Preparation of the physical test specimen can be a difficult and time consuming operation. A highly skilled machinist, a precision milling machine and considerable hand finishing can achieve the required configurations of the test specimen. However, the slow milling cutter speeds create heavy chip loads and can induce severe internal distortion to the machined edges. Specimens of light gauge sheet are frequently die cut to the required test configuration. The basic principal of die cutting causes severe deformation to the critical specimen edges. Both conventional milling and die cutting create great variations and errors in the physical properties of the materials. The ideal tensile specimen should duplicate the pure basic metal or plastic being tested with a total absence of tool marks, incipient cracks, induced stresses, internal deformation or heat distortion. Tensilkut achieves these ideal requirements and produces an almost perfect test specimen.

For over 50 years, Tensilkut Engineering has been manufacturing and selling precision equipment for the accurate preparation of physical test specimens. Designed to be located in the lab with the universal testing machine, Tensilkut machines can be used by lab personnel without previous machining experience

 

specifically for the preparation of flat physical test specimens for use in universal testing machines. The CNC Tensilkut III will cut tensile, flexural, tension impact and other samples from plastic or fiberglass sheets, and from precut strips of steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, copper and other metals and non-metallic materials. It was developed for use by lab personnel without previous machining experience. The unit is shipped fully set up; the computer need only be hooked up for the system to be ready to operate.

The CNC Tensilkut III employs an integral IBM compatible computer with hard drive, 101 key enhanced keyboard and mouse to prepare those specimens which we have programmed in accordance with the customer's requirements. A chip shield surrounds the entire working area of the machine, inhibiting flying chips and lessening the noise of the cutting operation. An emergency stop switch is mounted on the front of the machine, as are all power switches. The unit contains a vacuum chip removal system and a micro drop coolant system for improved edge finishes. This system features a Windows-based software featuring pull down menus for easy use; the color monitor displays tool paths, speeds and depths of cut during operation. Programs for ASTM, ASM, JIS, DIN and other standards as required by the user are installed in the computer, and accessed via the pull-down menus. Optional software will allow specimen contours to be imported from most CAD drawing programs. Click here for further information on the CNC Tensilkut III. For a personalized quotation or more general information, please supply us with information on your specific application.

The CNC Tensilathe is a new, fully automatic lathe developed specifically for turning round tensile, fatigue, jominy and other test bars from most machineable metals and non-metallics. The CNC Tensilathe employs a microcomputer which is programmable to prepare a wide variety of specimens from approximately 1/4" overall diameter to in excess of 2" overall diameter. The Pentium computer with integral hard drive includes a color monitor, keyboard and mouse.

This new lathe features a Windows based software featuring pull down menus for easy operation; neither machining nor CNC tool experience are required for the user to quickly learn to turn his own bars. A complete, illustrated self-instruction manual guides the user through the entire turning process; training in our facility is also available. Optional software will allow specimen contours to be imported from most CAD drawing programs; most users prefer to allow us to program their systems. This lathe uses a standard 3-jaw chuck; a 4-jaw chuck is available for gripping irregular pieces. The unit contains a Micro-Drop coolant system; a chip shield inhibits flying chips and reduces the noise of the lathe. An emergency stop switch is located on the front of the unit, as are all power switches. For more details and specifications on the machine, including the information needed to accurately program your specimen contours into the CNC Tensilathe, click Click here.

For further information or pricing, please contact us with information regarding your materials, specifications and anticipated volume.

The Tensilkut I was designed for the specific purpose of preparing flat metal or non-metallic dogbone shaped test specimens. The compact size of the equipment permits it to be conveniently located in the laboratory. Small table top units or larger floor mounted models are available to accomodate any space and/or work volume requirements. Material thicknesses of up to 3/4”, depending upon the hardness and machineability of the material, can be cut on some Tensilkut I models. The specimens are accurate to within +.0005" when prepared on the Tensilkut machine with a Tensilbit and a standard or special master template manufactured by Tensilkut Engineering. Optional mist coolant and vacuum systems are available for the Tensilkut I. For more information on the Tensilkut I,  click here.

The Tensilkut II is an updated version of the original Tensilkut machine, developed in response to our customers' requests for an enhanced, yet still manually operated, economical way to prepare tensile bars and other samples from metals and plastics for use in the universal testing machine. The Tensilkut II is an enclosed machine which includes integral misting, chip removal and motor speed regulation units. The chip shield around the control head protects the area around the unit from debris, while the sound deadening package absorbs much of the noise of the unit. A series of power switches located on the front of the panel enables the operator to easily access those accessories desired, while the emergency stop switch located on the machine cuts power to all systems simultaneously. For added safety, the Tensilkut II is equipped with a foot-control ("dead-man's") switch; the Tensilbit will not rotate unless the operator depresses it. As with the Tensilkut I, the Tensilkut II is accurate to within +.0005" when preparing specimens with a Tensilkut master template and Tensilbit.  To learn more about the Tensilkut II, click here.

