Testing awkward components

Citation

(2002), "Testing awkward components", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 74 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2002.12774cad.014

Testing awkward components

Keywords: Testing, Aerospace industry, Components

To extend the versatility of the new budget- priced "Basicline" digital materials-testing machines, the Zwick Roell Group has introduced a novel system for fixturing awkwardly shaped, irregular and intricate components for testing.

Thought to be the first of its type in the testing industry, the system enables the "Basicline" benchtop model to grip anything from a small curved rod to a contoured cover or fabricated panel occupying the full spatial capacity of the machine.

Zwick says that-the exceptional flexibility of the method greatly enhances the capacity of "Basicline" to carry out the type of component testing now increasingly required to prove fitness for purpose.

Called rapid 3D fixturing, the method is based on modular building blocks in aerospace aluminium. The blocks are assembled to create a fixture configured to hold the particular component to be tested. The fixture is mounted on the "Basicline" machine's bedplate and provides the security to enable repetitive applications of compression, tension, torsion and other tests to the appropriate standards.

Zwick believes that users will find the fixturing system to be a useful supplement to the dedicated "tool box" already supplied with the "Basicline" series. This provides a range of tools that can be used singly or in combination to solve mounting, fixing or positioning problems. The range includes a tee-slot baseplate, linear-positioning unit, ball joint, chuck, various vices and a peel-test kit.

Details available from: Zwick Testing Machines Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1568 615261.