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Instron AutoX Operator's Manual

Automatic contacting extensometer
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AutoX Automatic Contacting Extensometer
Operator's Guide
M16-16654-EN Revision C
The difference is measurable
®

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  • Page 1 AutoX Automatic Contacting Extensometer Operator’s Guide M16-16654-EN Revision C The difference is measurable ®...
  • Page 2 ® is a registered trademark of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW). Other names, logos, icons and marks identifying Instron products and services referenced herein are trademarks of ITW and may not be used without the prior written permission of ITW.
  • Page 3 Caution is used where a hazard may lead to damage to equipment or to loss of data. Instron products, to the best of its knowledge, comply with various national and international safety standards, in as much as they apply to materials and structural testing.
  • Page 4 Preliminary Pages Hazard - Press the Emergency Stop button whenever you consider that an unsafe condition exists. The Emergency Stop button removes hydraulic power or electrical drive from the testing system and brings the hazardous elements of the system to a stop as quickly as possible.
  • Page 5 Disconnect equipment from the electrical power supply before removing any electrical safety covers or replacing fuses. Do not reconnect the power source while the covers are removed. Refit covers as soon as possible. Product Support: www.instron.com...
  • Page 6 Preliminary Pages Rotating Machinery Hazard - Disconnect power supplies before removing the covers to rotating machinery. Disconnect equipment from all power supplies before removing any cover which gives access to rotating machinery. Do not reconnect any power supply while the covers are removed unless you are specifically instructed to do so in the manual.

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    Moving the AutoX into and out of the Test Space....... .
  • Page 8 Preliminary Pages Guidelines for setting the reference stop ........Chapter 5 Testing .

  • Page 9: Introduction

    Principle of Operation The AutoX is controlled through a USB interface to the Instron testing machine and ® Bluehill software. The software user interface facilitates opening and closing the arms, setting the reference arm position and setting the gauge length.
  • Page 10 Chapter: Introduction Figure 1. Overview of the AutoX Automatic Contacting Extensometer M16-16654-EN...

  • Page 11: Applications

    The AutoX may not be suitable for specimens, typically elastomers, that break with a “whipping” motion that could damage the measuring arms. The AutoX is supplied with arms that reach 250mm from the body of the instrument. For certain specialist systems, longer arms (300mm and 350mm) are available.
  • Page 12 How to set up and use any accessories you have Equipment purchased, for example grips, fixtures, Reference extensometers, transducers, and environmental chambers. We welcome your feedback on any aspect of the product documentation. Please email info_dev@instron.com with your comments. M16-16654-EN...

  • Page 13: Chapter 2 Specifications

    100 mm (4 in) Maximum specimen thickness (at a maximum width of 30mm) 50 mm (2 in) standard width arms 100 mm (4 in) wide arms Maximum specimen width (at a maximum thickness of 200 mm (8 in) 30mm) Product Support: www.instron.com...

  • Page 14: Environmental

    A, B, C and D on the figures. Table 3. AutoX Dimensions for Different Arm Lengths (mm) Arm length AutoX Depth Carriage Depth Arm Height 61.5 The weight of the AutoX (without the mounting assembly) is 32kg (70lb). M16-16654-EN...
  • Page 15 Mounting slots 80mm max arm opening Specimen width 0 to 50mm Knife edge Knife edge 1180 Knife separation 750 max 10 min 1217 Output connectors Ground stud Power 148 MIN. Figure 1. Dimensions - Standard Width Arms Product Support: www.instron.com...
  • Page 16 Chapter: Specifications Specimen width 0 to 100mm 130mm max arm opening Knife separation 750 max 10 min Figure 2. Dimensions - Wide Arms M16-16654-EN...

  • Page 17: Chapter 3 Installation

    Moving the AutoX ........

