Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
A Low-cost Portable Device for Evaluating Stretch Formability at Varying Temperatures and Strain-paths
Technology Category/ Market
Category – Material Testing Equipment
Applications – Advanced materials, Automotive industry, Manufacturing, Aerospace
Industry – Metal Forming and Manufacturing Industry
Market – The global Test and Measurement Equipment market size was valued at USD 31922.18 Million in 2022 and will reach USD 63925.62 Million in 2028, with a CAGR of 12.27% during 2022-2028
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Problem Statement
- Conventional high-temperature stretch formability testing methods involve expensive and bulky equipment, hindering efficiency, especially for materials like Mg alloys.
- There’s a demand for a low-cost, portable device addressing these limitations and offering versatility in evaluating stretch formability under various strain paths for temperature-sensitive sheet metals.
Technology
Electrical Resistance Heater Plate:
- Utilizes advanced electrical resistance technology for precise heating during formability tests, especially at high temperatures up to 600°C.
Compact Gearbox with Worm Drive:
- Features a cost-effective gearbox with a worm drive for manual operation, ensuring high precision in evaluating bi-axial and equi-biaxial strain stretch formability for thin sheets.
Versatile Sample Testing:
- Capable of testing sheet metal samples with widths from 3 mm to 70 mm and thicknesses ranging from 0.2 mm to 2 mm, catering to diverse industry and research needs.
High Precision Linear Displacement Measurement:
- Achieves a linear displacement measurement precision of 0.01 mm, providing accurate assessment of stretching forces applied to sheet metals.
Digital Output for Data Analysis:
- Provides digital load, temperature, and linear displacement data for easy analysis, graph plotting, and integration with software systems, enabling comprehensive study of sheet metal formability under varying conditions.
Key Features/ Value Proposition
Technical Perspective:
- Innovative Heating Technology: The use of electrical resistance technology in the heater plate ensures precise and controlled heating for accurate formability testing, especially at high temperatures.
- Precision and Ease of Operation: The compact gearbox with a worm drive enables manual operation with high precision, simplifying the evaluation of bi-axial and equi-biaxial strain stretch formability for thin sheets.
User Perspective:
- Affordable Formability Testing: Users appreciate a low-cost, portable device for efficient stretch formability testing at high temperatures, benefiting industries dealing with temperature-sensitive sheet metals.
- Versatile Application: The device’s capability to test various sheet metal sizes and thicknesses makes it adaptable across automotive, aerospace, and research sectors, meeting diverse user needs.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Sushanta Kumar Panigrahi
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 2153
- IN 398673 (PATENT GRANTED)
Technology Readiness Level
TRL-5
Technology validated in relevant environment