Materials Testing, Cement Testing Equipment, Quality Control Projects

MANUAL VICAT NEEDLE APPARATUS

Standards: EN 196-3, ASTM C 187, ASTM C 191, AASHTO T 129 / T 131, BS 4550, AFNOR P 15 / P 414

Cement testing Equipment and Materials testing

LE CHATELIER TEST DEVICE: THERMOSTATIC BATH DIGITALLY CONTROLLED

Standards: EN 196-3

Device specially designed for testing heat expansion of cement mortar specimens and materials testing (Volume Stability Test)

IMPROVEMENTS OF THE NEW AP CONTROL MODULE

• Real time selectable boiling point
• Close loop control time: 0,1 ms
• Detailed test information showed in the screen: real time temperature command value, remaining time, process point, etc.
• Alarms: lack of water, heating resistance failure, temperature probe problem, etc

See AP series technical information

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Glass slides containing the cement mortar are attached with a balance weight to the Le Chatelier needles, which are then inserted in the bath.

The bath has a stainless steel tank and lid with handles, and a double wall insulated with rockwool, inside wall made of stainless steel with drainage faucet located in behind lower part. Inside it has a stainless steel perforated sheet tray with handles to lift the tray out of the bath bottom and protect the heating resistor of 4500 W.

The measuring and regulating system consists on an electronic control module in the right side of the bath with a 0,1º C resolution, combined with a Pt100 probe to measure temperature of the water in the bath. The thermostat range is 0 to 100ºC.

The adjustment of the orders introduced by the user and the reading of the real temperature is controlled by means of one internal PID.

The thermostat is fully programmable by the user, by means of the keyboard, and so it permits to adapt the user to the specific working conditions for each test. This equipment has AUTOTUNING function for PID automatic adjustment and calculation. From our facility this equipment is supplied with 2 preset programs:

• First program: 24 hours in 20ºC and afterwardsincrease to boiling in 30 minutes keeping the boiling (see note 1) during 3 hours.
• Second program: (Brief method). Quick stabilization to 20º C and afterwards increment of the boiling temperature in 30 minutes keeping the boiling (see note 1) during 3 hours.

NOTE 1: The boiling temperature is adjusted in 97,5º C when the equipment is finished in our facility, this temperature corresponds to a height of 650 metres over the sea level.This data must be introduced, following the instructions in the manual, by the end user taking into account the height over the sea level above is located the laboratory. In the instruction manual is indicated the temperature values to be introduced according to the height. NOTE 2: This equipment is designed to work in conditioned laboratories to 20º C, according to the specified with the Standards provided that the water temperature to feed the bath be lower than the 20º C before mentioned because only it is made control in increasing temperature gradients.
If you need additional cooling systems, please contact us.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

• Power supply: 1-Phase, 220 V+T, 50-60Hz
• Total power: 4500 W
• Internal dimensions for the container: 445 x 250 x 140 mm (length x width x depth).
• Distance between the sample holder tray to theupper edge of the container: 100 mm.
• Water volume: 14 litres.
• Capacity: Up to 9 Le Chatelier needles with all the accessories.
• External dimensions: (including digital control module and rear drainage faucet: 710 x 280 x 450 mm. (length x width x depth).
• Net weight: 15 Kg. approx.

Cement Testing Equipment and Materials Testing

AUTOMATIC VICAT NEEDLE APPARATUS AUTOVICAT

Standards:

• Initial and final setting time in cement, as per EN 196-3:2005 and ASTM C191.
• Setting times in gypsum as per EN 13.279-2.
• Normal consistency as per EN 196-3: 2005 and ASTM C187.
• Setting times in additives for concretes, mortars andpastes, as per EN 480-2.
• Any other standard or testing procedure, by means of standard editor incorporated and easily programmable by the user himself.

MAIN APPLICATIONS

The AUTO-VICAT developed by the R&D department of S.A.E IBERTEST, combines the following main features:

• Attractive design and extremely easy to use
• Light with reduced dimensions
• Components of the last generation.
• Maximum performance qualities. Completely reliable.
• The test is completely registered in the graphic screen as in the integrated printer.
• Free fall or guided fall, can be selected by the user.
• Total connectivity via USB 2.0 for external control and data acquisition via PC by means of specific software, under WINDOWS O.S.
• Possibility of configuration by the user, depending on his particular test needs. The user can choose the time between penetrations, the number of penetrations in each interval, the distance between concentric and repeated penetrations, the distance of penetration to the mould edge, if a second operation is required, etc. An algorithm calculates the maximum number of penetrations to comply with the conditions imposed by the user and applies it automatically.
• Possibility of forming groups, in battery, of practically an unlimited number of equipment and commanded by one sole PC (thanks to a multiport USB 2.0 hub) and a software pack VICATEST, of 32 bits, under WINDOWS XP.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Multi-standard. 6 standards (EN and ASTM) configured and pre-recorded and 9 additional standards programmed by the user according to his specific needs, directly on the equipment menus or externally from a PC by means of an application for WINDOWS.

NOTE 1.- The final setting time in cement (as per EN 196-3) and in additives, mortars and pastes (as per EN 480-2) must be validated by the user by comparison with results obtained with the standardized manual method.