  • Page 18: Equipment

    AutoX arms. If you perform these types of test, it is recommended that you have a dedicated test setup of load frame and AutoX.
  • Page 19 5. Attach the lifting hook (supplied) to the top of the AutoX body (see Figure 4 page 20). 6. Attach the lifting equipment to the lifting hook. 7. Using a 5mm hex wrench, remove the four M6 bolts that attach the AutoX to the sliding assembly (see on page for electromechanical frames or...
  • Page 20 Chapter: Installation Mains power USB to computer To controller on frame Power on/off Ground Figure 3. AutoX Connections Lifting hook Figure 4. Attach the Lifting Hook M16-16654-EN...
  • Page 21 Figure 5. AutoX Mounting Screws (Electromechanical Frame Mounting) 8. Use the lifting equipment to lift the AutoX onto a cart that is capable of supporting its weight 32 kg (70 lb) and move it to the new location. Product Support:...
  • Page 22 Figure 6. AutoX Mounting Screws (Static Hydraulic Frame Mounting) 9. For static hydraulic frames, the procedure is almost complete because you do not need to remove the mounting and sliding assembly from the frame. Return the M6 bolts and washers to the slots in the sliding assembly so that they do not get lost.
  • Page 23 Moving the AutoX Warning Take care to avoid pinch points when operating the sliding assembly on the AutoX mounting bracket. There may be obstructions in the test area that could produce pinch points when you slide the AutoX on the mounting bracket. These include the bolts that attach the mounting bracket to the frame base and may also include large grips and fixtures that form part of your testing system.
  • Page 24 Chapter: Installation M6 x 12mm socket head M10 x 30mm socket head cap screws and cap screws M10 plain washers Sliding assembly Mounting brackets Base of frame Figure 7. Mounting Bracket Attachment Screws (Electromechanical frames) M16-16654-EN...

  • Page 25: Reinstalling The Autox Onto A Frame

    This difference is reflected in the following procedure. Caution Any frame that you want to use for testing with the AutoX must have been modified internally for use with the AutoX. You can move the AutoX and the mounting bracket between different load frames, but each frame must have the wiring modification.
  • Page 26 For static hydraulic frames, stand at the rear of the frame. Release and pull the sliding assembly toward you so that it is at the end of its travel. This ensures that the AutoX is free to move upwards when lifted. If necessary, refer to “Static Hydraulic Frame...

  • Page 27: Alignment And Setup

    Before beginning the alignment procedure, check that the load frame is level. You must align the AutoX with the load string to ensure that the knife edges attach to the specimen correctly throughout the expected range of travel of the arms. The difficulty of achieving alignment relative to the frame depends upon your specimen and the expected range of travel.
  • Page 28 Figure 8. Alignment mechanisms Manually move the AutoX arms up and down along the entire length of the specimen to ensure that it is aligned along the its entire range of expected travel. Use the three jacking screws in combination to achieve this.
  • Page 29 When you have achieved the required alignment, tighten the four M6 bolts using a 5mm hex wrench. h. Manually move the AutoX arms up and down along the entire length of the specimen once more to confirm the alignment.
  • Page 30 Chapter: Installation M16-16654-EN...

  • Page 31: Preparing To Test

    Setting up the AutoX for Flexure Testing ....... . .
  • Page 32 Chapter: Preparing to Test flexure test position thumbscrew in normal position (183) normal position flexure test position Figure 9. Stop block adjustment for flexure testing M16-16654-EN...

  • Page 33: Moving The Autox Into And Out Of The Test Space

    Moving the AutoX into and out of the Test Space Electromechanical Frame Mounting When not in use the AutoX is stored behind the frame. The sliding assembly is in the unlocked position, with the handles on the sliding assembly in the vertical position.

  • Page 34: Static Hydraulic Frame Mounting

    Chapter: Preparing to Test Static Hydraulic Frame Mounting When not in use the AutoX is stored behind the frame. The mounting assembly lets you slide and rotate the AutoX into and out of the test space. All movement should be carried out from the rear of the frame and whatever combination of sliding and rotating you use, make sure that the AutoX arms do not come into contact with anything as you move it.

  • Page 35: Routine Adjustments

    To slide the AutoX into and out of the test space: 1. Push the handle to the left to release the sliding assembly (the latch plate pivots about its center).

  • Page 36: Setting The Tension Of The Arms

    Chapter: Preparing to Test Adjustment screws Figure 12. Wide Arms Setting the Tension of the Arms You need to adjust the tension of the arms to ensure good contact with the specimen. Rotate counterclockwise to increase the tension, rotate clockwise to decrease the tension.

  • Page 37: Initialization

    (refer to on page 40) and then to the specified target positions. The “Reference stop settings” software updates the Actual carriage position in the Transducer Settings dialog. This process ensures that the software accurately measures the strain data. Product Support: www.instron.com...
  • Page 38 Chapter: Preparing to Test Figure 14. Upper Limit Stop The initial set up of the extensometer moves the carriages to the target settings to establish a reference point in preparation for measuring strain. Target settings must be between the upper and lower fixtures that grip the specimen. Although the target settings are saved with each transducer configuration, you only need to initialize the extensometer when the extensometer is started.
  • Page 39 Bluehill console. The icon will be grayed at first. The following procedure lists the steps required to initialize the AutoX. More detail on individual options within the Transducer Settings dialog can be found in the Bluehill Reference Help online documentation.

