Extrusion International USA 1-2020

36 Extrusion International 1/2020 TESTING SYSTEMS Classic robotic testing systems, for example based on in- dustry robots, have been used successfully for years. Be- cause of their high load capacity they are able to move even heavy specimens. The wide range of specimen mag- azines makes them ideal for long test series – hundreds, and even thousands of specimens are autonomously pro- cessed magazine by magazine. In example, through the use of different roboTest testing systems fromZwickRoell. In connection with the corresponding testing machine, they are not only the perfect solution for standard tensile tests on metals or plastics under normal conditions, but flexure tests, temperature controlled tensile, notch im- pact and puncture tests, as well as measurements of ball indentation hardness can also be automated. Complete systems Not only can the actual test be performed without em- ployee intervention, but ZwickRoell also builds fully au- tonomous testing laboratories using AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and additional handling robots that are coordinated with ZwickRoell’s autoEdition 3, just like the robots used for the testing process. When necessary, they run 24 hours a day and autonomously assume materials testing, from placement of the specimens onto a trans- port belt to the disposal of the destroyed specimen. All that’s left for workers to do are specimen production and preparation. A fully automated testing lab is especially worthwhile for quality assurance in ongoing production with high material throughput. After removing the speci- mens or materials from the manufacturing process, they are formed into the required shape and size. Every speci- men is given a bar code or 2D code and can the be au- tomatically and clearly identified in the system. The only thing left is transfer of the specimens to the robot testing lab: the specimens are placed on a belt conveyor and sent risk-free within reach of the robot, they are recognized by their code, assigned to the correct test and testing ma- chine, and sorted onto the proper tray. Driverless transport Further transport is carried out by AGVs, which take the trays to the corresponding testing machine. With an inte- grated laser navigation system they create a map of their surroundings and independently determine the ideal route to their destination. With the autonomous navi- gation, they are superior to the classic solutions that, for example, have to follow a wire embedded in their path or an adhered contrast line. Their only option to react to obstacles is to stop and wait until their path is clear or by communicating with an operator. If the path is not cleared, the delivery is stopped, and worst case until there is no material left at the target destination, and an em- There is an increasing rate in the use of automation inmaterials testing, especially since even the smallest disruptions can alter measured values. Time consuming andmonotonous tasks are also often carried out by robots. ZwickRoell offers awide range of possibilities for automation inmaterials testing. Testing systems range fromefficient automation of small series tests using collaborating robots in the lab to fully automated testing laboratories that work around the clock Automation Trends in Materials Testing