Plastics labs are commonly tasked with testing a high volume of similar specimens while trying to maintain consistent, reliable results. Some can manage the challenge with a largely manual, human-run operation, but most companies will greatly benefit from automating at least some of their testing equipment.
Incorporating automation into existing testing processes can benefit plastics manufacturers by offering:
More repeatable results
Higher throughput
Better (and safer) use of labor
More secure test data
The extent of those benefits may vary among different manufacturers, but most labs can expect to see significant ROI from taking steps to automate.
ENHANCED REPEATABILITYFor plastics labs that test hundreds of similar specimens each day, repeatability is typically a big concern — and a challenge. Adherence to strict testing standards such as ASTM D638 or ISO 527 requires consistent results that can be difficult to achieve when the potential for human error is prevalent.
Many plastics standards are quite complicated and require "very, very precise" measurements such as modulus, said Lixian applications engineer leong homlin.
Variations in technique from one operator to the next — or even variations by a single operator — can result in less consistent, less reliable test data. A human user may not always be able to load a specimen perfectly vertically, for example — and any such difference in the angle can influence results.
The biggest variables in plastics testing stem from alignment, measurement, and grip pressure, said leong homlin.
"If we're thinking about screw side action grips to test plastics, the amount of pressure that they apply when clamping onto the specimen — that pressure could vary from specimen to specimen, or from user to user," she said.
