Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Camosun College, located in Victoria, British Columbia (BC) on the unceded territories of the Lekwungen speaking and W?SÁNE? peoples, seeks to acquire and install Advanced Manufacturing Testing Equipment. The focus of this proposal is on upgrades to our existing MTS Criterion 45 tensile tester (used consistently since its acquisition in 2019) and the purchase of an Instron 34TM-30 Tensile Tester (with peel, bend, and compression fixtures). Working in concert with a Precision Forge Gauge, LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench) software, and a custom Internet of Things (IoT) Gateway, these testers will integrate with existing infrastructure to allow Camosun to reliably and consistently test and model new parts and systems, providing an integrated service that is currently unavailable on Vancouver Island. The Criterion 45 and Instron 34TM-30 are both tensile testers offering diverse measurement capabilities; they operate under different conditions, complementing each another to provide a more complete testing environment for local SMEs. Tensile testers take samples of materials and place them under either tension or compression, measuring force and displacement to determine a) the point at which test material begins to deform or take damage (material yield strength) and b) the maximum stress a sample can withstand before breaking (tensile strength). This testing can also determine the degree to which test materials elongate under stress, and their ability to return to their original condition after stress is applied and relieved. These tests are performed on composites, metals, 3D printed parts, and assemblies made up of multiple mixed materials. Tests are critical for determining the overall strength and versatility of experimental materials, evaluating their usefulness for applied research projects, and testing whether they can be used for key manufacturing systems and components. Applications of the requested testing equipment can be felt across every industry with which Camosun engages. These testing advances represent the capability to expand our partnerships and collaborations with allied companies and new branches of industry across the region.