FAQs: All Questions

The 3-phase crosshead motor on a hydraulic HVL testing frame will not operate.

What Oil does my BTE, Baldwin or Southwark machine use.

The pump will not start on a HVL Style machine

The position is not changing on the Display when the ram is raised. (String style encoder box devise)

The pump will not start on a HVL Style machine.

(MATS II Controller) The pump will not come on and all the conditions of above are met.

There is a communications error between my computer and the machine frame. What should I do?

Where is the seam slippage calculation in Bluehill v1.0?

We have test methods set up in both Merlin and Series IX. Will these be combined into one for the Bluehill software? How, if at all, will it change our current methods?

What is the difference between the basic reporting package and the enhanced one for Bluehill?

What are the different functions, rights/privileges of the three different types of users in the security feature in Bluehill?

Inserting Video and Audio Clips into Bluehill

Can I change the line style so that different curves can be differentiated on Black & White printouts?

What do you mean by saying that Bluehill is fully compatible with Windows?

Can I change the line style so that different curves can be differentiated on Black & White printouts?

How do I know if my universal testing machine (tensile tester / pull tester) is measuring correctly?

Why does my tensile tester need to be calibrated/verified?

How frequently should I have my testing system checked?

My tensile tester has undergone repairs and updates. Does it need to be recalibrated?

I have a materials testing machine - What needs calibrating?

Should I Check Accuracy In-Between Full Verifications?

What is your scope of accreditation?

Is the uncertainty of measurement listed in your scope of accreditation realistic, or does it represent an ideal case that will not be duplicated in my lab?

Can you develop a customized plan that will optimize my costs and give me a competitive advantage?

Do you take data manually or automatically?

Do you have the backup of both field and in-house technical support, and do you have a large engineering force expert in measurement and testing technology?

Can you repair and/or adjust an instrument on the spot if it doesn't pass verification? Do you have the necessary inventory of spare parts?

Do you have the necessary equipment and expertise to adjust and verify Instron equipment to accuracy levels demanded by national and international standards such as ISO and ASTM?

Can you show calculations regarding your uncertainty reporting?

Are all your procedures documented?

Can you provide a full range of calibration services?

What info do I need before calling Technical Support?

I have a machine that is over 10 years old. Will Instron be able to continue to support this system? [GEN-107-SV]

I have an auditor asking for software verification documentation and Instron accreditation information. Where can I find this information?

What is the load cell accuracy?

Will my Load Cell need an adapter cable to work on another Instron Frame?

Should I unpack my Instron when it arrives at my facility? [GEN-102-SV]

My service contract is about to expire; how much does it cost to continue? [GEN-104-SV]

What are the Analog Out pin outs on my 4400 Console?

Can you provide a full range of calibration services?

On my Automation System what operating system can I use with Test Master Software?

What is the function of a load cell?

Do you take data manually or automatically? Manual data acquisition can be error prone. If software is used, is it validated and proven?

Are you accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by an accrediting agency that is a member of the ILAC agreement?

What is the backup plan if your local engineer is unavailable to perform a critical calibration?

Can you provide documentation to show traceability to national standards?

Do you have the backup of both field and in-house technical support, and do you have a large engineering force expert in measurement and testing technology?

Are you insured?

How long have you been providing accredited calibration services?

Can you manage the scheduling of all my calbrations and will you arrange in advance for all of my recalibrations?

Can you print out a complete, signed report and certificate before you leave my site?

What are some of the reasons for incorrect hardness readings? [HAR-101-SV]

Where can I find test blocks, indentors and manuals for my hardness machine?

How often do I need to have my test block calibrated? [HAR-102-SV]

The readings on my tests are running a few points high.

How do I know when my test block is no longer useful? [HAR-103-SV]

Why did my model 2000 stop during a test with an error message "Motor Disable: Command or Motor Disable: Loop Tracking?" [HAR-100-SV]

Can my Regular Rockwell tester be modified to perform superficial tests?

Can I use a carbide ball indenter on a block that wasn't calibrated with a carbide ball?

What are the RS 232 settings for the U-Tronics 1024 printer? [HAR-106-SV]

I just installed a U-tronics Printer on my Digital 500 Series tester but it won't print, what's wrong?

If the approximate hardness of a material is known, what is the minimum thickness needed to obtain a valid Rockwell measurement?

My Tukon 2100 tester is not testing correctly. The control panel screen says "Waiting to Contact Surface" but the indenter is not moving.