• EEPROM memory (non volatile) that stores user different configurations and the last 100 complete tests performed, even in those cases of electrical supply failure.
• USB Connection to computer, allowing remote control from the PC as well as automatic data acquisition (by means of optional software package, of 32 bits, under Windows) realization of graphs, complete test reports, statistics, etc.
• Mains: single phase 220 V, 50 / 60 Hz or 110 V, 60 Hz (to be specified)
• Rated power: lower than 40 W.
• Dimensions: 230 x 290 x 355 mm (width x depth x height)
• Weight: 16 kg
• Working temperature: from -10 to +40º C

NOTE 2.- The setting time in gypsum requires the manual cleaning of the conical needle after each penetration. It is also possible to use the needle 1,13 mm diam and valid the results by comparison with the standardized manual method.

STANDARD DELIVERY

The equipment is supplied complete with:

• 1 stainless steel sliding weight needle-holder for setting tests as per EN 196-3 or ASTM C191 (according to the needle mounted).
• 2 needles: 1.13 mm diam as per EN or 2 needles: 1 mm diam as per ASTM (to be specified).
• 3 truncoconical moulds as per EN or ASTM (to be specified)
• 1 immersion bath with centring ring for mould and glass plate.
• 1 circular glass plate.
• 1 needle cleaning device.
• 1 thermal printer with 5 rolls of paper.
• 1 USB port for a connexion to the PC.

ACCESORIES AND SPARE PARTS

111-101055. Stainless steel sliding weight needle-holder for setting tests as per EN 196-3 or ASTM C191, according to the needle mounted (EN or ASTM). These needles are interchangeable. Total weight of the mobile set 300 g. (Fig. 1).

111-100376. Light alloy sliding weight and stainless steel conical needle (total weight of the mobile set 100 g) for gypsum tests as per EN 13.279-2 (Fig. 2).

111-100409 Stainless steel sliding weight probe-holder, with a 10 mm diameter x 50 mm length probe (total weight of the mobile set 300 g), for consistency tests as per EN 196-3 and ASTM C-187 (Fig. 3).

111-100410 Stainless steel sliding weight needle-holder with 1,13 mm diameter needle and total weight of the mobile set of 1000 g (for setting times tests in additives for concrete, mortar and paste, as per EN 480-2) (Fig. 4).



111-100258 1.13 mm diam needle as per EN 196-3 and EN 480-2 (for codes 111-101055 and 111-100410)

111-101167 1 mm diam. needle as per ASTM C191 (for code 111-101055)

111-100411. Stainless conical needle for gypsum as per EN 13.279-3 (for code 111-100376)

111-100412. Stainless probe, 10 mm diameter x 50 mm length, for consistency tests as per EN 196-3 and ASTM C-187 (for code 111-100409).

111-100110. Truncoconical mould as per EN 196-3, EN 480-2 and EN 13.279-2

111-100109. Truncoconical mould as per ASTM C191 and C187

111-100311 Immersion bath with centring ring for moulds as per EN and ASTM

111-100348 Circular glass plate 109 mm diam

111-100413 Set of 2 Brushes for the needle cleaning device.

210-100920 Pack of 5 rolls of printer paper.

Examples of configuration of different standards achieved with the VICATEST software testing editor

Cement Testing Equipment and Materials Testing.

AUTOMATIC PLANETARY MORTAR MIXER

Standards: EN 196-1(Nov. 2005), ASTM C-305, EN 196-3 (Nov. 2005) and UNE-EN 1015-2/98.

For the production of cement mortar and cement paste according to the standards

MAIN FEATURES

• Electric motor with frequency variator which ensures the rotating speediness of the paddle regardless of power supply and the network frequency.
• Switch-selection of mixer speed with three positions, avoiding the serious disadvantages of the traditional, mechanical speed-switching systems which use pinion-and-crown gears.
• Fast, bayonet-clip coupling and removal of paddle.
• Distance between paddle and bowl: 3±1,0 mm.
• Cast stainless steel paddle, with scoring degree indicator.
• Paddle revolving speed:
  - Slow, 140±5 rpm.
  - Fast, 285±10 rpm.

• Planetary revolution:
  ⇒ slow, 62±5 rpm.
  ⇒ fast, 125±10 rpm.
• Stainless steel bowl of 4,7 l capacity approx. Bowl support can slide vertically by means of a side lever for an easy mounting and dismounting.



• Power supply: single phase 110 / 240 V (to specify) + T, 50 / 60 Hz.
• Dimensions: 43 x 57 x 56 cm.
• Net weight: 62 Kg. approx.

NEW CONTROL MODULE AP Series

Improvements of the AP control for the mortar mixer:

• Real time test parameters modification
• Close loop control time: 0,1 ms

It has four complete selectable and adaptable, automated testing programs. Depending on the standard to be used (EN or ASTM) these programs are:

• Cement motar as per EN 196-1 (Nov. 2005)
• Cement mortar as per ASTM C-305
• Pure paste as per EN 196-3 (Nov. 2005)
• Pure paste as per ASTM C-305.

A fifth program allows the operator to select speeds and times in up to 8 different segments, which permits to adjust it to the requirements for any present or future standard.

For example brickwork light mortar, premixtures,etc according to UNE-EN 1015-2/98)

The new AP series control module allows:

• Automatic speed changing and its maintenance during the time specified by the standard.
• Real time indications of, the cycle step status and the paddle revolution speed (fast, slow, stop for bowl cleaning).

Automatic sand-feeding hopper, for cement mortar as per EN 196-1 (Nov. 2005) and ASTM C-305 which guarantees that the hopper pours sand evenly and automatically into the bowl in 30 seconds, as specified in the standards.

Water-feeding device (optional) located on one side of the mixer composed of 225 ml glass container to pour the water directly into the mixer bowl.