To understand these instructions you must understand the elements of the control panel.
Most experiments in the fatigue tester require the following steps, which are explained below.

Explanation

The numbers behind control elements refer to the numbers in the picture. The links take you to the explanations of the items. Please use the Back button of your browser to return to this page again.

	1	Before you can use a sample in the fatigue tester, it must be mounted in a sample holder. Samples that are tested with the fatigue tester are always placed in a suitable sample holder, which is placed under the rod of one of the twelve units.
	2	When something is put under the rod or removed from there, the unit should first be switched off with the Stop button (19) and preferably also set to 'disabled' with the mode switch (16).
	3	Make sure that the sample holder is aligned correctly and that the rod is not pushed sideways in its slide bearing.
	4	The extension of the rod is correct when the point of activation of the vertical rod position shut down circuit (17) is (well) within its adjustment range. This is verified as follows 1 Make sure the unit is switched off, press the Stop button (19). 2 Make sure the forces are not set higher than during the test. If the forces are not known, pull and turn the pressure regulators (8 and 9) fully to the left, counter clockwise. This will set zero force. 3 Set the mode selector switch (16) to 'Only low force'. 4 Turn the level control (17) of the fracture detection circuit completely to the left. 5 Press the Start button (18). 6 If the unit doesn't switch on or only stays on as long as the start button is depressed, the rod (23) is too short and needs to be extended. When the unit is switched on, slowly turn the level control (17) to the right until it switches off. If the unit does not switch off but stays on, even with the level control (17) turned completely to the right, the rod (23) is too long and must be made shorter. If the sample gives a little bit way to the high force, this means that the point of turning where the level control (17) just switches the unit off, is moved somewhat to the left (counter clockwise). Note that there should be enough room for this, otherwise the rod should be extended. 7 Turn the level control (17) a little bit back to the left from the point where the unit stops.
	5	When the current magnitude of the forces is incorrect or not known, these have to be set. 1 Make sure the unit is switched off, press the Stop button 19). 2 Pull and turn the pressure regulators (8 and 9 on the control panel) fully to the left, counter clockwise, to set the forces to zero. 3 Connect a Load cell readout to the unit (22) and calibrate it. With the pneumatic cylinder (20) unlocked (21) and flipped backward, set the zero dial on the readout to 1.8 Newtons; the weight of the rod. 4 Put the pneumatic cylinder (20) back and secure it with its latch (21). 5 Turn the mode selector switch (16) to 'Only low force'. 6 Press the Start button (18). 7 Set the low force. Gently turn the pressure regulator for the low force (9), initially to the right, while monitoring the load with the Load cell readout until the force is equal to the desired value. 8 Press the Stop button (19). 9 Turn the mode selector switch (16) to 'Only high force'. 10 Press the Start button (18). 11 Set the high force with the pressure regulator (8), as described for the low force. Avoid setting a higher force than desired during the adjustment. 12 Press the Stop button (19).
	6	Set the mode selector switch (16) to 'normal cycling'
	7	Usually the counter (12) is reset (10) at the beginning of an experiment. In certain experiments, like when a sample is exposed to multiple series of cycles, when the counter is not reset between the series, it will work as a cumulative counter, displaying the total number of cycles.
	8	Set the on time with the multiturn dial (15).
	9	Set the cycle time with the rotary switches (5) in the left column. Note that only a single value can be set for all twelve units.
	10	If the experiment must be stopped after a fixed number of cycles, it must be started with the Start-all button (6) and the shut down counter needs to be set with the thumb wheel switches (4) and the reset button (1).
	11	If multiple samples must be started at the same time, then steps 1..8 must be repeated for all samples and the Start-all button (6) should be used. Also if the shut down counter is used, the Start-all button (6) must be used. Otherwise press the start button (18) of the unit.
	12	Verify that the level control (17) of the fracture detection circuit is set correctly.  1 If the unit is not cycling, this may be caused by an incorrect setting of the level control (17). In this case verify that the sample hasn't fractured. 2 Turn the level control (17) of the fracture detection circuit completely to the left. 3 Press the Start button (18), if it isn't cycling. 4 If the unit doesn't switch on, the rod (23) is too short and needs to be extended. When the unit is switched on, slowly turn the level control (17) to the right until it switches off. If the unit does not switch off but stays on, even with the level control (17) turned completely to the right, the rod (23) is too long and must be made shorter. If the sample gives a little bit way to the high force, this means that the point of turning where the level control (17) just switches the unit off, is moved somewhat to the left (counter clockwise).  5 Turn the level control (17) a little bit back to the left from the point where the unit stops. 6 Press the Start button (18) again.