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Design and Construction of a Low-Cost and Low-Scale Universal Testing Machine for Tensile Test

Abstract:

Universal testing machines are tools that provide mathematical models that allow the study of the strength of materials, giving fundamental information for the mechanical characterization of materials, by obtaining physical and mechanical properties that are the basis for the sizing of any system or mechanical element. The basis of these destructive mechanical studies are tensile tests, which are the primary tool for studying the behavior of the material. In the present work, the design and construction of a low-cost, low-scale universal testing machine was carried out, and tensile experimental tests on rigid polymers were conducted. The machine consists of a rigid frame that keeps the mechanical and electronic components, an electronic system that allows optimal control and operation, the presentation of results is through graphics and a graphical interface that concedes the option to export the results at the end. The maximum load it supports is 900 N, with a stroke range of 0 to 400 mm, and a maximum speed of 5 mm/min. Testing results in force and displacement accuracy of ±1%. In addition, when comparing tests on acrylic specimens with a calibrated machine, results with errors of less than 9% are obtained, with force-displacement graphs that coincide in the nature of the material. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the machine developed in this work can be used to perform tensile tests on rigid polymers with reliable results. The approximate cost of the UTM is 1.700,00 US dollars.