I am testing case hardened material on C scale but seem to be punching through the hardened area.

I have an M200 or M250 that gives me an "E" error on the test screen, what's wrong?

What is the depth of penetration for Superficial Rockwell scales?

Can you describe a Knoop indenter and what it is used for?

Is there a minimum depth requirement for testing a case hardened specimen with an M200 or M250 handheld tester?

Is there a surface roughness requirement of a test piece when measuring with a M200 or M250 handheld tester?

What is the infinite hardness number for Regular Rockwell scales?

I have a Tukon Micro-Indentation tester and would like to have my tester calibrated to read indents smaller than 20 Microns.

How do you run the Self test feature on the small white U-tronics printer?

I have a Tukon 200 series tester with a Digital Filar option, how many tests will it store?

If I don't know the approximate hardness of a material. What Rockwell scale should I use?

Can I perform regular tests on my "Superficial" Rockwell tester?

Does the deformation during a test also extend outward?

There is a communications error between my computer and the machine frame. What should I do?

I receive an error message of "_E0092 PrepareForTest()" with the Dynatup 930-I software when I run an impact test. What should I do? [IMP-105-SV]

My Impulse software is not working correctly. What should I do?

Impulse software does not collect data

I'm getting a message "failed to characterize the A/D board" while going through the steps to run a test.

I receive an error message of "Time out waiting for trigger" with the Dynatup 930-I software when I try to run an impact test. What should I do? [IMP-101-SV]

The timer keeps counting down and cannot activate the fire mode.

How do I know what load range to use when setting up a test using the Dynatup Impulse software.

I am using a POE2000 pendulum tester with Impulse software and am not getting a velocity reading.

I ran a velocity test on my 8250 or 9200 series tester and got no velocity readings.

How does the machine get mounted?

My machine did not pass the NIST Verification. What can be done?

The pointer on my SI 1 Series Impact machine is not reading correctly, what can be done?

I want to export my Merlin data to MS Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, etc. [MER-103-SV]

How do I do a "clean" installation of the Merlin software? [MER-107-SV]

What version of Windows will my ISA digilink computer interface work with that is fitted in the computer used with my 5500 machine.

I am getting the error message "Cannot find file O16LE41.DLL. Merlin requires this file to run" [MER-102-SV]

How do I find the serial number of my Merlin software? [MER-101-SV]

How do I zoom in on my graph in Merlin ?

When I installed my software it skipped several disks. Is this a problem? [MER-111-SV]

What is the source of the legend name on the Merlin graph? [MER-112-SV]

What are my technical support coverages and options?

Why are there so many modulus calculations, which one should I use?

After a Series IX test failed to start due to various reasons, for example Load Calibration check, Frame Disabled, etc, subsequent tests would fail to start with an error message stating "UpdateRampSegment1 returned 28", even though the system was not in an error state, i.e. the reason the previous test failed has been resolved. The only way around this was to end the sample and then test a new sample.

What test types does Merlin perform with?

If the stress data at the beginning of the test are negative, then the noise in the data could cause the Tensile Strength calculation to find the first point in the data set. When this happens, it is quite likely that calculations like n-Value and r-Value will fail to calculate.

How do we validate the software results?

How do I get rid of the test methods on the quick open screen?

Merlin lacks ability to report results at a percentage of break elongation.

Under very rare circumstances when users would assess the file dialog box to do a Resume, Replay, Save As, etc., Merlin would disappear and the user would be left looking at the desktop.

When changing transducers while Merlin is running or when starting Merlin with transducers disconnected and then connecting them once Merlin is running can result in changes to the method setup if the transducer being connected is specified as one of the control modes or source of a test event {change over, test stop, etc}. The following scenario illustrates this issue: A Tension method were set up to use Strain1 as the Ramp1 control mode and Merlin were started with the Strain1 transducer disconnected. If the user connected the Strain1 transducer once Merlin was running, the user would observe the following behavior:> Merlin would detect that a "different" transducer was connected to the Strain1 channel.> Merlin would destroy the existing software transducer. This would eliminate Strain1 from all Control Mode and Event lists - thus changing the Ramp1 control mode to Tensile Extension.

When multiple calculations of some type were specified, e.g. Average Value, Merlin failed to display valid results when resuming or replaying datafiles.

How do I set up my video extensometer to work with Merlin profiler limits? [MER-113-SV]

When the user clicks the "Enable Frame" button on the Frame Console window, it is possible to click the Done button or other buttons too soon and crash Merlin.

