Grips & Fixtures for NextGen UTM Machines

Grips and fixtures are essential accessories for universal testing machines (UTMs) that securely hold samples and apply forces according to standardized test methods. NextGen offers a comprehensive range of grips and fixtures to equip UTMs for tensile, compression, bending (flexural), shear, and other mechanical tests across various materials. These devices are designed to meet internationally recognized standards (ASTM, ISO, etc.), ensuring that test setups comply with test specifications and produce accurate, repeatable results. By selecting the appropriate grip or fixture (e.g. wedge grips for high-strength metals, pneumatic grips for quick clamping, bend fixtures for flexural tests), users can confidently perform tests on specimens ranging from delicate films to hardened steel. In essence, the NextGen grips and fixtures enable a UTM to perform as a versatile material testing system, accommodating different specimen shapes and sizes while maintaining alignment and safety . These accessories incorporate features like interchangeable jaw faces, self-tightening mechanisms, and robust materials to prevent slippage or damage to the specimen during testing. With NextGen’s grips and fixtures, laboratories and manufacturers can conduct tension, compression, flexure, peel, puncture, and other tests with ease, knowing each fixture is optimized for its intended purpose and compliant with relevant testing standards for reliable results.

Side Action Grip

Side action grips are manually operated vise-type clamps that apply lateral pressure to hold a specimen. They typically feature dual jaws tightened from the sides by screws or levers, allowing versatile gripping of plastics, metals, textiles, and other materials. Side action grips are known for their simplicity and adaptability – users can swap jaw faces (smooth, serrated, rubber-coated, etc.) to accommodate different specimen surfaces and reduce slippage . These grips are cost-effective and commonly used for medium-load tensile tests where a firm yet gentle clamping force is sufficient. By tightening a knob or wingnut, the operator secures the sample between flat jaws; this straightforward mechanism makes side action grips a popular choice for quality control and R&D labs. Overall, manual side action grips provide a reliable, easy-to-use solution for tensile testing, balancing strong clamping with the need to avoid excessive pressure that could damage the specimen.

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Wire and Cable Snubbing Grip

Wire and cable snubbing grips (also known as capstan or bollard grips) are designed for tensile testing of cables, ropes, and wire specimens that are prone to slipping. These grips work by wrapping the wire or rope around a curved capstan or mandrel to create friction, then clamping the free end to hold the tension . By looping the specimen several times, the snubbing grip distributes the load along the cable’s length, preventing localized breakage at the jaw and enabling the full strength of the cable to be measured. This method is essential for high-strength wires and steel ropes, as it substantially increases the grip on the specimen without crushing it. Snubbing grips often include a locking clamp or wedge to secure the loose end after wrapping. Thanks to this design, laboratories can accurately test wire ropes, electrical cables, and fiber bundles to failure, confident that the sample won’t slip out of the grip under load . These fixtures meet standards for cable testing and ensure that even very slick or strong wires can be tested to their rated tensile capacity.

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