Small Punch Test · EN 10371
SPC 1000
A universal platform for miniature test pieces — creep, tensile and fracture, from room temperature to 1000 °C.
Not a single-purpose creep machine but the research configuration of the SPC platform. On one instrument it combines Small Punch creep, the tensile and fracture test to EN 10371 on both geometries, and the newly developed ultra-miniature uniaxial tensile and creep tests. The set-up can be changed as the research programme moves on.
1000 °C
maximum test temperature
4000 N
load range
4 tests
on one machine
1 kHz
data sampling
Where this machine sits in the temperature range
Four tests on one machine
An ordinary creep machine does one test. This configuration does four — on the same frame, in the same protective atmosphere, with the same control system and software. Only the cartridge and the accessories change.
Small Punch Creep Test
To EN 10371Creep and creep rupture at elevated temperatures, on the standard and the miniature test piece geometry.
Small Punch Test — tensile and fracture
To EN 10371Strength and fracture characteristics at room and elevated temperature, from the same set of test pieces.
UMTT — ultra-miniature uniaxial tensile
New cartridgeA uniaxial tensile test on an ultra-miniature test piece. For when you want the classic tensile curve but have no material for a standard test piece.
UMCT — ultra-miniature uniaxial creep
New cartridgeUniaxial creep on an ultra-miniature test piece — directly comparable with conventional creep data.
Which materials it is for
The platform is built for materials from which full-size test pieces cannot be made — because there is little of them, because they are expensive or irradiated, or because they only exist in laboratory quantities so far.
Newly developed and additively manufactured alloys
3D-printed materials, where the test piece is often the only piece that exists.
Coatings and functionally graded materials
The properties change through the thickness — the test piece has to be thin and taken from a specific layer.
Service-exposed and irradiated components
Material from service and from surveillance capsules, where volume is saved on principle.
The full range of high-temperature materials
Ferritic, martensitic, austenitic and nickel-based — including welds and heat-affected zones.
Typical use
Research and development where full-size test pieces are simply not available.
Qualification of materials and welds, residual life assessment of service-exposed components.
Fundamental materials research — four different tests on the same set of test pieces and the same machine.
Technical parameters
A load range of 4000 N and temperatures up to 1000 °C in a protective argon atmosphere. Tests can also be run at room temperature.
- Test temperature range
- room temperature up to 1000 °C
- Temperature accuracy
- ±0.2 °C, resolution 0.1 °C
- Load range
- up to 4000 N, ±0.1 % F.S.
- Load ramp
- 30–120 s, no shock
- Loading rate
- 0.001–1 mm/min
- Direct loading travel
- ±30 mm
- Punch tip displacement accuracy
- ±0.001 mm
- Protective atmosphere
- argon 5.0, flow 0–30 ml/min
- Chamber tightness
- helium test, 1×10⁻⁹ Pa·m³·s⁻¹
- Test duration
- unlimited
- Data sampling
- up to 1 kHz, recording driven by punch displacement
- Standards
- EN 10371 · EN ISO 204 · ASTM E139 · ASTM E292
Choice of loading
Direct frictionless loading
DLSA direct push system with a creep-resistant load cell. No lever, no friction — the force on the test piece is the one you set, smoothly and accurately for the whole test.
- Load range
- up to 4000 N
- Load ramp
- 30–120 s, no shock
Lever loading
A lever with a defined test piece preload — the procedure many laboratories are used to and hold their own comparative data for from earlier programmes.
- Load range
- up to 500 N
- Test temperature
- up to 1000 °C
Choice of cartridge — two test piece sizes
The machine is the same in both cases; only the exchangeable cartridge with the punch and the die changes. You choose according to how much material you have — and the decision is not final, the cartridge can be ordered later.
Small Punch
to EN 10371The standard geometry of the standard. Results are directly comparable with other laboratories.
- Test piece
- Ø8 × 0.5 mm
- Punch
- R1.25 mm (Ø2.5 mm ball)
- Die bore
- Ø4 mm
- Die chamfer
- 0.2 × 45°
Mini Small Punch
to EN 10371For cases where the material really is scarce — it fits on a three-millimetre disc. Originally from TEM discs, typically irradiated materials. Ø1 mm ball.
- Test piece
- Ø3 × 0.25 mm
- Punch
- R0.5 mm
- Die bore
- Ø1.75 mm
- Die chamfer
- 0.2 mm
Both geometries are part of EN 10371 — results from either are to the standard. For the miniature test piece, however, the standard itself notes that there is less experience with it so far, and gives some of the more detailed recommendations only for the standard Ø8 mm size. Take that into account when planning a test programme.
What this machine does differently
01
Loading without friction
A direct push system with a creep-resistant load cell. No lever, no friction — the force on the test piece is the one you set.
02
Temperature measured on the test piece
The thermocouple rests on the surface of the test piece with a 5 N contact force. Not the air temperature in the furnace, but the temperature of the material — controlled and held for the whole test.
03
The test piece protected throughout
A gas-tight chamber with argon, verified by a helium test to a leak rate of 1×10⁻⁹ Pa·m³·s⁻¹, and automatic compensation of the bellows stiffness. No oxidation, no distortion of the result.
04
Ceramics with precise geometry
Punch, both dies and the balls in Si₃N₄ to very tight dimensions, cartridge in nickel steel. That is where the long service life and the repeatable test geometry come from.
05
The test survives a power cut
The UPS holds the machine for at least 10 minutes — enough for a smooth switch to the laboratory back-up supply. A thousand-hour test is not thrown away.
06
Everything is recorded
Temperature, force, punch tip displacement, creep rate, argon flow, furnace thermocouples and the state of the UPS. Recording is driven by punch displacement, not only by time.
07
Supervision from anywhere
Fully automated software with visual indication of the machine state, remote control from Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux.
08
Repeatability you can demonstrate
You can check the results against the reference test pieces supplied with the machine at any time. Suitable for quality systems to ISO 9001:2015.
The machine at work
What is included
The delivery is complete — it contains everything needed to master the method, even if the operator has no previous experience with it.
Complete system
Machine, accessories and spare parts. Nothing has to be bought on top to get the method running.
Interchangeable assemblies
A wide set of accessories and cartridges — the machine is reconfigured as the programme develops.
Operator training
A two-day course in your laboratory, on your machine and your test pieces.
Reference test pieces
Part of the delivery — check on them at any time that the machine measures as it should.
Dimensions and site requirements
- Machine dimensions
- 780 × 780 × 2040 mm
- With the test table
- 1800 × 1000 × 2040 mm
- Power supply
- 1 NPE 230 V AC 50–60 Hz, TN-S, 16 A
- Surge protection
- EN 61643-11, SPD type 1 and type 2
- Argon
- 5.0 (min. 99.999 %), pressure 50 kPa
- Gas connection
- Parker A-LOK, metric T 6MO-3
- Environment
- air conditioning 23 ± 2 °C
- Supply line
- fixed, with room ventilation
- Weight
- 130 kg / 185 kg with the table
Working on a material the ordinary range cannot cover?
Tell us what you are investigating and how much material you have. We will propose a configuration of the platform, cartridges and accessories included.
Materials
Product leaflet
A leaflet with more information about the product. This is only available upon request.
Request