Do you have to do compliance correction for each method?

If a test start was aborted due to a software limit being exceeded or a load pre-test check failing, Merlin would not allow the user to perform the following operations: End, End and Save, Resume, Replay

On the 5800 and 8800 controllers, occasionally when the user balanced the load via Merlin, they would be presented with error message 2019 - "Unable to balance transducer". Clicking on retry would generally balance the transducer. Also there was no indication in TestLog as to the reason for the failure. The problem was due to the fast that Merlin would need to determine that the balance was underway after issuing the C108 command. If, for some reason, the balance took a few extra fractions of a second to start, Merlin would mistakenly think that the balance failed and raise the error.

One or more message boxes appear with the text "null window handle" when displaying or interacting with one of the Merlin labtools, after calculations have been performed including cursor selection in the graph.

Merlin screen shifts on Windows XP. During the execution of a long operation (e.g. end&save) if user is moving the mouse to system tray or just move around & click randomly the Merlin screens are shifted.

When opening a method that required a change in test application, Merlin would cause a GPF in graph.dll at address 0002:06ac under certain conditions.

When starting Series IX on a 5500 or 3300 system, Series IX will fail to start and the user will be left looking at the Merlin console {Live Displays} with no obvious way to exit. This problem is more likely to happen when going to Series IX from Merlin as opposed to directly from the Quick Open screen when the software is started.

When a test was completed, the calculations were done prior to the user continuing past the Calculation Input screen. Any values entered on the Calculation Input Screen would not be updated in the calculations on the Results Table until proceeding to the next specimen. This issue was created in Merlin v5.11.

The 3345 frame parameters were slightly less than the values in the specification for these systems.

When using Directed Methods, two TestResultsReady OLE events would be issued at the end of each specimen test. This issue was created in Merlin v5.04.09. In versions of Merlin prior to v5.04.09, when using Directed test methods, the TestResultsReady event would be raised at the end of the test but before the completion of the Calculation Input screen when the calculations were really done.

I am getting this error on my Model DX Machine: System lock up Test will not start Test Aborts Software post and error message stating that communication is lost Transducers will not calibrate Flashing single point LED on Diagnostic display is not present. How do I resolve this?

Software posts an error message stating "Control Panel Watchdog Timeout"

After opening a procedure on my Model DX machine, the pump will not turn on.

There is a communications error between my computer and the machine frame. What should I do?

I have an auditor asking for software verification documentation and Instron accreditation information. Where can I find this information?

What are my technical support coverages and options?

How do I simplify or streamline the wizard?

How do I save new configurations?

How do I expand my options in the wizard?

How do I get my display numbers to read correctly?

When I press the "Play" button on some wizard animations, I get no response.

How do I enter specimen information for more than one specimen?

I am trying to save an option in the Parameters menu but it doesn't change. How do I change it?

How do I make a subset of the test data visible to the calculation algorithm?

I've been running tests for a couple of months now, and the system seems to be getting slower and slower, especially right after a test.

How do I control animations in the wizard pages?

I see the same calculation listed in more than one calculation library. Why? Is there any difference?

How do I change the speed of different zones?

Why should I back my files up in two folders?

How do I restrict calc data?

How do I copy, move and/or delete results?

When should I configure Safety Limits?

How many calculations can be enabled during a test?

How can I change the way the date is displayed on my Test Results screen?

How do I create a new results database?

When I go to open a result, the first 500 tests I pulled last year are not listed as choices. How do I view these results?

How do I know when to enter a number or an expression?

When running a test my system slows down and the hard drive runs a lot.

Can I use existing instruments with my new 5500 system?

How do I modify answers to Test Tags for results already stored?

Can I publish my test results on the Internet or my company's intranet?

How do I end a test in GenTest?

I have an auditor asking for software verification documentation and Instron accreditation information. Where can I find this information?

The 3-phase crosshead motor on a hydraulic HVL testing frame will not operate.

Should I unpack my Instron when it arrives at my facility? [GEN-102-SV]

The hydraulic ram will not move at all to test a specimen or only apply a small load - the pump is running.

(MATS II Controller) The pump will not come on and all the conditions of above are met.

Both up and the down push button switch indicators on the pendent station light when trying to move the crosshead on a HVL frame. (Note 24V DC sys only)

The adjustable crosshead has been jammed into the table and it will not move away operating the adjustable crosshead switch.

