Instron has upped the capacity of its 3400 and 6800 Series universal testing systems. These all-new units are the successors to the 3300 and 5900 Series systems and are now available in force capacities ranging up to 300kN. According to the company, the 3400 and 6800 Series provide next-level performance and durability.
As an example, on the durability front, a reduction in debris ingress has been achieved through gasketing and a patent-pending airflow design. The frames have been strengthened against shock and vibration, enabling continuous testing at the maximum rated frame capacity. Additional design steps were taken to position internal electrical and mechanical hardware safely away from the test area, and an abrasion-resistant coating is applied to the 12mm metal work surface to ensure durability.
Both machines are equipped with maintenance-free brushless AC servomotors supporting continuous cyclic, creep and relaxation testing for up to 10 days. The 3400 Series provides a data acquisition rate up to 1,000Hz and the 6800 Series increases the data acquisition rate up to 5,000Hz, ensuring that a test event is never missed.
Testing repeatability is another area where the technology is said to offer a marked improvement. All 6800 Series systems are outfitted with an auto-positioning feature, which remembers a pre-assigned fixture separation and the starting location for the assigned test method – augmenting data repeatability and reducing testing errors. When using a test method configured with auto-positioning, an operator is shown a picture of the assigned fixtures, reminded to set travel limits and notified when and where the crosshead will move for test commencement.