1.
INCREASING LABORATORY
EFFICIENCY & THROUGHPUT
How much time can you gain?

2.
TYPES OF SETUPS
IDEALTYPICAL
• Pneumatic grips with
alignment aids
• Integrated micrometer
• AutoX750 extensometer
• Manual wedge grips
• Micrometer + calculator
• Clip-on extensometer

3.
THE CYCLE TIME FORMULA
Fixed Times
Variable with
different setups
DIMENSIONAL
MEASUREMENT
SPECIMEN
REMOVAL
EXTENSOMETER
ATTACHMENT
TESTTIME
EXTENSOMETER
REMOVAL
SPECIMEN
INSERTION
+
CYCLE TIME
Integrated vs. Manual
Automatic vs. Manual
Time to Install Correctly
& Grip Closing
Automatic vs. Manual
Grip Opening
=

4.
THE DIFFERENCES
DIMENSIONAL
MEASUREMENT
SPECIMEN
INSERTION/
REMOVAL
EXTENSOMETER
ATTACHMENT/
REMOVAL
• 6 measurements/specimen
• ~42 keystrokes/specimen
10 TESTS = 420 KEY STROKES
• Time spent aligning by eye
• Grip closing time is longer
INCREASED USER
INTERACTION
• Time spent aligning by eye
• Time to pause test to remove
• 6 measurements/specimen
• ~7 keystrokes/specimen
10 TESTS = 70 KEY STROKES
• Specimen inserted quickly and easily with
alignment devices
• Grips close quickly
• Attaches aligned every test
• Automatically removes without pausing
MINIMIZED USER
INTERACTION

5.
THE EXPERIMENT
Specimen Installation/
Removal
Specimen
Measurement
Test Time With
Extensometer Removal
Minutes 1 2 3 4
IDEAL
SETUP
TYPICAL
SETUP
5 s
40 s
5 s
50 s
30 s
90 s
30 s
45 s
> 50%
FASTER!TotalCycleTime: 95 seconds
TotalCycleTime: 200 seconds

6.
THROUGHPUT
TESTS PER
DAY
TYPICAL
SETUP
IDEAL SETUP
TIME
SAVINGS
50 167 min 79 min 87 min
100 333 min 158 min 175 min
200 667 min 316 min 350 min
300 1000 min 475 min 525 min
In 1 year, that’s 377 hours of time saved
(That’s 15 full days of holiday!)

7.
EFFICIENCY IN
SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS
Multiple Users
Some changes can be made quickly and easily to existing
Bluehill®
test methods to
• Decrease individual test time
• Minimize downtime between tests
• Allow for extra time spent on more value-added tasks
Multiple Materials
Multiple Inputs
CAN COST
$£€

8.
CHOICE INPUTS
• Consistent entries
• Fewer spelling mistakes and incorrect inputs
• Easier to sort data post-test
• Fewer corrections
• Saves time

9.
PROMPTED METHODS
• Optimal for a multiple-operator environment
• Consistent entries
• Consistent test flow from operator to operator
• Customizable for different tests
• Prompt before sample, before specimen,
after specimen, after sample, etc.

10.
OTHERS…
Preconfigured Test Methods
Bluehill Application Modules come with a
variety of pre-made test methods to quickly
get you off the ground.
E.g. Plastics Module:ASTM D638, ASTM D790,
ISO 527-2, 3, ISO 178, ISO 604,
and others
One Click Testing
An AutomaticAir Control Kit (footswitch with
2 pedals) communicates with the frame and
software to allow you to automatically begin
a test when the pneumatic grips close.
Audio Prompts
Play a wave file at different moments
throughout the test to notify the operator
that an action has taken place
(e.g. remove extensometer, test ended).

11.
TIME SAVINGS
COST
EFFECTIVENESS
SOFTWARE
MODS
PNEUMATIC GRIPS
INTEGRATED MEASUREMENT
AUTOMATIC
EXTENSOMETRY
FULL AUTOMATION

12.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!
Please contact your local
Instron® Sales Representative
with any questions.