DIY material testing machine

[ultiarjan 1,223]

Inspired by some profesional tesing videos like (

) I was thinking it should be possible to create something similar

for testing 3D printed material.

I have a very simple goal, mainly interested in relative strength between multiple test pieces. Like to be able to answer f.e. which print temperature gives the best connection between layers.

 

The machine;

It's basically a simple swing, hinging in bearings, to measure the loss of hight when cutting through a piece of material. A piece of wood at the top makes sure you always release the swing from the same hight. A simple pointer mechanism shows the maximum hight reached during the swing.

The first result of multiple "swings" without test block, show a good constant result.

Testing 5x with a similar testblock (8 x 8 x 80 cm, same print settings and material) unfortunately gives less constant results. Also the difference in result between no material and the testblocks is very minimal.

so improvement can probably come from starting the swing from a lower position, or scale down the total machine and "swing weight". I'll do some more testing when I can find the time ...

 

I'll put the components on "youmagine", any improvement comments are welcome. One thing that can be improved for sure is the pointer mechanism (currently very simple with a rubber band).

 

[jameshs 42]

Just an observation (i am no physicist) your indicator is on the power side of the kit - so it is swinging itself with the mechanism - rather than being pushed up the other side. so won't there be a 'shock' effect when the pendulum slows down and the measure itself decelerates depending on the strike - so having an influence on the measurement.

But could it also just reflect that your samples have different characteristics - after all they are printed?

 

[jbeale 0]

Very interesting experiment! I notice your testing results with the test block show a continual progression in the position of the indicator. Did you sort the five results in order, or did it just happen that way? If the latter, I wonder if there is some actual material property you are measuring, such as layer adhesion and/or extruded linewidth becomes progressively larger (or smaller) with time as you continue printing.

 

[Buj 2]

Great design! How do you calculate the energy/calibrate such a test machine?

[Hamzabutt5129 0]

On 6/15/2014 at 10:10 PM, ultiarjan said:

Inspired by some profesional tesing videos like (

) I was thinking it should be possible to create something similar

for testing 3D printed material.

I have a very simple goal, mainly interested in relative strength between multiple test pieces. Like to be able to answer f.e. which print temperature gives the best connection between layers.

 

The machine;

It's basically a simple swing, hinging in bearings, to measure the loss of hight when cutting through a piece of material. A piece of wood at the top makes sure you always release the swing from the same hight. A simple pointer mechanism shows the maximum hight reached during the swing.

The first result of multiple "swings" without test block, show a good constant result.

Testing 5x with a similar testblock (8 x 8 x 80 cm, same print settings and material) unfortunately gives less constant results. Also the difference in result between no material and the testblocks is very minimal.

so improvement can probably come from starting the swing from a lower position, or scale down the total machine and "swing weight". I'll do some more testing when I can find the time ...

 

I'll put the components on "youmagine", any improvement comments are welcome. One thing that can be improved for sure is the pointer mechanism (currently very simple with a rubber band).

 

Hi bro I'm doing the same thing need your help with how do you calculate the impact force or the pendulum force 

[Hamzabutt5129 0]

Hi bro I'm doing the same thing need your help on how do you calculate the impact force of pendulum.

[Buj 2]

On 1/2/2021 at 10:14 AM, Hamzabutt5129 said:

Hi bro I'm doing the same thing need your help on how do you calculate the impact force of pendulum.

Have you watch the video? it is well explain.

[Hamzabutt5129 0]

8 hours ago, Buj said:

Have you watch the video? it is well explain.

Yes I have but it doesn't explain how the actual force is converted into a guage reading 

[geert_2 557]

I just stumbled upon this old post. A guy Stefan from CNC-kitchen has made several testing machines himself. See his Youtube channel. But to setup such a machine and correctly interprete the results, you will need some engineering education.