INCREASING LABORATORY EFFICIENCY & THROUGHPUT

How much time can you gain?

TYPES OF SETUPS

IDEALTYPICAL

• Pneumatic grips with alignment aids

• Integrated micrometer

• AutoX750 extensometer

• Manual wedge grips

• Micrometer + calculator

• Clip-on extensometer

THE CYCLE TIME FORMULA

Fixed Times

Variable with different setups

DIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENT

SPECIMEN REMOVAL

EXTENSOMETER ATTACHMENT

TEST TIME

EXTENSOMETER REMOVAL

SPECIMEN INSERTION

+CYCLE TIME

Integrated vs. Manual

Automatic vs. Manual

Time to Install Correctly & Grip Closing

Automatic vs. Manual

Grip Opening

=

THE DIFFERENCES

DIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENT

SPECIMEN INSERTION/ REMOVAL

EXTENSOMETER ATTACHMENT/

REMOVAL

• 6 measurements/specimen

• ~42 keystrokes/specimen10 TESTS = 420 KEY STROKES

• Time spent aligning by eye

• Grip closing time is longer

INCREASED USER INTERACTION

• Time spent aligning by eye

• Time to pause test to remove

• 6 measurements/specimen

• ~7 keystrokes/specimen10 TESTS = 70 KEY STROKES

• Specimen inserted quickly and easily with alignment devices

• Grips close quickly

• Attaches aligned every test

• Automatically removes without pausing

MINIMIZED USER INTERACTION

THE EXPERIMENT

Specimen Installation/ Removal

SpecimenMeasurement

Test Time With Extensometer Removal

Minutes 1 2 3 4

IDEAL SETUP

TYPICAL SETUP

5 s

40 s

5 s

50 s

30 s

90 s

30 s

45 s

> 50% FASTER!Total Cycle Time: 95 seconds

Total Cycle Time: 200 seconds

THROUGHPUT

TESTS PER DAY

TYPICAL SETUP IDEAL SETUP TIME

SAVINGS

50 167 min 79 min 87 min

100 333 min 158 min 175 min

200 667 min 316 min 350 min

300 1000 min 475 min 525 min

In 1 year, that’s 377 hours of time saved

(That’s 15 full days of holiday!)

EFFICIENCY IN SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS

Multiple Users

Some changes can be made quickly and easily to existing Bluehill® test methods to

• Decrease individual test time• Minimize downtime between tests• Allow for extra time spent on more value-added

tasks

Multiple Materials

Multiple Inputs

CAN COST $£€

CHOICE INPUTS

• Consistent entries• Fewer spelling mistakes and incorrect

inputs• Easier to sort data post-test• Fewer corrections

• Saves time

PROMPTED METHODS

• Optimal for a multiple-operator environment• Consistent entries• Consistent test flow from operator to operator• Customizable for different tests

• Prompt before sample, before specimen, after specimen, after sample, etc.

OTHERS…Preconfigured Test Methods

Bluehill Application Modules come with a variety of pre-made test methods to

quickly get you off the ground.

E.g. Plastics Module: ASTM D638, ASTM D790, ISO 527-2, 3, ISO 178, ISO 604,

and others

One Click Testing

An Automatic Air Control Kit (footswitch with

2 pedals) communicates with the frame and software to allow you to

automatically begin a test when the pneumatic grips close.

Audio Prompts

Play a wave file at different moments throughout the test to notify the

operator that an action has taken place

(e.g. remove extensometer, test ended).

TIME SAVINGS

COST

EFFECTIVENESS

SOFTWARE

MODS

PNEUMATIC GRIPS

INTEGRATED MEASUREMENT

AUTOMATIC EXTENSOMETRY

FULL AUTOMATION

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

Please contact your local Instron® Sales Representative

with any questions.