1、 Preparation before operation

1. Equipment inspection
   • mechanical partsCheck whether the fixtures, transmission systems (such as lead screws and guide rails), and connecting parts (such as bolts and pin shafts) of the testing machine are loose or worn. If cracks, deformations, or abnormal wear are found, they should be replaced or repaired immediately.
   • Electrical systemCheck if the power and control cables are damaged, and if the grounding is good. Use a multimeter to check if the power supply voltage is stable (within ± 5%), to avoid voltage fluctuations affecting equipment operation.
   • Hydraulic/Pneumatic System(If applicable): Check whether the oil and gas pipes are leaking/leaking, and whether the hydraulic oil or air pressure is within the rated range (if the hydraulic system pressure needs to meet the requirements of the equipment manual).
2. Sample preparation
   • Size and shapeThe sample size must comply with the standards (such as ASTM E466, GB/T 3075), and the surface must be free of scratches, cracks, or oxide layers. If the surface roughness of the sample exceeds the standard (such as Ra>3.2 μ m), it needs to be polished.
   • Marking and AlignmentMark the gauge length at both ends of the sample (for measuring elongation) and ensure that the axis of the sample is aligned with the centerline of the testing machine fixture to avoid testing errors caused by eccentric loading.
   • preprocessingPre treat according to material properties (such as annealing, quenching) to eliminate internal stress and ensure reproducibility of test results.
3. environmental control
   • The experimental environment temperature should be stable (such as within ± 2 ℃) to avoid temperature fluctuations affecting material properties (such as increased brittleness of metal specimens at low temperatures).
   • If the experiment involves high or low temperature environments (such as thermal fatigue testing), a temperature control box should be used and temperature uniformity should be ensured (such as within ± 1 ℃).

2、 Standardized operation

1. Parameter Settings
   • load rangeSet the load amplitude based on the expected fatigue life of the specimen (such as maximum load not exceeding 60% of the specimen yield strength) to avoid overloading causing specimen fracture or equipment damage.
   • frequency selectionSelect the alternating load frequency based on the material characteristics (such as metal sample frequency usually being 10-50Hz, polymer material frequency can be as low as 0.1-1Hz), to avoid overheating of the sample caused by high frequency or prolonged testing time caused by low frequency.
   • number of cyclesSet the number of cycles according to the experimental standards (such as 10 cycles) or research objectives, and record the actual number of cycles (some devices support automatic counting).
2. Fixture usage
   • Clamping force controlAdjust the clamping force of the fixture according to the material and size of the sample (such as setting pressure values for hydraulic fixtures), to avoid insufficient clamping force causing the sample to slide or excessive clamping force damaging the sample.
   • Neutral checkAfter each clamping of the sample, use a dial gauge or laser centering device to check the deviation between the axis of the sample and the centerline of the fixture (such as ≤ 0.1mm), ensuring that the eccentric loading error is within the allowable range.
   • Anti slip measuresIf the surface of the sample is smooth (such as metal coated samples), anti slip pads (such as sandpaper or rubber pads) can be attached to the contact surface between the fixture and the sample to increase friction.
3. operation monitoring
   • Real time observationDuring the experiment, regularly observe the deformation and load displacement curve of the sample (some equipment supports real-time display). If any abnormalities are found (such as sudden drop in load or abnormal noise from the sample), the machine should be stopped immediately for inspection.
   • temperature monitoringIf the experiment involves high temperature or high-frequency loads, an infrared thermometer or thermocouple should be used to monitor the surface temperature of the sample to avoid changes in material properties (such as creep) caused by excessive temperature.
   • data recordingRecord key parameters (such as load amplitude, frequency, number of cycles, and location of sample fracture), and some equipment supports automatic data storage (such as CSV format) for subsequent analysis.

3、 Security protection

1. Personnel protection
   • Operators are required to wear protective goggles, gloves, and safety shoes to avoid injury from flying debris when the sample breaks.
   • During the experiment, it is prohibited to stand in front of the specimen or near the fixture, and a safe distance (such as ≥ 1 meter) should be maintained.
2. Equipment protection
   • The testing machine needs to be equipped with a protective cover (such as a transparent organic glass cover) to prevent fragments from flying out and damaging the equipment or injuring people when the sample breaks.
   • If the test involves high pressure (such as hydraulic system pressure>10MPa) or high temperature (such as>200 ℃), warning signs (such as "High pressure danger" and "Do not touch high temperature") should be placed around the equipment.
3. emergency response
   • Sudden power outageIf there is a power outage during the experiment, the equipment power should be immediately turned off, and the fixture pressure should be manually released (such as operating the pressure relief valve for hydraulic fixtures) to avoid deformation of the sample due to prolonged clamping.
   • Sample fractureIf the sample breaks during the test, it is necessary to stop the machine and wait for the equipment to stop before opening the protective cover to remove the sample fragments, in order to avoid scratching the hands with fixtures or fragments.
   • Equipment failureIf the equipment emits abnormal noise, vibration or alarm (such as overload alarm, temperature limit alarm), it should be stopped immediately and maintenance personnel should be contacted. It is forbidden to continue the test forcibly.

4、 Post operation maintenance

1. Cleaning and organizing
   • After the experiment is completed, wipe the surface and fixture of the testing machine with a soft cloth to remove impurities such as oil stains and metal shavings. If there are residual sample fragments on the fixture, special tools (such as tweezers) should be used to clean them to avoid scratching the surface of the fixture.
   • Clean the ground of the test area, keep the environment clean, and prevent debris from affecting the next test.
2. Component inspection and replacement
   • Fixture wear and tearRegularly check the wear of the fixture teeth or contact surface (such as every 50 tests). If the wear is severe (such as flattening the teeth or scratching the contact surface depth>0.5mm), the fixture needs to be replaced.
   • Lubrication of transmission componentsAccording to the equipment manual requirements, regularly add lubricating grease to transmission components such as lead screws and guide rails (e.g. every 3 months) to reduce wear and extend service life.
   • sensor calibrationCalibrate the force sensor and displacement sensor every 6-12 months (requiring professional equipment or contacting the manufacturer) to ensure measurement accuracy (such as force sensor error ≤ ± 0.5% FS).