Using Force Measurement to Ensure Product Integrity

Mark-10 force testers can be used in a variety of industries. We focus heavily on uses in the packaging, medical, and automotive industries, but did you know that our products have also been used to test the integrity of candle wicks?

A candle manufacturer approached Mark-10 when they needed to improve their production process to help minimize rework and recalls. When a candle is made, the wick must be centered and straight throughout the entire profile of the candle to ensure the candle burns evenly. Most candles have a wick secured to a metal clip crimped to one end, which helps to stabilize the wick during the candle manufacturing process. Tension is applied to the free end of the wick during the wax solidification process to ensure it stays centered. However, the tension could end up separating the wick from the clip, resulting in a manufacturing failure and lost product. 

To help the candle manufacturer reduce these failures, Mark-10 supplied a pull tester that measured the force required to separate the candle wick from the clip. The tester then transmits the data to a PC for further analysis, which helped the candle manufacturer improve quality and consistency of their products.

To read more case studies and to learn how Mark-10 can help your company reduce manufacturing failures, visit our website. We also post more company updates on our Twitter and LinkedIn pages.

Mark-10 Launches Redesigned Website

You may have noticed that we’ve been busy recently. In addition to new products, our new catalog, and our new profile video, we’ve also unveiled a new website. Building upon the success of our previous site, the new site continues to offer a clean, easy to navigate experience, with lots of technical information and pricing. Refreshed graphics and enhanced readability enhance the overall experience. Visitors can find an array of information on our homepage, including company news, upcoming tradeshows and exhibits, and navigation to our other pages on the left-hand side. Customers can easily learn more about our force and torque measurement solutions, common industries and applications, distributor lists, and frequently asked questions. Additionally, we also offer live, online help to all of our visitors for any questions that may come up while on our site.

We encourage all new and returning customers to visit our new site and take a look at the re-design. To stay up-to-date on all the latest Mark-10 news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Mark-10 Publishes New Catalog

At Mark-10 we’ve been busy unveiling new products, such as our ESM303 motorized test stand and WT3-201M motorized wire crimp pull tester. These new additions prompted us to update our catalog as well, with lots of information about our full line of digital force and torque gauges, test stands, wire crimp pull testers, ergonomics testing kits, software, grips and attachments, and accessories. Readers will see full specifications of our products, including specifications and dimensional drawings.

We’ve also included more information about the Mark-10 story, including our history, and unique engineering, manufacturing, and support capabilities. Examples of industries and applications are described, such as peel, tensile, compression, and many others in the automotive, medical device, packaging, pharmaceutical, aerospace, and sporting goods areas.

Mark-10 has been designing and manufacturing force and torque measurement solutions since 1979. As we continue to enhance and expand our product line, we’ll continue to update our customers on our Twitter,Facebook and LinkedIn pages. We encourage readers to follow us as we have several more announcements planned for this year.

To learn more about Mark-10 and to request a catalog, visit our website.

Mark-10 Unveils New Motorized Wire Crimp Pull Tester

Building on the success of our manual WT3-200 wire crimp tester we have recently announced the addition of a motorized model, the all-new WT3-201M wire crimp pull tester. The WT3-201M is a motorized wire crimp pull tester that is an all-in-one solution that is designed to measure pull-off forces of up to 200 lbF for wire and tube terminations. The tester is suitable for a variety of industries and features selectable test speed with high speed approach and reverse, auto-start upon sample insertion, pass/fail indicators, audio alerts, and more. On-board data storage and statistical calculations is provided for up to 2,000 readings, with available date and time stamp for each saved data point.

WT3-201M

The WT3-201M can accommodate wire sizes up to AWG 3 as well as custom sizes via the available machinable blank fixture. The tester conforms to numerous UL, ISO, ASTM, SAE, MIL, and other requirements for destructive testing. Non-destructive testing is also possible, such as pulling to a load or maintaining a load for a specified period of time, as per the requirements of UL 486A/B.