The pump will not start on a HVL Style machine with Partner or Merlin Software.

The Mark III Indicator is locked up and must be rebooted to read correctly.

How does the Static force get adjusted on my Automatic Sontag Fatigue (SF) machine?

How do I know the Complementary Weight of my Sontag Fatigue (SF) machine?

When a specimen is installed in a Sontag Fatigue (SF)machine how does the complementary weight get determined?

When I run Merlin, I get a message that says "Unable to communicate with controller" [MER-110-SV]

What is the lowest load measurement I can take with my load cell?

When I start a test or try to move the crosshead on my system, the crosshead does not move. What should I do? [EMH-103-SV]

What are my technical support coverages and options?

When I start a test or try to move the crosshead on my system, the crosshead does not move. What should I do? [EMH-101-SV]

When I start a test or try to move the crosshead on my system, the crosshead does not move. What should I do? [EMH-102-SV]

Why is my motor light flashing on my 4200, 4300 or 4400 console? [EMH-106-SV]

What can I do if my 4400/4200 Frame stops before the end of a test?

Why do I have a timer light on my 4200, 4300 or 4400 console? [EMH-104-SV]

Why is my travel light lit on my 4200, 4300, or 4400 console? [EMH-107-SV]

What can I do if I recieve a "Watch Dog Error" on my 1011?

I want to export my data to MS Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, etc. (Series IX)

I just installed Series IX and when I try to run a test it says "Unable to load GPIB.DLL or access GPIB functions" [SR9-102-SV]

How do I determine the version of my Series IX Software? [SR9-100-SV]

I cannot find my National Instruments Disks to use with Series IX. What can I do? [SR9-105-SV]

My Series IX extension/strain results are wrong or don't match the graph [SR9-120-SV]

What files does the Series IX installation program add/modify? [SR9-114-SV]

Series IX will not open my data file [SR9-118-SV]

If I want to delete/copy a method in Series IX, where can I find the files? [SR9-109-SV]

What are the minimum Operating System user rights required for normal operation of Merlin, Series IX and Series IX/s installed on Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP?

When running Series IX, I click on "Test" and get a message that says "Instron Not Responding." What should I do? [SR9-115-SV]

My test stops before the material breaks. What is causing this?

Why are there so many modulus calculations, which one should I use?

What GPIB board should I buy for Series IX? [SR9-103-SL]

My HRDE (High Resolution Digital Extensometer) is not available on an 8500/8800 while using Series IX software. How can I use my HRDE with these systems?

Where can I find "Release Notes" for my version of Merlin or Series IX software?

Series IX is losing data during the low range of an HRDE test on a 5500 machine when both ranges are used.

Why won't my ASCII Results (.MAD) file open in MS Excel 97? [SR9-119-SV]

Tests on a 4500 machine stop prematurely at fast data rates. Series IX checks that the crosshead is actually moving after 6 points are collected and half a second has elapsed. It will stop data collection if the crosshead hasn't moved yet. For fast data rates, it was stopping the test prematurely on some machines.

What is compliance correction?

What is the generic administrator account name & password?

Series IX does not allow the average value calculation to have a start point selected at a displacement value from the first peak.

How do I Install Series IX? [SR9-112-SV]

Flex test with cylindrical specimens stops at incorrect limits and runs at incorrect strain rate if running in strain control on an 8500/8800 machine. The flex equation converting flexural strain to displacement is incorrect; it has the span and diameter interchanged.

Series IX does not perform some of the calculations required for BS EN ISO 13937 pt 3.

Can I install Service Packs in Windows XP on the computer with Series IX installed?

When running in strain or load control on an 85/8800 machine, Series IX assumes that the user has already enabled such control on the console of the machine (MMI).

KN load data will not be accepted when using a machine type of "ASCII file", where data comes from a file instead of a machine.

While starting a test I get a message that says "L/S Control Requires Version 2 Proms and Proper Mux". Why do I get this message?

Why is my printout pushed off the right margin?

I have an auditor asking for software verification documentation and Instron accreditation information. Where can I find this information?

What are my technical support coverages and options?

Why is the actuator going off during an overnight test?

Why is the calculated crack length incorrect?

How is the size of the data buffer determined in DAX?

Why is the stress intensity smaller than expected at the start of the test?

What formulae are used to calculate the crack length for a 4-point bend specimen?

Can I apply a filter to the logged data in WaveMaker?

