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 tenths of a micro-gram
- 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 0.030”.
Force measurements to hundred thousandths of a gram 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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