T EST R IG D EVELOPMENT G ROUP Problem Background & VOC Project: R13301 Rochester Institute of Technology Design Project Management ( & )

R13301 T EAMS & M EMBERS EP Printing Team Jonathan Erbelding & Sakif Noor Garlock Team Usman Asad & Jessica Fuss Polymer Membrane Team Steven Lucchesi & Seaver Wrisley

EP P RINTING Jonathan Erbelding Sakif Noor

G ARLOCK T EST R IG Usman Asad Jessica Fuss

P OLYMER M EMBRANE T EST R IG (PMTR) Steven Lucchesi Seaver Wrisley

PMTR M OTIVATION & B ACKGROUND Mission Statement: The Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Departments at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) have developed a need for a test device capable of measuring the mechanical properties of biologically relevant materials. Principle Needs: Ability to run simple experiments, demonstrating non-linear stress-strain responses, creep, and stress relaxation.

PMTR S TAKEHOLDERS & N EEDS

PMTR G OALS & VOC We have split the goals of this project into several categories: Measured Properties Controlled Properties Specimen Accommodation Interface Ease of Use Portability Cost Environmental Health & Safety All customers have expressed the same/similar needs with varying levels of specification.

PMTR C URRENT T ECHNOLOGY Currently, there is no lab equipment available for educational use in the two Biomaterials courses. Typical tensile testers damage biomaterials at the clamping points, rendering the test invalid Previous/Current RIT Projects: Lowell Smoger’s Biaxial Test Rig P06218 Bausch & Lomb Eye Membrane Indenter Bill Spath’s EAP Research

PMTR P ROPOSED S OLUTIONS Varying specification requirements of the individual customers led to the need for multiple test rigs. Proposed test machines: Biomaterials student test machine Analog display Lower accuracy Control Research quality test machine Fully automated interface (Matlab or LabView) Closed loop control of loading Higher accuracy Environmental control capabilities Aqueous environment capabilities

Q UESTIONS ? What questions do you still have? Are we lacking any important information? Proposed solutions?