Dec 2 2014
At the 2014 MRS Fall Meeting and Exhibit, Bruker today announced the release of the UMT TriboLab™, the latest generation of the world-leading Universal Mechanical Tester (UMT) platform.
UMT TriboLab Mechanical Testing Platform (Photo: Business Wire)
TriboLab incorporates into a single, modular platform the full range of performance previously offered in several UMT models, with further increased load capacity and higher torques, all with greater ease of use and less training requirements.
As with previous UMT models, the UMT TriboLab has a universal base that can be equipped with a range of drive modules to allow multiple, different tribology tests to be performed on one platform. The design of the new TriboLab emphasizes ease-of-use due to a tool-less drive exchange, easier software and scripting capabilities, with further increased performance in areas such as speed, torque, and data accuracy. The redesign of the product also offers enhanced modularity while simplifying the user’s configuration requirements.
Its TriboID™ feature automatically recognizes the attached modules, and reconfigures user menus based on the hardware installed. The system’s new TriboScript™ software is controlled entirely through a user-friendly graphical interface, enabling even complex scripts to be created simply by dragging and dropping icons. The launch of the UMT TriboLab system also introduces a new line of dual-axis, Gold-Series force sensors with an ultralow noise floor and optional increased frequency response.
“For us, Bruker’s new Universal Mechanical Tester and new sensors have come precisely on time,” said Professor Dr. Joost W.M. Frenken, Director of the Advanced Research Center for Nanolithography (ARCNL) in The Netherlands. “We are impressed by the sensitivity and robustness of these sensors, which enable us to perform novel friction experiments in a largely unexplored force regime.”
Michael Khonsari, the Dow Chemical Endowed Chair and Professor and Director of the Center for Rotating Machinery (CeRoM) at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, added: “It is exciting to see a new generation of Bruker UMT coming to the market as we have several of its predecessors in our Center for Rotating Machinery (CeRoM) and rely on them heavily. At CeRoM we are actively involved in collaborative projects with industry partners. Having the Bruker UMT in our Center enables us to perform various tribological tests precisely and efficiently, giving us confidence in reporting our results in archival journals.”
“The UMT platform evolved over the years to be the most flexible tribometer on the market,” explained James Earle, General Manager for Bruker’s Tribology and Mechanical Testing business. “Now, we have gone back to redesign UMT TriboLab from the ground up in order to offer both the most versatile and the easiest to use system in the field. With its built-in modularity, extendibility and intuitive TriboScript software, it is the complete solution for today’s designers and researchers, while at the same time setting new standards in productivity.”