Suppliers Showcase: INSTRUMENTS.

Non-destructive tire testing

Non-destructive tire inspection machines are aimed at the retreading industry. Designed with the objective of making shearography technology more accessible to retreaders, the equipment is available in either the ITT S 2000 for medium to large retreaders, and the ITT S 1000 for medium retreaders. The machines, based on shearography, are said to be particularly adept at the identification of separations, thus eliminating the most dangerous type of casing fault and reducing the cost of retreading, according to the company. Shearography is also said to offer a number of advantages compared with both air and water based ultrasonic inspection systems. In particular, with ultrasonic inspection in the air, signals are deviated in the presence of internal anomalies, whereas ultrasonic inspection carried out in water requires longer handling time due to cleaning and drying of the tire. The top of the range ITT-S-2000 machine has been designed to allow the identification of belt and tread separations before the buffing procedures commence, as well as allowing a final inspection on completion of the retreading process. The shearographic inspection analyzes the tire by segment, dividing it up into a maximum of eight segments with the operator being able to view any one segment individually or all segments together on a video screen. Closer analysis of faulty sections can be achieved by viewing blow-ups of specific areas. (Marangoni Tread)

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Hardness testers

Cogenix hardness testers feature a C-frame design for easy sample loading, push button control with digital display and four different versions of each model to suit market requirements. The Cogenix range has been extended to include the P14 rapid plastimeter, and most recently the D15 moving die rheometer. The company's offerings include instruments which test physical properties such as abrasion, flex, hardness in IRHD, Shore A, D,O and M scales, compression stress relaxation, plasticity, density, cure, specimen preparation equipment, including sample cutters, and sample thickness. (H. W. Wallace)

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Qualitycontrol analysis

The second generation MDX1080+ is said to take multi-element analysis by x-ray fluorescence (XRF) into the future. This state-of-the-art spectrometer uses a technique in x-ray fluorescence, multi-dispersive XRF, that combines the benefits of the classical techniques of EDXRF and WDXRF to allow high performance, simultaneous measurement to be made on both low and high atomic number elements. The MDX1080+ now includes a smart digital pulse processor with higher count rates for greater precision, lower limits of detection on the effective removal of artificial peaks in spectrum scans. Wider elemental coverage is also achieved by the use of WDXRF channels, which include elements from fluorine to uranium, and now carbon and oxygen as well. Additionally, an improved solid state, EDXRF detector, the Flexi-Channel, extends the measurement range now from aluminum through uranium. (Oxford Instruments)

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Portable digital durometer

A hand-held, battery powered digital durometer instantly tests the hardness of robbers, elastomers and plastics. The Shore S1 digital durometer is fully portable and provides accurate hardness test results after simply placing the presser foot on a sample and holding for the dwell time, which is adjustable from 1 to 99 seconds. Featuring nine pre-calibrated interchangeable test scale probes, this modular instrument displays results and test parameters on a high contrast LCD with 0.1 resolution and has an audible alarm for quick pass-fail testing. Capable of storing 6,800 test results by lot or part number and recalling them, the Shore S1 digital durometer maintains statistics such as total test, average, range and standard deviation. Ergonomically designed to fit the hand, it has an RS-232 serial interface, operates on 4 AAA batteries (optional 120 VAC adapter) and conforms to ASTM-D 2240, DIN 5305, JIS L6301 and other applicable specifications. (Instron/Shore Instruments)

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Impact testing system

An instrumented impact testing system is available for materials characterization. The striker is instrumented, i.e., fitted with a strain gauge, in order to accurately measure the applied force to standard size and miniature test specimens. Data are automatically collected upon contact with the specimen and saved in the database of the Windows based software. The system is designed for use with the company's Model 84 pendulum impact tester and the Model 92T impact tester. The company's design features a high-speed system response of at least 100 kHz. A high-speed system response is necessary in order to accurately record rapid load change events, such as the acceleration of the specimen up to the speed of the striker (inertial rise) and brittle crack propagation. (Tinius Olsen Testing Machine)

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