The Tensilgrind is a precision contour grinding machine used for the preparation of foil and sheet test specimens from high hardness metals and tough alloys, including stainless, chromium, molybdenum and cobalt based alloys. Tensilgrind employs the basic principle of the Tensilkut, wherein a precision master template is manually guided across the table surface with the removal of metal being accomplished in a series of light grinding passes. A mist coolant system is standard on the Tensilgrind. Master Templates and replacement grinding wheels are in stock.  For more information on the Tensilgrind, click here.

Tensilkut master templates are available for flat test specimens to ASTM, JIS, ISO or other domestic or international testing standards. Templates for the most common metal and non-metallic physical test specimens, including tensile, flexural, tensile-impact and compression standards, are in stock for quick delivery; others are made to order. To prepare a test specimen, a rough sheared or sawn strip is inserted into the template between the upper and lower guide bars and is not removed from the template until both sides of the specimen are completely machined, reducing the possibility of operator error. For those specimens which are too small to be securely gripped in a conventional two-sided template, a one-sided template is used. With all master templates, the radius blends smoothly into the gauge section; any specified tapers are accurately manufactured into the bars, eliminating the need for costly hand finishing. For a listing of the templates we have in stock, and information on ordering special master templates, click here.

For optimum surface finish and contour duplication on your flat test specimens, you need carbide cutting tools engineered specifically for high speed machining with Tensilkut machines. Solid carbide Tensilbits for cutting metals and plastics are precision manufactured from the finest micrograin carbide; carbide tipped Tensilbits for general purpose metal cutting and diamond plated Tensilbits for glass filled laminates, composites, kevlar and similar materials have high quality tool steel shanks. Click here for more information on Tensilbits.

Tensilathe/505 is a precision, semi-automatic hydraulic tracing lathe with the capability of turning bars up to 12" in length. The lathe bed is precision ground cast iron, ensuring smooth movement of the tailstock and tracer. The motor is a 115V, 60Hz motor, with a variable speed controller. The unit is supplied with a 3-jaw universal chuck; a 4-jaw chuck is also available. A drill chuck, live center and misting system are included. Tensilathe/505 is an economical alternative to the CNC Tensilathe for turning round, dogbone shaped tensile bars in the lab. No previous machining experience is required to operate this machine.

Precision master templates, manufactured specifically for the Tensilathe/505 by us, are accurately aligned and clamped independently above the hydraulic tracer to control the configuration of the test specimen to within +.0005". Straight templates can be used to rough out irregular bars, while contoured templates provide the proper dimensions and taper for machining the gauge section and shoulders. Master templates are made in accordance with the specifications detailed by the customer.

To learn more about the Tensilathe/505, click here.

The Tensilsaw, powered by a high speed motor, is used to saw straight strips from glass laminates, composites or hard plastics. The thin diamond blade cuts the material for insertion into the Tensilkut template, or for flexural or other tests without heating or burning the strip edges. Toothed Tensilsaw blades are also available for use in cutting plastics with a lower melting point; both types of blades are in stock for immediate shipment. Strip widths of 1/4" to 1" can be accomplished with the Tensilsaw. A plexiglass guard above the blade acts as a chip shield. An optional vacuum chip reduction system can be installed on this machine. Click here to learn more about the Tensilsaw.

The Tensilshear is a small, hand operated shear which is used to cut straight strips from light gauge metals for insertion into the Master Templates. Micrometer gauges located at the rear of the Tensilshear can be used to control the width of each strip being sheared. For more information on the Tensilshear, click here.

Impactkut is a precision hydraulic broaching machine designed specifically for notching prepared 10mm charpy impact bars in accordance with ASTM A370. The basic machine can be mounted on a metal cabinet in the user's lab, or ordered pre-mounted on a cabinet with an integral coolant system, as shown above. Impactkut requires only a small amount of floor space. Laboratory personnel without previous experience can notch a prepared bar in less than one minute. Replacement broach tools are in stock; if the dull broach tool has not been chipped, it can be resharpened.  To learn more about the Impactkut, click here.

The Impactmill accurately notches charpy impact specimens from prepared plastic blanks in accordance with ASTM D256. The totally enclosed 1/2 hp motor rotates a precision ground single tooth cutter, while the specimen is fed through manually in one smooth motion. The .500" blank required for the ASTM D256 testing can be prepared on a Tensilkut machine. One or more full sized or subsized blanks are clamped in the Impactmill's holding fixture; a rotating cutter is raised or lowered, if needed, to adjust the depth of the notch. To check the depth of the notch, a micrometer with a knife blade is mounted on the side of the Impactmill.  For more information on the Impactmill, click here.