Deflection Force Tester
DEFLECTION FORCE TESTER SUMMARY
Re-designed as a fully automated system, this test system precisely measures deflection force applied to custom wire sizes and materials.
TEAM:
- Project Lead
- Project Manager
- Engineer
DESIGN TOOLS USED:
- Solidworks
MARKET:
Healthcare/medical device manufacturing
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
- Collet designed to accept a range of wire 0.01” to 0.035”
- Automatically index to three positions
- Programmable deflection angle (from 1 degree to 20 degrees) and distance from rotation point
- Force measurement to 10 micrograms
- Integrated to run in LabView
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
This test fixture utilized a variable lever-arm cantilever system designed to measure the force applied to various deflection points. We added in-process feedback and automation features, eliminating the need for operator manually adjust the device during validation.
Precision was achieved with Zaber rotary and linear actuators and a Mettler Toledo scale with custom modifications. Encoders were added for precise measurements, ensuring accuracy with wire sizes of up to 0.035”.
Force measurements to 10 micrograms were attained, minimizing environmental effects on our granite slab. Increasing accuracy and repeatability, the system was enhanced with in-process feedback, automation, and the ability to customize the wire length and deflection points, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. The hardware seamlessly integrated with LabView for user-friendly operation.
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