The objective for the ARL test bench was to design and manufacture a system that will apply a varying load from -900 lbf in tension to 900 lbf in compression and create a plot of the collected data.
Sponsor
Penn State Applied Research Lab
Team Members
Palmer Pesta Ian Stephens Eric Remorenko Mohammed Mujeeb
Project Poster
Click on any image to enlarge.
Project Video
Project Summary
Overview
The Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State challenged our team to create a test bench for a linear actuator that collects the actuator arm displacement, applied force in tension and compression, and plot the data. ARL will use the data to verify the actuator is properly functioning after being used in the field of research.
Objectives
The objective for the ARL test bench was to design and manufacture a system that will apply a varying load from -900 lbf in tension to 900 lbf in compression and create a plot of the collected data.
Approach
– Research commercially available test benches and how they operate
– Research subsystems that could apply a varying load to the actuator
– Determine software components to connect subsystems together
– Design bench layout to withstand high compressive and tensile forces
– Create UI and controller to allow simple and accurate testing
– Research and tune controller to allow fast response time for pneumatic subsystem
Outcomes
– Overall bench has been fabricated and assembled
– Controller has been tuned to vary the response of the system as requested within the UI
– Actuator arm displacement and applied force reading data is collected and saved to the user’s computer as an Excel file