GenTest – Advanced UTM Testing Software

GenTest is used wherever a universal testing machine runs a daily program: incoming inspection and batch verification, routine QC across shifts and lots, supplier qualification and material comparisons, and R&D work on process changes and heat treatment.

By industry, that means labs testing metals, polymers, composites, construction materials and biomedical products. The servo-hydraulic build, GenTest v3.0, is aimed at metal testing programs in aerospace, automotive, construction and manufacturing.

The day-to-day users are lab technicians and test operators, who run methods and produce reports, and QA/QC engineers and R&D specialists, who build methods and review results. Lab and quality managers use the reports to release batches and to answer customer and audit questions.

GenTest is the standard software on our electromechanical universal testing machines.

Yes. GenTest includes built-in tools that guide labs through routine calibration and verification steps, so operators do not need separate programs or manual worksheets. The software can communicate with load cells, extensometers and crosshead encoders to check readings and confirm that each sensor responds within acceptable limits. This helps labs keep their UTM aligned with ASTM and ISO requirements, especially during periodic audits.

GenTest also stores calibration records inside the system, so labs can access past dates, operators and results without searching through paper files. When a verification step is due, the software can alert the user and walk them through the proper sequence, such as loading certified weights, checking zero balance or performing a strain verification.

These tools keep the machine ready for daily testing and help labs maintain traceable, reliable documentation for QA, QC or external inspections.

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GenTest reports are highly flexible, so labs can match them to their internal QA and QC formats. Users can select which parameters appear on the report, such as yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elongation, modulus, offset values, test speed, machine ID, and operator name. Non-essential fields can be hidden to keep reports short and focused.

Layout options allow labs to include company logos, project details, customer information, or approval signatures. In many cases, labs build separate templates for internal use, customer reports, and regulatory documentation. Charts, tables, and summary sections can be rearranged or resized to highlight what matters most.

Once a template is set up, it can be applied to entire batches of tests, so every report from that method looks the same. This helps standardize documentation across multiple operators and shifts, which is important for audits and long-term record keeping.

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Analysis in GenTest starts from the curve. Operators review the run on stress-strain, displacement-load, load-time or strain-time views, and can inspect break points, yield regions, modulus segments and other key events during or after the test.

Results can be recalculated after the test and compared between tests or across a batch, with the curves overlaid on one graph. That shows sample consistency and outliers at a glance and is how most labs review a production lot.

Formula-based expressions handle method-specific conversions and outputs, and units can be set in N, kN, kgf, lbf or MPa, so results arrive in the form your specification asks for without a spreadsheet step.

Each calculated value stays tied to its curve in the test record, so a reviewer can check where a result came from.

GenTest runs on the host PC connected to the machine controller, and the PC specification is confirmed with your machine order so the computer and software arrive matched.

Connection is through the controller's ports. NG-EML Series machines communicate over USB, with Ethernet TCP/IP available for networked workstations and remote operation, and the DTC-500 controller on our servo-hydraulic frames uses USB and high-speed Ethernet through a dedicated TCP/IP processing chip.

If you prefer not to dedicate a desktop, the optional frame-mounted industrial touchscreen PC on NG-EML frames runs the full GenTest environment, and its USB ports take printers, barcode scanners and drives for data export.

If your site has IT rules for lab computers, such as network policy or user accounts, tell us before the order so the PC is set up to meet them.

GenTest produces formatted reports with tables and graphs, and the layout is set in the method, so every test of a type prints the same way. Export fits Word and Excel documentation workflows.

On NG-EML Series machines, raw data and charts export as CSV, Excel, PDF, PNG and SVG. CSV and Excel carry the data points and calculated values for statistics, PDF holds the fixed report for the customer or the file, and PNG and SVG give curves for documents and presentations.

On our servo-hydraulic frames, the GenTest build exports reports to Excel or Word. Raw data stays available for review in every build, so the curve behind a reported result can be checked later.

The CSV export also suits labs that run their own analysis in MATLAB, Python or similar tools.

GenTest is primarily designed to work with NextGen’s own universal testing machines, especially the NG-EML electromechanical series. In this setup, communication with the controller, load cells, extensometers and safety circuits is already matched, so installation is straightforward and all features are available out of the box.