  • Page 40: Reference Stop Settings

    Chapter: Preparing to Test 9. To fine-tune the carriage placement, use the jog controls in the dialog to move the carriages and then select Update target position to enter the current location in the Target carriage position field. The jog controls move both carriages simultaneously in order to maintain the target gauge length.
  • Page 41 Select the reference stop based on the expected carriage movement during a test. The carriage movement should move away from the specified reference stop. • When using the lower test space, the upper stop is recommended for compression testing and the lower stop is recommended for tension testing. Product Support: www.instron.com...
  • Page 42 Chapter: Preparing to Test M16-16654-EN...

  • Page 43: Chapter 5 Testing

    AutoX. Chapter 4 Running a Test The following procedure is a checklist for running a test using the AutoX. More detailed information on each step can be found in the operator’s guide for the testing system and ®...
  • Page 44 Chapter: Testing 2. Verify the test area and test direction is correct on the Frame Status indicator in the console area. Warnings Hazard - Do not allow more than one person to operate a testing machine. Operator injury may result if more than one person operates the testing machine. For example, injury can occur if one person moves the crosshead or actuator while the other is working inside the hazard area between the grips or fixtures.
  • Page 45 Warning Set the load frame limit stops to limit crosshead travel, and set adequate transducer limits to ensure the safe operation of the testing system. For the AutoX, set the reference stops to limit carriage travel. Set all available limits before using the system to avoid crosshead overtravel, contact between grips and fixtures, overloading any component of the load string, or overtravel of a contacting extensometer.

  • Page 46: Troubleshooting

    Isolation pads are available; contact Instron Service for assistance. If you use these isolation pads, be aware that the frame and AutoX become more sensitive to direct contact. Take care not to disturb the testing system at all after installing a specimen.

  • Page 47: High Energy Breaks

    You should only need a very light touch on the extensometer arms to move them gently and smoothly along the entire range of travel. If you encounter any resistance while manually moving the arms, this may indicate an internal misalignment. Contact Instron Service for assistance. Product Support: www.instron.com...
  • Page 48 Chapter: Testing M16-16654-EN...

  • Page 49: Chapter 6 Maintenance And Parts

    53). Parts” Warning Hazard - The AutoX knife edges are sharp. Take care when handling them to avoid touching the sharp edges. You can achieve maximum life of knife edges by rotating them. Using a 2mm hex key, loosen the M3 screw.

  • Page 50: Replacing The Return Spring

    Chapter: Maintenance and Parts M3 x 6mm screws Exploded view of knife edges shown on upper arm M3 x8mm screws Knife edges Protector Return spring shown on lower arm Figure 15. Knife Edges and Return Spring You can remove and replace the knife edges without removing the protectors. Use a 2mm hex key to remove the M3 screw.

  • Page 51: Installing Shock-Tolerant Knife Edges

    (see on page 51). Figure 16 screw Figure 16. Location of screws required for installation 3. Use the 2mm hex key to install the shock-tolerant knife edges and springs as shown on page 52). Figure 17 Product Support: www.instron.com...

  • Page 52: Repair

    To maintain the appropriate mass of the arms, the special screws must be replaced in their original positions when you reinstall standard knife edges. Repair If the arms are damaged, contact Instron service for repair. M16-16654-EN...

  • Page 53: Ancillary Parts

    Replaceable Parts Ancillary Parts The following parts are supplied with the AutoX: Table 4. Ancillary Parts Part no. Quantity Description 80-1-1011 Set of metric hex keys (1.5 mm- 10mm) 66-1-237 Replacement return springs Replaceable Parts You can purchase replacement knife edges. Refer to...
  • Page 54 Chapter: Maintenance and Parts M16-16654-EN...

  • Page 55: Appendix A Conformance Documents

    Certificate of Conformance ..........56 The copy of the certificate on the following page is a generic version. Refer to the original certificate supplied with your system for specific details. Product Support: www.instron.com...

  • Page 56: Certificate Of Conformance

    Name and address of the person authorised to compile the technical file: Name: Jim Rose Address: Instron Division of ITW Limited, Coronation Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP12 3SY, United Kingdom. Here with declares that the automatic extensometer series AutoX and in particular the extensometer identified as...
  • Page 57 ......18 Instron wide arms ......35 contact information.
  • Page 58 M16-16654-EN...
  • Page 60 Product Support: www.instron.com...

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