive Motor: Brushless d.c. servo motor – 200 W
    Load Motor: Electric Linear Actuator, 12V dc, 100N
    Indexing Motor: Electric Linear Actuator, 12V dc, 100N
    Interface: USB Serial Link Interface Module
    Software COMPEND 2000
    TE 79/P Indexing Pin on Disc Module
    Contact Configurations: Ball on Disc
    Pin on Disc
    Disc Diameter: 100 mm
    Track Radius: 0 to 40 mm
    Traverse Speed: 10 mm/min
    Rotation Speed: 0 to 300 rpm
    Sliding Speed: up to 1 m/s
    TE 79/R Indexing Reciprocating Module
    Contact Configurations: Ball on Plate
    Plate on Plate
    Plate on Hemisphere
    Maximum Sliding Axis Speed: 10 mm/s
    Maximum Sliding Stroke: 50 mm
    Maximum Traverse Axis Speed: 1 mm/s
    Maximum Traverse Stroke: 30 mm
    Temperature Range: ambient to 100°C
    Dwell (time delay): User selected in seconds up to 8 hours
    Temperature Sensor: J-type thermocouple
    Heating Power: 150 W
    TE 79/H Non-indexing High Temperature Pin on Disc Module
    Disc Diameter: 75 mm
    Track Radius: 0 to 35 mm
    Temperature: Ambient to 500 °C
    TE 79/R/C Peltier Cooler
    Minimum Temperature: -15°C (ambient water cooled)
    Minimum Temperature: -30°C (chiller water/glycol cooled)
    RE 79/R/C Laboratory Chiller
    Working Fluid: 50:50 Water/Glycol
    Fluid Temperature: -35°C
    Controlled Parameters Sliding Axis Position (TE 79/R)
    RPM (TE 79/P)
    Sliding Axis Speed (TE 79/R)
    Traverse Position (TE 79/P and TE 79/R)
    Traverse Speed (TE 79/P and TE 79/R)
    Temperature (TE 79/R)
    Dwell Period
    Test Duration
    Measured Parameters Sliding Axis Position (TE 79/R)
    Traverse Position (TE 79/P and TE 79/R)
    Humidity
    Ambient Temperature
    Temperature (TE 79/R)
    Friction
    Friction Coefficient
    Services
    Electricity: 220/240 V, single phase, 50 Hz, 720 W
    110/120 V, single phase, 60 Hz, 720 W
    Installation
    Bench-mounting machine: 570 mm x 600 mm x 600 mm high, 40 kg
    Bench-mounting controller: 530 mm x 530 mm x 240 mm high, 20 kg
    Packing Specifications: 0.59 m3, GW 120 kg, NW 70 kg

  • Overview Videos

     

    Motion Overview


     
     

    Stick Slip Tooling


     

  • Download the Machine Leaflet