Makemachine expands Omnitest testing machine range

Makemachine, designer and manufacturer of force, material and torque testing equipment for quality control, has expanded its Omnitest Universal Testing Machine (UTM) range.

The latest additions to the OmniTest lineup include three new single-column models with capacities of 0.5 kN, 1 kN and 2.5 kN. These single-column models have a precision ballscrew that drives a crosshead fitted with an ELS loadcell. With their small footprint, they are suitable for bench-top use in space-limited environments, catering to forces below 2.5 kN.

In addition, Makemachines has undertaken a comprehensive engineering redesign of its existing range of twin-column test stands in 10 kN, 25 kN and 50 kN capacities. These twin-column models offer exceptional stiffness, generous spacing between columns, and are equipped with twin precision ballscrews to drive a robust crosshead equipped with ELS loadcells. The updated design provides improved performance and usability for effectively testing large samples.

In line with the new modern Makemachine branding, the OmniTest range has received a fresh look, creating a uniform and cohesive visual identity across the product family.

Dr. Patrick Collins, MakeMachine’s Technical Director, said: “Innovative engineering and a deep understanding of our customers’ needs have combined to create UTM, which not only incorporates the latest technological advances in our easy-to-use VectorPro software and intelligent test analysis software, but also looks great in any lab or QA environment. Our products prioritize powerful functionality, intuitive operation and touch screen friendliness, ensuring fast, smart testing with accurate, reliable and reproducible results .

Designed to meet tension and compression measurement applications in various industries, the OmniTest range meets the diverse needs of both research and development laboratories and quality assurance environments. It serves as a solution for conducting static tensile and compressive tests to measure the mechanical properties of a variety of materials, including plastics, rubber, elastomers, metals, composites, fabrics, glass and ceramics. OmniTest provides quantitative results with a high degree of repeatability, which is critical for effective quality control.

The OmniTest features a user-friendly front panel for easy selection of test parameters, live load and length readings, and precise manual crosshead positioning using the multifunction controller. Colored LEDs provide visual cues to indicate the status of the machine during testing. Incorporating state-of-the-art electronics and a range of high-resolution precision Enhanced Load Sensors (ELS), the OmniTest ensures exceptional load accuracy with a reading accuracy of 0.5% and a resolution of 1:50,000. This enables a wide range of tests to be performed without the need to switch load sensors.

Customers also have the option of choosing the OmniTest with an optional touchscreen controller, which is designed to be a convenient alternative to a desktop or laptop PC. The touchscreen controller works with Microsoft Windows and is specially optimized and pre-installed with MakeMachine’s VectorPro software, making it ready for immediate use with OmniTest.

Depending on customers’ specific testing requirements, the OmniTest system can be supplied with or without an extensometer.

John Page, Managing Director of PPT Group, said: “The new OmniTest models with their improved mechanical performance and build quality perfectly compliment VectorPro, which is already the most intuitive and feature-rich test software on the market. Solving customer problems is in the Makemachine DNA and we are now uniquely positioned to offer a range of high-end material testing systems and where more basic product testing solutions are needed at an affordable price with the new OmniTest range modularity it occurs.