School Lab Creep Testing Machine

School Lab Creep Testing Machine

This simple machine uses specimens of lead and different plastics which creep significantly at room temperature and under low loads.  
Its main part is a simple lever (load beam) with a mechanical advantage of 8:1.  
The load beam gives a steady and uniform tensile load.  
A digital indicator measures the extension (creep) of the specimen under load.  
For effect-of-temperature tests, the student freezes or heats a cool-pack and places it next to the specimen.
To ensure correct loading of the specimen, the load beam has a ball-bearing pivot.  
To apply a load, students add weights to a weight hanger and measure time and the creep.  
They then fit the transparent enclosure to preserve the temperature around the specimen during the test.