cycle testing Archives

Often test protocols require a fixed load plus a dynamic load to be applied to a test sample simultaneously. Interface Fatigue-Rated Load Cells are well suited for this requirement. Fatigue-rated is a specification that defines a special class of load cell design and construction used for repetitive cycle and fatigue testing.

Interface has specialized in fatigue-rated load cells and their applications since our founding in 1968. The stringent discipline that is necessary to produce true fatigue-rated load cells, with consistency, is why Interface is known for this specialized load cell design and construction.

Manufacturing these special types of load cells, we can proudly state there is no record of reported fatigue failure for Interface Fatigue-Rated Load Cells used within their specified ratings. Interface fatigue-rated load cells have a given service life of 100 million fully reversed, full capacity loading cycles. It’s why reliability, durability, and quality rank these types of load cells as best-in-class for fatigue and cycle testing.

The use of fatigue-rated load cells and data logging instrumentation are used for testing materials, parts, or assemblies for weakness, and often ultimately to destruction. These types of fatigue tests are valuable to have an accurate record of the forces applied at every moment of a test to analyze stresses, identify fatigue and potential failure risks.

INTERFACE FATIGUE-RATED LOAD CELLS:

1000 Fatigue-Rated LowProfile® Load Cell – Model 1000 series is a fatigue-rated low profile load cell with 300% safe overload, extremely low moment sensitivity of 0.1%/in and a higher fatigue life. Capacities give you options to measure 1 pound (4.45N) and up to 1 million pounds (4500kN) of force.
1000 High Capacity Fatigue-Rated LowProfile® Load Cell – With many variants and configurations our fatigue-rated load cells provide up to 100 million fully rendered cycles. The gaged sensors in every load cell are individually inspected, tested, and certified to meet our rigid standards.
1500 Low Capacity LowProfile® Load Cell – The Interface Model 1500 is a fatigue-rated unique LowProfile Load Cell designed for low capacity applications where low sensitivity to eccentric load is important.

Each fatigue-rated load cell model grouping also has numerous capacities and variations, including additional bridge options. All product variations, capacities, customization options and availability are online. There are possibilities to have engineered-to-order made products and customized solutions, as with all Interface manufactured load cells.

When passing fatigue testing is critical to the success of an assembly, piece of equipment or product, engineers and manufacturers rely on Interface Fatigue-Rated Load Cells. Our fatigue-rated load cells are used by most manufacturers of test machines, aircraft, spacecraft, auto and transportation vehicles, and various devices and industrial systems.

Here are a few fatigue-rated applications that demonstrate different use cases:

Furniture Fatigue Cycle Testing App Note

Bike Frame Fatigue Testing App Note

Aircraft Wing Fatigue App Note

Prosthetics Load and Fatigue Testing App Note

Additional reading on this subject can be found here in the post, Considerations for Fatigue-Rated Load Cells. If you are exploring fatigue-rated load cells or products for cycle testing, contact our application engineers to answer questions and ensure you get the right product for your testing needs.

One of the most common force measurement tests in the engineering and manufacturing world is called cycle testing. Cycle testing involves constant force being applied to a component or product over hours, days and even months. The goal is to test a product to find out how long it will last under the amount of force it will see in use in the real world.

Cycle testing is used throughout different industries. One of the most common applications of a cycle test is on something like airplane wings. The wings of an airplane are exposed to constant push and pull force to guarantee that they will hold up over many flights. Check out the wing fatigue testing application note here.

Another example is simple furniture tests, like a chair, to ensure it can withstand the weight of people of all sizes after years and years of use. These tests are designed to really push the limits on the product so engineers and manufacturers can confirm their designs and ensure safety and durability.

To carry out these tests, actuators are used to generate the force in cycle testing. An actuator is a component responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system. Actuators are small components that convert energy in a linear moment. There are a variety of different types of actuators including linear, rotary, hydraulic, pneumatic, and more. Each is designed to create force in different directions and on different axes.

Actuators are very important because force measurement is fed back into a control loop and the actuator allows you to accurately control how much force you’re putting on a test article. As a basic example, if you wanted to measure how much force it takes to close a door, you would use an actuator to provide the door closing force while the load cell measures the amount of force given off by the actuator.

Interface often integrates actuators into load cells for custom solutions to use in rigorous use and cycle testing. These types of custom solutions are used by equipment and product manufacturers, OEMs, as well as product design and testing labs. There is increasing frequency for OEMs to integrate actuators into load cells for testing their automated testing lines or products in use for continuous feedback.

For example, mobile device manufacturers use a miniature–sized load button load cell like the ConvexBT to test the pressure sensitivity of the touch screen. By using an actuator, phone manufacturers can set up an automated test lines with an actuator integrated in the load button load cell to test each screen as they go across a test line. You can read more about ConvexBT in this new white paper.

Another major application for actuators is in calibration machines. To test if a load cell is calibrated correctly, an actuator applies force to the load cell being tested and a calibration grade Gold Standard Load Cell simultaneously. These measurements can tell the user if the load cell needs to be recalibrated or not because the actuator allows the user to create a very precise force measurement. If measurements on the test load cell are not the same as the control load cell, the user knows it is off calibration and it’s time to schedule a calibration service.

From custom solutions to calibration, if actuators are necessary for your next project learn how Interface can work with you to find a solution that meets your precise needs.

Learn about how Interface is a preferred provider of OEM solutions here.