In some cases, integration with third-party systems is technically possible, but it depends on the electronics, communication protocol and available documentation from the machine manufacturer. If the controller can provide stable, documented signals or a suitable interface, a custom connection may be developed.

Because every non-NextGen machine is different, third-party compatibility is not guaranteed as a standard feature and should be evaluated case by case. Labs that want to connect GenTest to an existing UTM are usually asked to provide controller details, wiring information and current software setup so the technical team can confirm what is realistic.

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GenTest provides practical support options that help labs start working with the software quickly. New users receive onboarding assistance that explains setup, method selection, test execution and basic data review. This is usually enough for most QA and QC workflows.

If a lab needs deeper instruction, additional training sessions are available. These cover topics like custom method creation, advanced reporting, data comparison or integrating GenTest with existing lab systems. Training can be delivered remotely or on-site depending on the lab’s requirements.

Support teams are available through email, phone or remote access. They help with installation issues, test method configuration, hardware communication problems or data export questions. Users also receive access to documentation and simple step-by-step guides for daily operations.

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GenTest organizes test data around projects, methods, and sample identifiers, so labs can easily find past results. Each test record can include fields such as sample ID, batch number, operator, date, method used, and machine information. This gives a clear audit trail for QA, QC, and external inspections.

Test curves and calculated results are stored together in the software’s database or in structured folders, depending on how the system is installed. Labs can back up these data sets on their own servers or external storage as part of their IT policy. When needed, users can filter by date, material, customer, or work order to locate previous runs and compare them side by side.

Because all key meta-data stays linked to the raw and processed results, GenTest supports traceability from the final report back to the original test conditions and operator actions.

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GenTest supports several options for working with LIMS and other lab management tools. At the basic level, the software can export results in common formats such as CSV, Excel and PDF. Many laboratories use these files to import test data into their existing LIMS or ERP systems using their own internal procedures.

For higher integration, GenTest can be set up to use consistent sample IDs, batch numbers and operator fields that match the structure of the external system. This makes mapping and automated import easier. In some projects, IT teams connect GenTest to LIMS through middleware or custom scripts that watch exported files and push them into the database.

The exact integration level depends on the lab’s infrastructure, but the software is built to support traceable data flow instead of locking test results inside a closed environment.

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GenTest records force, displacement and strain continuously through the test, so the result comes from the full curve rather than a few readings noted by hand.

Accuracy improves because nothing depends on an operator's timing. Yield onset, peak load and the drop at fracture are captured as they happen, and the calculations read them from dense data instead of an estimate.

Repeatability comes from the method. Every test of a type uses the same sampling, control steps and calculation rules, whoever runs it, and the live curves let the operator see during the run whether a specimen is behaving unlike the rest of the batch.

Because setup, raw data and results are kept in the same test record, a result can be traced back to how it was produced when a customer or auditor asks.

Yes. A non-standard method starts from a normal or expert template, or from an example method close to what you need, and is built as a multi-step sequence from Step 1 to Step 4 with its own control logic and changeover conditions.

Each step sets what the machine controls and when it moves on, so an internal procedure with a preload, a hold and a ramp to failure runs the same way every time. Formula-based expressions add method-specific outputs where your specification defines its own results.

Before a new method goes into production use, demo mode with simulation files lets you run it without the machine and check the steps, curves and report. Saved methods sit in the library beside the standard ones, and permissions decide who may edit them.

If the procedure is complex, send it to our team and we will help build the first version.

Yes. GenTest can be used in a multi-user environment where operators, supervisors, and administrators have different roles. Basic operators typically have access to run approved test methods, view results, and create reports, but cannot change critical calibration data or modify standard methods.

Supervisors or lab managers can manage test libraries, approve new or modified methods, and review results from different operators. Administrator-level users handle tasks such as user management, system configuration, and security settings. This structure helps prevent accidental changes to validated methods and keeps sensitive settings under control.

With separate logins, the system can record who ran each test, when it was performed, and which method was used. This supports accountability, easier troubleshooting, and better documentation during audits.

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GenTest receives updates several times a year. The schedule depends on two things: changes in international testing standards and new features requested by active laboratories. When ASTM, ISO, DIN or EN publish revisions that affect tensile, compression or flexural procedures, GenTest adds these adjustments quickly so labs stay compliant without rebuilding test methods on their own.

