To produce samples for both material testing and molded sheets/parts, this article details an open source scientific cold and hot press design. It consists of two independent and modular upper and lower plate (929 cm2) assemblies each containing four 125 W insulated steel strip heaters. The steel housing for these heaters is entirely modular and designed for ease of manufacture, assembly, and customization. This system allows a researcher with access to a hydraulic press to repurpose existing equipment into a multipurpose hot and cold press, or if an independent machine is warranted, a welded support frame design and commercially available bottle jack offer standalone operation. By utilizing this small-scale hot press either in conjunction with a hydraulic press or on its own, samples can be produced to determine the critical material properties of any polymer, composite, or polymer blend. A series of modular molds allow for the rapid production of flat sheet stock and solid testing samples adhering to the ASTM D695 standard for rigid plastics tested in compression and ASTM D638 standard for testing plastics in tension. The sheet mold offers the user the ability to produce stock sheets that can be cut and assembled into 2.5-D applications with post processing.
- Main design files: https://osf.io/wqne2/
- Target group: Engineering and materials science
- Open-source license Designs GNU General Public License (GPL) 3.0 and hardware under CERN OHL v2
- OSHWA UID is:CA000055
- Cost of hardware
- $695.21 CAD for Mechanical Hardware Assembly
- $313.14 CAD for Electrical Hardware Assembly
- $505.20 CAD for Resistive Heating Elements
- $87.25 CAD for Sheet Mold
- $104.33 CAD for Compression Testing Mold
See also[edit | edit source]
- Open Source Lab
- Building research equipment with free, open-source hardware
- Open source science
- Open-source hardware
- Open-source syringe pump
- Open Source 3-D Printed Nutating Mixer
- Open Source Laboratory Sample Rotator Mixer and Shaker
- Open Source Digitally Replicable Lab-Grade Scales
- Open Source Vacuum Oven Design for Low-Temperature Drying: Performance Evaluation for Recycled PET and Biomass
- AC/off-grid photovoltaic powered open-source ball mill
- Open Source Scientific Bottle Roller
- Recyclebot