The Design and Fabrication of Compression and Extension Testing Machine

This study was carried out to design and fabricate a cost effective and efficient compression – extension machine to alleviate the problem of the dearth of equipment in our laboratories in most of our higher institutions. In carrying out the project work a thorough study of the foreign testers and the requirements of the Nigerian industrial standards, was done. Design drawings and calculations were established and the machine was fabricated with well selected materials and components all sourced locally. The performance of the fabricated machine was finally evaluated against a standard foreign machine employing a stress-strain diagram that enable the comparison of the mechanical properties of aluminum. Test results reveal absolute errors of measurement of 3.79%, 3.97% 2.17% and 2.53% for ultimate tensile strength, Young’s modulus, yield strength and ductility. Performance characteristic in the various mechanical tests evaluated was found satisfactory. The machine provides a low cost solution for engineering and engineering technology programs that wish to expand their material testing capabilities but are not capable of funding the acquisition of commercially available compression and extension testing machines.