Feature updates arrive when the development team releases improvements like new test templates, better curve analysis, faster sampling or clearer reporting tools. These updates are based on real user feedback from metals, plastics and composite testing facilities.

Smaller maintenance patches are pushed as needed to fix performance issues or improve stability. Labs with active support contracts receive update notifications, release notes and assistance with installation. Overall, GenTest stays current at a steady pace, so long-term users always work with standards-ready and fully supported software.

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GenTest records at the sampling rate of the controller it runs with: 1200 Hz with synchronised channels on NG-EML Series machines, and up to 1200 Hz with 24-bit acquisition on the DTC-500 controller of our servo-hydraulic frames.

That rate is built for static and quasi-static testing and for the cyclic and waveform procedures the NG-EML frames run. It resolves yield onset, necking, peak load and the drop at fracture in tensile, compression, flexural and shear tests, and the full time series can be shown as force-time, force-displacement or stress-strain.

Instrumented impact testing is a different class of test and belongs on our pendulum impact testing equipment.

Long tests produce large datasets, and they stay in the test record together with the method and the calculated results.

Yes. When the method is configured for them, GenTest calculates ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, elongation and modulus of elasticity automatically at the end of the test, and the results appear with the curve.

Yield can be reported as upper yield strength ReH, lower yield strength ReL or proof strength Rp, the terms used in ISO 6892-1, so materials with a distinct yield point and those with a smooth transition are both covered. Tensile strength comes from the maximum force Fm and the original cross-section.

Elongation is taken from the extensometer, or from crosshead displacement where the method allows it, and modulus from the slope of the elastic part of the stress-strain curve.

Because results stay linked to the raw data, any value can be checked against its curve later, without manual spreadsheets.

GenTest is designed so new operators can begin running tests with very little training. The interface uses clear menus, simple icons and step-by-step screens that mirror the actual workflow inside the lab. Instead of forcing users to configure every detail manually, the software presents ready test templates for common ASTM and ISO methods. A new operator can select a material type, choose a method and start the test with only a few adjustments.

During the test, all key readings appear in real time, and the layout does not overwhelm the screen with unnecessary data. Once the test finishes, the results and curves appear in a clean, easy-to-read format.

Because the interface hides complex settings until they are needed, new operators avoid mistakes and learn the process naturally while working. This reduces onboarding time and helps labs maintain consistent testing even with inexperienced staff.

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GenTest is NextGen's data acquisition and test control software for universal testing machines, and the standard software on our NG-EML Series electromechanical frames. A dedicated build, GenTest v3.0, runs our servo-hydraulic frames for metal testing.

It supports the core UTM test types: tensile, compression, bending or flexure, and shear. Depending on configuration and accessories, the method library can also include application-specific groups such as peel-style workflows.

Everything runs from a method, which defines the control steps, the live channels and curves, the calculation rules and the report. Setup parameters, operator inputs, recorded data and results therefore stay in one test record, which is what QA/QC labs need for traceability.

Compliance with ASTM, ISO, DIN, EN or BS methods comes from two things together: a method that follows the standard's test sequence and calculation rules, and a machine verified to a force standard such as ISO 7500-1 or ASTM E4.

GenTest supplies the method side. The build on our servo-hydraulic frames covers ASTM, ISO, DIN, EN and BS procedures for tensile, compression, flexural and custom protocols, and the NG-EML build carries templates for ASTM, ISO, EN and GB/T standards, organised by application type.

Example methods give a starting point aligned with each standard's workflow. Once a method is set up, it applies the same control modes, speeds and calculation rules on every test, so results stay consistent between operators and shifts.

For metallic tensile work, methods are commonly built to ASTM E8 and ISO 6892-1.

The pre-configured method library saves time by giving operators ready-to-use templates for the most common ASTM, ISO, DIN, EN, and BS tests. Instead of setting every parameter manually, the operator chooses the material and method, and the software loads all required settings automatically. This includes test speed, control mode, gauge length, break conditions, calculations, and reporting fields.

For routine QA and QC work, this cuts setup time from several minutes to just a few clicks. It also reduces mistakes, since operators do not accidentally edit critical parameters or overlook required settings. Labs that test large batches benefit the most, because the same standardized method can be repeated across multiple samples with perfect consistency.

The library is updated as standards change, so users stay current without rebuilding methods themselves. This keeps daily workflow fast, stable, and easy even for newer operators.

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