Skip to main content

Hardware

How to build a simplified, low-budget property testing machine​

Through our instructions, future teams receive the opportunity to build the property testing machine (also nicknamed “DAS MASCHIN”) that we used in our project (Pic. 1). The design is inspired by Universal Testing machines like this one by Nextgen [1]. The machine can be used for tear tests, as well as tensile strength tests.

image1

Picture 1: Property testing machine mark 2 (“DAS MASCHIN”) in tear test specification (left) and tensile strength specification (right).

We highly recommend reading the suggestions made in the corresponding paragraph about the machine in the text about the property testing labgroup (See engineering cycle), before starting to build the machine, so that there is the possibility of implementing improvements or changes.

Depending on where and in which quantities the material is bought, we calculate a cost of around 64-144 € for the frame and 350€ for the LEGO winding mechanism and EV3 brick.

The necessary material can be found in the pdf with the building instruction

Building Instruction

Software​

For the use of the EV3 motor in the context of a tear test, specific software is necessary, which can be found on our (software page) or in Picture 2. To open/modify the code, the program EV3 Classroom is necessary, which can be downloaded for free [3]. If wanted, the code can also be translated to Python, which would require modifications for the EV3 brick.

References​

  1. https://www.nextgentest.com/metal-testing-equipment/universal-testing-machines/, last opened 09/26/2024, 21:45
  2. https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/, last opened 09/29/2024, 22:58
  3. https://education.lego.com/de-de/downloads/mindstorms-ev3/software/, last opened 09/29/2024, 19:42