Universal mechanical testing device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION One aim of the present invention is to provide a precise and controlled material testing device for testing small specimens.
Another aim of the present invention is to provide a material testing device that could be designed so as to fit inside a standard tissue culture incubator, thus adding to the universality of the device by including biomedical applications in their most standard format.
Another aim of the present invention is to provide a material testing device for performing stress relaxation test, ramp-release test, Creep test, dynamic sinusoid measurements, long sinusoids, using an actuator for moving a sample at a constant speed, in which the actuator is so controlled as to mimic sinusoidal or other displacement, when needed.
Another aim of the present invention is to provide a material testing device for testing for unconfined or confined compression test, indentation test, tension test, and bending test.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a universal material testing device comprising: a) a frame; b) an actuator mounted on the frame for controlling a displacement of a sample to be tested; c) a load cell movably mounted on the frame and adapted to abut against the sample for detecting a force applied thereon by the actuator, the load cell producing a signal corresponding to the force detected; and d) a signal conditioning unit for reducing input noise and for processing of the signal and executing specific tests by coordination of displacement control and load signals received for processing from the load cell.
In one embodiment of the invention, the signal conditioning unit is a force sensing amplifier device.
In a variant on the invention, the frame may further comprises a crossbar for receiving the load cell, the crossbar having a minimal mass and minimal vertical deflection for not increasing device compliance while still exerting minimal resting force on an attached load cell, to avoid damaging of the latter.
The crossbar is preferably slidably adapted onto the frame for sliding in a vertical direction, the crossbar being removably fixed at a given height on the frame by manual retention means