33.1 Introduction
33.2 Design Methodology
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Connect the apparatus to mains power socket and to the PC via the USB port on the control panel of the device.
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Turn on the power of the motor using the motor power switch located on the control panel, then reset the arm position and sensors by pressing load cell reset and displacement reset buttons also located on control panel.
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Ensure the specimen is ready to place and secure into the apparatus grippers. Lift the latches of each gripper and carefully place the specimen into the grippers. Close all lids and screw latches into place with the help of a screwdriver, for extra support hold the arm from the bottom to make sure the screws are in place properly.
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On the PC launch TeraTerm, once it has launched, a page called TeraTerm: New connection will come up, now select the serial option, and select the USB port used to connect the apparatus to the PC. Click OK.
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Once step 4 is complete, a window named COMX-Tera Term VT will show up on your screen. In the top, left hand corner click file, then click on log. Give the data sheet a name and add .csv to the end of the document. This will enable the data sheet to be opened as a Microsoft Excel document, once the document is named using the correct file extension click save.
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Now select file again, and under file click show dialog box, a window called TeraTerm Log will show up on the screen. Click pause so the data logging stops at that moment in time.
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Ensure that everything is secured in place and ready for testing, then click start and rotate the potentiometer located on the control panel. This will start the test and exert the load on the specimen by pulling it in all 4 directions.
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Ensure to observe how the material tears, and once completely torn apart, go back to the PC and click pause on the TeraTerm Log window. Close the Tera Term log and COMX- Tera Term VT Windows.
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Go to the file where the data sheet saved from the previous steps, the file will automatically launch as an excel sheet.