Lloyd Instruments says its thriving Customer Specials department has recently produced special versions of its 50kN LR50KPlus and 10kN LR10KPlus twin column universal testing machines
To meet its customer's exacting application requirements, the LR50KPlus was produced with a wider distance between the columns, while a shortened version of the LR10KPlus was manufactured to fit into a particularly small laboratory space.
Many materials testing applications require specially adapted instrumentation for a variety of reasons, which may be related to the specific application itself, or simply due to constraints on space in which the the equipment may be sited.
Despite having a product range which encompasses 12 single or twin column materials testing machines offering testing and force measurements from up 1kN to up to 300kN, Lloyd instruments says it is always willing to discuss more unusual requirements.
The LR50KPlus was specially adapted for testing concrete samples.
The distance between the columns was widened from the standard 404mm to 420mm so that the particular samples could be accommodated.
A special three-point bend jig was also produced for this instrument.
The shortened version of the LR10KPlus has columns at the standard width, but 450mm shorter.
This was done because of height restrictions where the instrument is to be located.
In many cases, non-standard applications can be accommodated through the design of a special jig or fixture to hold the particular sample without needing to modify the testing machine itself.
The company's Customer Specials department has designed and manufactured special jigs for applications as varied as testing the bend strength of plywood, peel strength of yoghurt pot lids and the force required to extract a cork from a wine bottle.