When using the compliance method for crack length calculation, can part of the load-LPD or Load-COD data be specified?

What is slope correction?

How do I interpret the hysteresis loop data from the file? One side is the elastic part and the other is the plastic part, which part do I need to use to get the v/P values to calculate my compliance values?

How does KIC deal with pop-ins?

Why do I get the 'Less than 4 data points remaining valid' message?

Why are the initial three unloads occurring at too high loads?

Why do I get a message when going into fast track, RS console or 5800 comsole saying the screen saver is on when it has been turned off?

What algorithm is used for calculating da/dN?

JIC: Why is the calculated crack length incorrect?

Da/dN: Threshold testing

LCF: Why is the first strain peak or trough value lower than expected?

When is da/dN calculated?

Why are the command and feedback values very small or zero?

Da/dN: Does the COD gauge zero itself when the da/dN test is started? For example, if the knife-edges are not the same size on every specimen will this cause an error in the calculation of the crack opening?

Da/dN: What calculations are used for the corner cracked specimen?

Da/dN: Is there a user-friendly method of entering another equation or a set of polynomial coefficients into the Da/dN program that will enable the program to automatically calculate DeltaK for a non-standard specimen configuration?

Random Loading: Why does a file error dialogue pop-up when playing back my own spectrum loading file?

Is the "Knife-Edge Thickness" parameter the distance of the knife-edge from the specimen surface (in the 4-pt bend configuration)?

Why is there a lot of scatter in the da/dN values?

Da/dN: Why is the stress intensity larger than expected when the test starts?

Da/dN: When using the compliance method for crack length calculation, can part of the load-LPD or Load-COD data be specified?

Da/dN: Why is the calculated crack length not the same as the notch length?

Da/dN: Why does my test stop after a very short time?

JIC: Why do I get the ‘Less than 4 data points remaining valid’ message?

JIC: Why are the initial three unloads occurring at too high loads?

JIC: Can I use the Sefram 8800 data logger with the new version of JIC?

JIC: Why has the message ‘File is blank’ appeared when I tried to analyze a results file?

Da/dN: Why is there a lot of scatter in the da/dN values?

Da/dN: What algorithm is used for calculating da/dN?

Da/dN: Why am I getting poor results for crack length towards the end of my threshold (decreasing deltaK) test?

DAX: DAX doesn’t start collecting data when the waveform starts on the torsional axis. Why is this?

DAX: Why do I see >4096 and >2048 in the Data Points display and only part of a cycle in the graph?

How do I input external waveforms into an 8500? [SHH-100-SV]

What are my technical support coverages and options?

I have a servohydraulic machine that is over 10 years old. Will Instron be able to continue to support this system? [SHH-109-SV]

How do I commission an 8500/8800? [SHH-102-SV]

What do I need to do to get the Adaptive Control to work? [SHH-105-SV]

When I try to calibrate the load channel on a 8500 or a 8800 I get an error message E108,2,78.

How do I change units on my 8500 or 8800 MMI?

While using a video extensometer on an 8800 frame my video extensometer data is not stored. How do I resolve this?

What is the part number for the seal kit for the actuator in the 8511? SHH-106-SV]

When using the "Rate of Load" end test criterion, the firmware may miss break events that the user would have expected it to catch. Per the documentation, the event should be triggered if the firmware detects a % drop in load over a 100ms window. On 5800/8800, the time window was set to 10 ms.

I opened the crosshead clamps of my 8800 machine while the power pack was off and now I can't start it again.

Why is the actuator going off during an overnight test?

I have an auditor asking for software verification documentation and Instron accreditation information. Where can I find this information?

What are my technical support coverages and options?

The pump will not start on a HVL Style machine

The position is not changing on the Display when the ram is raised. (String style encoder box devise)

The pump will not start on a HVL Style machine.

(MATS II Controller) The pump will not come on and all the conditions of above are met.

Suppose I need to cancel my registration. Is there a cancellation fee?

Can I reschedule?

Can someone attend the course in my place?

Where can I get course prices?

Can I bring some of my samples to the training class?

Who do I contact for a training quote?

There is no reading on recorder (graph X -axis) from the extensometer.

I wish to update my operating system to Windows XP. Will my video extensometer be compatible with Windows XP?

Message 13839 Video Error: Unable to Grab Image appears when you go to the video extensometer screen.

Message 13838 Video Error: Device Interrupt Timeout appears when you go to the video extensometer screen.