Plastometrex's Indentation Plastometer
The UK’s national metrology institute, The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), has expanded its testing capabilities by acquiring an Indentation Plastometer from Plastometrex. Powered by advanced algorithms, the technology is said to be able to extract metal stress-strain curves from a five-minute indentation-based test.
Key information:
- The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has acquired an Indentation Plastometer from Plastometrex.
- NPL is aiming to use the technology to characterise the mechanical properties of metallic materials, with a specific focus on AM parts.
- Both companies will work together again in the future on various projects, including the development of Plastometrex's high-temperature system, the HotPIP.
NPL is hoping to use the new technology to characterise the mechanical properties of metallic materials, including those made via additive manufacturing (AM). This is fitting considering that the Indentation Plastometer is allegedly suited for testing AM materials due to its ability to test small and complex shapes both affordably and quickly.
According to Plastometer, its technology is a powerful enabler for the adoption of AM, as it provides users with the data needed to make confident and informed engineering decisions. NPL will first use its new Indentation Plastometer to test the strength of complex lattice structures as well as small parameter cube samples that are made via laser powder bed fusion.
“The Indentation Plastometer allows us to characterise the properties of finely structured parts in an entirely new way,” said Tony Fry, Principal Scientist at NPL. “The data allows us to build up a more comprehensive picture of the properties of parts made via additive manufacturing, deepening our understanding of the process.”
The mechanical measurement solutions provider is set to deepen its partnership with the NPL as the pair will be working on several projects together. These projects span from supporting the standardisation of the technology and utilising the tool in the AM market, to developing Plastometrex’s upcoming high-temperature system, the HotPIP.
“We are delighted to be working with NPL, a world-leading organisation in this field,” said Professor Bill Clyne, Chief Scientific Officer at Plastometrex. “We are looking forward to collaborating with them on several projects that push the frontier of measurement technology for the benefit of the economy and the environment.”