The Gleeble 3800 is a versatile system capable of hot deforming specimens in vacuum or controlled atmosphere. Tests are programmed on a desktop PC, and are then executed automatically. The hydraulic compression system features high speed servo valves for rapid and accurate deformations. The machine can exert 20 tons of static force in compression and 10 tons in tension. Stroke displacement rates can be as fast as 2000 mm/second. Extremely rapid heating of the specimens is achieved by subjecting them to electrical current up to 5000 amperes. Inert gas quenching (Ar or He) allows rapid cooling of the specimen. Surface temperature of the specimens is controlled by up to 4 thermocouples that are welded to the specimen. Up to 16 relevant parameters can be logged simultaneously at up to 50’000 samples/second.
The machine consists in a fixed part with the power supply and hydraulic piston, onto which several modules (or mobile conversion units) can be attached to do a variety of different types of tests.
General purpose mobile conversion unit
The general purpose module pictured above provides the most versatile platform for the performance of a wide variety of tests, and is included as standard equipment on the 3800 systems.
Dilatometry on a steel cylinder in isothermal condition
Resistance can be derived from the minute difference in voltage across the specimen
A metallic glass specimen that underwent a compression test
Hot torsion mobile conversion unit
The torsion module features a hydraulic actuator capable of exerting a torque up to 50 Nm at speeds up to 1500 rpm.
The torsion module gives access to very large deformations, consistent with industrial metal forming.
It is the ideal test for studying dynamic and post-dynamic recrystallization phenomena.
A specimen mounted inside the vacuum chamber of the hot torsion unit
MaxStrain mobile conversion unit
In the MaxStrain module specimens can be compressed, rotated 90°, compressed again, rotated to the initial position, and so on multiple times. This gives access to severe plastic deformation and very fine microstructures.
Aluminium and steel specimens with multiple successive bi-axial deformations
Hydrawedge mobile conversion unit
This module is capable of performing multiple-hits at high speed without strain overshoot or strain rate deceleration. It is used for simulating multi-pass hot forming operations (e.g. rolling, forging)
Steel specimen subjected to multiple successive compressions at various temperatures