Development of a robot system for miniaturized tensile tests

In order to assist small specimen mechnical testing of fusion reactor materials, a robot system for miniaturized tensile tests was developed to reduce the hazards of radiation during handling of highly radioactive specimens and to maintain precision independent of an experimentor's skill. The present robot system is designed to accommodate a miniaturized tensile specimen with a gage section of 5.5 mmx1.2 mm, total length of 12.5 mm, width of 2.3 mm, and thickness around 0.2 mm. The system is composed of a vibrational type specimen feeder, a specimen tray, a manipulating robot, a simulated tensile testing fixture and a micro-computer for controlling the system. This system performs specimen arrangement, specimen transportation and loading to the test fixture and testing, and removal of the broken specimen from the fixture. All of these procedures are performed quickly, safely and with uniform testing precision by computer control from a remote place by an unskilled experimenter. (orig.)