Additional equipment options are available for customers who want to configure a system for their application. To learn more about our new motorized wire crimp puller, visit our website. We also post more company updates and industry news on our Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Mark-10 Launches New Motorized Test Stand

At Mark-10 we are always working to offer our customers the best force and torque measurement equipment, which is why we’re announcing our newest motorized test stand, the ESM303. This new stand replaces our ESM301 Motorized Test Stand and offers several improvements and enhancements over the ESM301.

The ESM303 Motorized Test Stand features a column that completely encloses the motor, which significantly reduces noise, offers improved aesthetics, and has a more rigid column to reduce deflection under load. We have also internalized and streamlined the cable connections for a clean, ergonomic look. The gauge interface cable attaches directly to the crosshead, and powers the gauge so no AC adapter is needed. We have also included a USB output so a USB converter is no longer needed.

The current position is now memorized between power cycles. The ASCII command set for PC control now includes all Mark-10 force gauge commands. The control panel has dedicated FollowMe™ and Zero Travel buttons and the FollowMe™ function moves the crosshead at a variable rate of speed, proportional to the amount of force applied by hand to the force gauge’s load cell. The available Profiles option allows the user to save, name, and recall up to 50 test setups (i.e. speeds, distance limits, cycles, etc.). Additionally, the controller mounts to the side of the column and can be easily removed for remote operation.

The overall height of the ESM303 is similar to the ESM301 but the new stand features a modular mechanical design that allows for single- and double-column extensions to accommodate a variety of applications.

To learn more about the new ESM303 Motorized Test Stand, visit our website. We post more company news on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Factory Automation Drives Demand for Inline Metrology

As the cost of industrial robots decreases, more and more manufacturers are investing in automation, especially automotive suppliers and assemblers. With advances in production automation, the market for inline metrology solutions has expanded rapidly. According to an analysis from Frost & Sullivan, the dimensional metrology market in particular is predicted to reach over $1.2 billion by 2018. The report also mentions that as more companies move towards automated production lines, an end-to-end automated inline metrology solution will be key for manufacturers.

At Mark-10 we have extensive experience supplying force and torque measurement devices to the auto industry. From bench top turnkey test systems to gauges, sensors, and accessories, we help suppliers and assemblers achieve quality control objectives. Our instruments can interface with PCs and PLCs via USB, RS-232, analog, set points, and other outputs. For example, set point outputs can trigger an alarm if a pull test is below the specified value. A custom application can be written to interrogate our instruments, collect data, and change settings. Typical force and torque measurement applications include spring testing, windshield washer blade retraction force, bearing torque, door handle pull testing, and more.

To learn more about how we’ve worked with the auto, aerospace, medical device, and many other industries,visit our website or contact us. We are also active on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn where we post more auto industry news and company updates.

New Packaging Made of Both Rigid and Flexible Materials

Ana’s Food of Austin recently became the first commercial customer in North America to use both rigid and flexible material. The container features a square, injection-molded tub with flared sides that are made from rigid polypropylene posts. Then four panels of flexible and printable PP material are fused to the posts to create the sides of the container.

The company’s main objective in reformatting its packaging was to improve the sustainability and the new container uses up to 50% less plastic than regular salsa tubs. The polypropylene container is also 100% recyclable and the new design allows for easy stacking which can help reduce costs in shipping and stocking.

The trend for more sustainable packaging seems to be continuing to grow as we previously wrote a blog post about the market, which is predicted to reach $244 billion by 2018. Food manufacturers and packaging companies must ensure that the lighter packaging will still meet quality regulations as well as customers’ expectations. At Mark-10 we manufacture force and torque measurement products that not only test to ensure that the packaging will securely hold the contents but also that consumers will be able to easily open the package.

To learn more about our packaging testing solutions or to configure your own measurement system, visit our website. We also post more packaging industry news on our Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages.