Cambridge, 7 February 2024: Plastometrex (PLX), a leading provider of advanced mechanical testing technology, is showcasing user-friendly, fast, and cost-effective high-temperature metal testing at Rapid + TCT in Los Angeles. The new PLX-HotStage addresses the AM testing challenges of prolonged testing lead times, excessive material waste, and testing complications. The PLX-HotStage delivers precise metal stress-strain curves within minutes from small metal samples at temperatures up to 800°C.
The additive manufacturing industry often relies on traditional high-temperature testing methods, which typically involve witness coupons that are heated and then pulled to determine mechanical properties. Within an industry that always pushes innovation, the limitations of these decades-old testing techniques can have a noticeable impact on testing capabilities. Cumbersome tensile test machines, coupled with lengthy heating and cooling times, cause substantial delays in materials and product development, design optimisation, and quality control procedures. These devices require large material volumes, and the complexity of conventional high-temperature testing can hinder result reproducibility.
In contrast, the PLX-HotStage device’s rapid heating and cooling capabilities mean that a test can be completed in as little as 30 minutes for even the most extreme temperatures, and can take as little as 10 minutes, facilitating quick testing of multiple samples. Customisable soak times provide flexibility, allowing users to manipulate the thermal history and heating profile of the sample, offering valuable insights into part performance at different temperatures. The PLX-HotStage can test on samples that are one-tenth of the size of traditional testing samples, which not only unlocks the ability to test on samples that might otherwise be impossible to test but also significantly reduces material requirements and associated testing costs.
Not only is tensile testing both time and labour-intensive, but testing on witness coupons may not accurately represent actual part performance, which then undermines data confidence. The PLX-HotStage gives users the ability to streamline their part testing, enabling tests to be performed directly on printed parts. This unveils key insights that can be critical for product development and design optimisation.
Speaking about the new PLX high-temperature testing attachment, Plastometrex’s Commercial Officer, Dr Mike Coto, commented, “As the additive manufacturing landscape evolves, so should our testing methodologies. The PLX-HotStage is designed to meet the demands of a dynamic industry, providing a versatile and cost-effective solution that empowers manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve. This is a tool that not only enhances efficiency but also delivers reliable and accurate results, ultimately propelling the industry forward.”
The PLX-HotStage not only delivers high-temperature testing results at a fraction of the cost and time of conventional methods, but also at a fraction of the space. Installation of the device is simple, with the module seamlessly integrating with the PLX-Benchtop, a compact device standing at only about 60cm tall. The design ensures that the module can be quickly swapped in or out of the benchtop plastometer as needed.
The PLX-HotStage device is currently available to order. Rapid + TCT is taking place from the 25 – 27th of June at the Los Angeles Convention Center, stop by Booth 1221 to learn more about how the PLX-HotStage can revolutionise your testing capabilities.
About Plastometrex:
Plastometrex are world leaders in obtaining stress-strain curves non-destructively, providing fast and insightful mechanical testing solutions. The brainchild of former University of Cambridge scientists, Plastometrex combines deep materials science expertise, advanced numerical modelling, optimisation methods, and machine learning tools to create next-generation materials testing solutions.
They help companies and research and educational institutions gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanical properties of their AM and conventionally manufactured parts and materials in a fraction of the time and cost of other testing methods. Plastometrex testing solutions are based on an underlying platform technology called Indentation Plastometry. The technique enables full stress-strain curves and material strength parameters to be obtained from a single indentation test in just a few minutes.
To learn more, visit the company’s website or follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter.
www.plastometrex.com
Contact:
Amalie Lyneborg / Emma Thoelke
info@plastometrex.com
204 Cambridge Science Park Milton Rd,
Milton, Cambridge CB4 0GZ