WCA May 2009

systems

Upset testing equipment Wire rod for cold shaping in accordance with EN 10263 and/or DIN 1654 has been tested for many years by standardised compression tests. From the European point of view the method is adequate when the test specimen is compressed by the ratio 1:3. In the past year, Friedrich Petig GmbH has supplied what is believed to be the largest upset testing machine in the world, to date, to a Korean customer, Pohang Steel Corporation (POSCO). POSCO rolls wire for cold shaping (cold heading) in many qualities to 1,200 N/mm² tensile strength. The largest diameter is 55mm. The machine consists of a double press, which is accommodated in a common framework. The wire to be examined is cut in a plane parallel manner to a length of 1.5 x diameter on the right press side with 3,500kN shearing force in a double shear tool. The test specimen is then upsetted to a third of the initial length on the left press side with 6,000kN compression force. In related photo documentation the upset test specimen is photographed all around from four sides, and displayed on a 19-inch screen. The cracks that may arise during the rolling process, which have become visible through the rolling, can thus be easily documented. A PC is installed for control support. The values in accordance with DIN and ASA, compression extent pre-selection, speed, and documentation can be entered here.

Petig’s upset testing machine ❍ ❍

Friedrich Petig GmbH – Germany

Fax : +49 2181 73108 Website : www.petig.com

Email : info@petig.com

Innovations in hardness testing

device are integrated. For optical-based hardness testing methods to Vickers, Knoop and Brinell an add-on unit with measuring microscope is available. This unit is motorised in accordance with the trend for increasing automation and reduction of operator influence, while indentation setting, microscope positioning and optical measurement of the indentation are all performed completely automatically. The range of compound (XY) tables has also seen further improvements in support surface area, test load and travel. The new motorised tables are designed for test loads up to 250kg and have travel ranges up to 150mm x 50mm. The range of applications covered by the ZHU/zwicki-Line has been expanded to include fully automatic Jominy testing to ISO 642 and ASTM 255. In the end-quenching (Jominy) test the hardness of steel is determined by performing a hardness profile test with the Rockwell (HRC) or Vickers (HV30) method on a prepared specimen. Available from Zwick are motorised compound tables with appropriate Jominy tooling for three or five standardised specimens. Testing is carried out completely automatically with user-friendly testXpert ® II software; the operator only has to enter the starting points and test sequence directions. The system is suitable for use in research and development, production and goods inwards testing.

The latest developments in Zwick’s ZHU/zwicki-Line provide a new system for classical and instrumented hardness testing. This fully automatic universal hardness testing system covers the Vickers, Knoop, Brinell, Rockwell, ball indentation and instrumented indentation methods. The ZHU/zwicki-Line for instrumented indentation testing in the macro range covers a wide range of applications and features hardware and electronics precisely tailored to the requirements of hardness testing, guaranteeing high reproducibility. In addition to instrumented indentation tests to determine hardness and other material parameters,

the ZHU/zwicki-Line can perform all the classical hardness testing methods used for metals. Whichever method is used, the testing system records the load-indentation depth curve to provide additional material assessment. The instrumented indenta- tion test includes elastic and plastic deformations in order to obtain the elastic and plastic material characteristic values. The core of the testing system is a hardness measuring head, into which the mea- suring systems for test load and indentation depth plus an indentor with hold-down

Zwick GmbH & Co KG – Germany Fax : +49 7305 10200

Email : info@zwickroell.eu Website : www.zwick.de

High end hardness tester for ❍ ❍ use in R & D

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Wire & Cable ASIA – May/June 2009