Royal Military College of Canada

Materials Science & Engineering

Equipment used by Dr. Bates and his collaborators

By: Dr. Philip J. Bates

Welding equipment and auxillaries:

Testing and other equipment:

vibration welder

Branson Mini II linear vibration welder (Bates). Pneumatic clamp system with maximum frequency of 240 Hz and a peak to peak amplitude of 1.8 mm. The maximum stroke size is approxmately 15" and platen size can handle parts up to 7" (178 mm) long by 9" (230 mm) wide. Depending on the part size, weld pressures in the 1-5 MPa range are accessible. The welder is instrumented to continuously measure current, and meltdown. Additional sensors measure acceleration on top fixture as well as the force exerted on the bottom fixture at frequencies of approximately 4000 Hz.

Resistive Implant welding fixture and clamping unit

Resistive Implant welding fixture and clamping unit (Bates/Zak). This purpose-built device can be used to resistance weld plaques of length 100-200 mm and widths of 5-30 cm. Clamping forces are in the 0.1-1 MPa range. Pressure, voltage, and temperature are measured in real time during weldng.

Direct resistance welding fixture (left) and Miller Synchrowave 250 power supply (right)

Direct resistance welding fixture (left) and Miller Synchrowave 250 power supply (right) (Bates). This power supply is used for resistive implant welding and for the direct (ie no implant) resistance welding of conductive composite materials. It can deliver 200-300 amps. Although, this current is not required for resistive implant welding, it is required for the resistance welding of certain conductive composite materials.

Rofin-Sinar DLx16 160W diode laser

Rofin-Sinar DLx16 160W diode laser (940nm), fixture and clamping unit (Bates). The laser has a minimum spot size of 0.6 x 1.4 mm2 at a working distance of 83 mm.

Rofin-Sinar UW200 workstation

Rofin-Sinar UW200 workstation (Bates). The workstation contains three-axes (18"X x 18"Y x 12"Z) linear motion stages with a maximum travel speed of 1.19 m/s.

Coherent PM10 power sensor

Coherent PM10 power sensor (Bates/Zak). This low power sensor and accompanying meter (FieldMate power meter) are used in conjunction with the pinhole shown below to measure power intensity distributions in the beam.

Coherent LD30 100W max power sensor

Coherent LD30 100W max power sensor (Zak). This power sensor is used to measure total transmitted power through 'transparent' parts.

PH-100 100 um pinhole from Newport

PH-100 100 um pinhole from Newport (Bates/Zak). It is used to obtain power intensity distributions in the beam. The frame is made in a high heat conductivity and melting point alloy to withstand local heating during testing.

Instron Model 4206 Universal testing machine

Instron Model 4206 Universal testing machine (RMC). Tensile and flexural fixtures are available. A purpose-built compression-shear fixture is also used. Four load cells are available: 10 kN and 50. Tension load cells and 50 kN an. 5 kN tension/compression cells.

Adelaide Testing Machine, Model ITP200 Imapact Tester

Adelaide Testing Machine, Model ITP200 Imapact Tester (RMC).

TA Instruments Differential Scanning Calorimeter type DSC 2010

TA Instruments Differential Scanning Calorimeter type DSC 2010 (RMC)

TA Instruments Thermal Gravimetric Analyser type TGA 2050

TA Instruments Thermal Gravimetric Analyser type TGA 2050 (RMC)

Philips XL 30 CP Scanning Electron Microscope

Philips XL 30 CP Scanning Electron Microscope (RMC)

Anton-Paar MCR 300 parallel plate rheometer for melt rheology and simple DMTA analysis

Anton-Paar MCR 300 parallel plate rheometer for melt rheology and simple DMTA analysis (Bates).

Leica RM 2155 type microtome

Leic. RM 2155 type microtome (Bates) is used to slice unreinforced specimens for microstructural analysis.

Engel 55 ton injection moulding press

Engel 55 ton injection moulding press (RMC). This press is used with a number of DME-type moulds including ASTM flex and tensile bars, a 100x100x3 or 6 mm plaques and a small yogurt-sized cup. A number of inserts have been made for the plaque mould to make specialy parts. A water chiller allows mould temperatures of between 30-90C to be used.

MPV-18 aluminum-lined bag and vacuum sealer by Seco/Gramatech

MPV-18 aluminum-lined bag and vacuum sealer by Seco/Gramatech (Bates).  This is used to keep polyamide specimens at a dry as moulded condition prior to testing or welding.

Carver press model 3855

Carver press model 3855. This four column press can apply a force of 25 tonnes. It is equiped with heated platens capable of temperatures of the order of 300C controlled by Labview (R) software.