Forney Test Machines

Hardware

Frame

Designed and built by Forney. These machines are ideal for the general lab because of their versatility. Standard Testing Machines have frames manufactured from solid steel into a one-piece, welded unit that exceeds ACI recommendations. All machines in the series have Lexan fragment guard doors for enhanced safety.

The load frame is manufactured from structural steel angles welded to top and bottom crossheads of solid steel plate. The hydraulic cylinder assembly is mounted to the top crosshead, with force being applied in a downward direction. This design eliminates foreign material build-up around the piston cylinder area.

Materials

Test hydraulic cement, down hole cement, mortar, grout, concrete, self-consolidating concrete, CLSM, flowable fill, proppant, ceramics, metals, and plastics.

Hydraulic

The hydraulic unit is supplied as a complete, fully integrated assembly. The unit is pre-piped and pre-wired. It incorporates hydraulic valves, including an optional proportional valve for controlled piston retract required by code for Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson’s Ratio tests.

The human machine interface (HMI), hydraulic unit, E-Stop, and dump valve are directly connected to the compression unit. Single unit design permits easy installation and provides portability without disassembling of hydraulic or electrical components.

Electrical

A PC-based system utilizes a variable frequency drive to control the hydraulic pump motor. This maximizes efficiency – only running the pump at speeds necessary to achieve the desired pressure. This energy-efficient approach dramatically reduces heat build-up in the hydraulic system and greatly extends hydraulic component life.

Here are the main components of the system:

• Variable frequency drive (VFD)
• Windows-based touchscreen human machine interface (HMI)
• Pressure transducer that provides pressure feedback
• E-stop PB
• Limit switch
• Solenoid-operated dump valve

Safety Features

Several safety features are incorporated to protect both operator and testing machine:

• Maximum Capacity Protection: A high-pressure safety relief value protects the hydraulic circuit and load frame from exceeding maximum capacity.
• Overextension Protection: A piston over-extension limit switch system protects against piston extension beyond maximum travel.
• Fragment Safety Guard: Fragment guards with latches and hinges are mounted to both the front and rear of the compression frame. Fragment guards are made of Lexan® and permits clear viewing of the test in process.

Software

Easy Automatic Testing

Push one button and the machine performs the complete test, including piston retract. Accurately controls the rate of load at the desired setting, thus no question about meeting ASTM (or other) specifications and ensuring repeatable results. Frees the operator to do other tasks while testing is in process.

Digital Control System

Setup of testing protocol, real-time display of test data, and post-test data transfer is accomplished through the ForneyLink touchscreen HMI. The operator can navigate options for:

• Test Run
• Test Setup
• Machine Setup
• Calibration
• Reporting and Data Transfer
• Diagnostics

Provides simultaneous display of force, stress, and rate of load and displays a real-time graph of Load vs. Time, or Stress vs. Strain. Standard functionality includes data collection by the ForneyLink HMI for printing and transfer. Data from optional extensometer and compressometer displacement transducers are also collected by the HMI. This data is captured with the same timestamp as the load data.

CMT Software Integration

Connected testing machines natively integrate with ForneyVault CMT software, improving important processes before and after an automatic test.

Before the test, Connected machines will:

• Enable positive specimen identification via barcode scan
• Provide pre-test “Smart Checks” based on preloaded sample and specimen data to validate sample date, ample size and type, and expected strength.
• Validate specimen geometry.
• Calculate preload settings based on actual and/or expected strength.

After the test, Connected machines will:

• Provide a detailed XY plot data for every test performed.
• Transfer data automatically to LIMS packages, QC systems, or other software.
• Alert to warn calibration expiration.
• Notify correction factor use, individual low breaks, and excessive variance.
• Enable intelligent workflows for detailed reporting and approvals.

Remote Support

With a user-provided Internet connection (either Wi-Fi or Ethernet), all Forney VFD systems are capable of real-time, online support from the Forney Support Team for basic settings and test setup to advanced troubleshooting, fault finding, and software updates.

We offer unlimited Remote Technical Support for all Forney Testing Machines during the two-year warranty period.

For ForneyVault® subscribers, post-warranty remote technical support fees are waived for the life of your subscription.

Please refer any special requirements to a Forney sales representative.

* Specifications are subject to change without notice.