Shoulder Fixtures for Pull-Off Testing | NextGen Material Testing

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Precision Shoulder Grips for Tensile Testing on NG-EML and SHM Series UTMs

Shoulder Fixtures for Pull-Off and Component Testing

NextGen’s shoulder fixtures are specialized tensile grips designed to accommodate specimens with shoulder geometries. These fixtures are critical for standardized testing in accordance with ISO and ASTM protocols where alignment, clamping precision, and repeatability are essential. Compatible with NG-EML and SHM UTMs, these fixtures ensure high-reliability results in both R&D and production environments.

Typical standards supported include:

ASTM D638 (Tensile Properties of Plastics)
ISO 527 (Tensile Testing of Plastics)
GB/T 1040 (Plastic Tensile Test Methods)

Applications range across polymer composites, machined plastic components, and metals formed to shoulder profiles. All models support safe and rigid clamping under increasing loads.

Shoulder Fixture Models

Five fixtures share the shoulder clamping principle and split by what they hold. The first stands apart from the rest: it is the only one for cement mortar, and it is rated to 2 kN.

Model NGB203A

Tension Grip

The NGB203A Tension Grip is built for low-force tensile testing of cement mortar specimens. With a load capacity of up to 2 kN, this fixture is suited to evaluating the tensile strength of brittle, cement-based materials. It features a compact yet durable design, Ø10 mm pin connections, and is suitable for use with universal testing machines in ambient environments. The precision alignment and reliable clamping surface ensure accurate and repeatable results in material strength verification.

**Table 1.** NGB203A Tension Grip for Cement Mortar
Parameter	Specification
Application	Tension test for cement mortar
Maximum Force Capacity	≤ 2 kN
Upper Grip Weight	2.6 lbs (1.18 kg)
Lower Grip Weight	2.2 lbs (1.0 kg)
Working Temperature	Ambient
Connection Type	Ø10 mm pin (upper and lower)
Upper Grip Height (A)	4.7″ (120 mm)
Lower Grip Height (B)	88 mm
Width (C)	88 mm

The four that follow are for adhesive bonds, and the substrate decides which one you need. This is the base fixture: 1 kN, square 50 x 50 mm substrates.

Model NGC103A

Tension Grip

The NGC103A Tension Grip is purpose-built for low-force adhesive tensile testing. With a force capacity of up to 1 kN, it is suited to evaluating adhesive bond strength between substrates under controlled laboratory conditions. This compact fixture features a shoulder clamping mode and is built for substrates measuring 50 × 50 mm and adhesives up to 12 mm thick. Standard Ø10 mm pin connections and stable construction make NGC103A a reliable choice for quality control and material development labs.

**Table 2.** NGC103A Tension Grip for Adhesive Testing
Parameter	Specification
Application	Tension test for adhesives
Maximum Force Capacity	≤ 1 kN
Upper Grip Weight	0.75 kg
Lower Grip Weight	0.8 kg
Working Temperature	Ambient
Connection Type	Ø10 mm pin (upper and lower)
Upper Grip Height (A)	3.9″ (100 mm)
Lower Grip Height (B)	80 mm
Width (C)	70 mm
Clamping Mode	Shoulder
Specimen Size	Substrate: 50 × 50 mm Adhesive: 50 × 12 mm

The same 1 kN rating, but a longer and narrower substrate - 75 x 12 mm instead of square. It is the one to take when the bonded joint runs along the specimen rather than across it.

Model NGC103B

Tension Grip

The NGC103B Tension Grip is optimized for adhesive tensile testing where larger substrates or longer bonded joints are involved. With a 1 kN maximum load capacity and a shoulder clamping mechanism, it ensures stable and precise specimen alignment during testing. Designed for substrates up to 75 mm long and adhesives 12 mm thick, this fixture is well-suited for laboratories performing repeatable adhesive strength evaluations. Standard Ø10 mm pin compatibility makes it suited to use with most tabletop universal testing systems.

**Table 3.** NGC103B Tension Grip for Adhesive Testing
Parameter	Specification
Application	Tension test for adhesives
Maximum Force Capacity	≤ 1 kN
Upper Grip Weight	0.5 kg
Lower Grip Weight	0.6 kg
Working Temperature	Ambient
Connection Type	Ø10 mm pin (upper and lower)
Upper Grip Height (A)	4.3″ (110 mm)
Lower Grip Height (B)	80 mm
Width (C)	95 mm
Clamping Mode	Shoulder
Specimen Size	Substrate: 75 × 12 mm Adhesive: 50 × 12 mm

Dimensions A, B and C used in Table 3.

Where the bonded area itself is large, the NGC203 comes as a series. All three sizes hold 2 kN; what changes is the seat, from 50 mm square up to 7.9″ (200 mm) square.

Model NGC203

Tension Grip Series

The NGC203 Tension Grip Series is developed for adhesive strength testing across many specimen sizes. Available in three models - NGC203B, NGC203C, and NGC203E - this series supports test blocks from 50 × 50 mm to 7.9 × 7.9″ (200 × 200 mm), all within a 2 kN maximum force range. These grips feature a modular design that allows the number of bonding blocks to be tailored to specific testing requirements. Constructed for reliability and repeatability in ambient conditions, all models are equipped with Ø10 mm pin connections and standardized dimensions for integration with universal testing systems.

Application: Tension tests for adhesive strength.
Models: NGC203B, NGC203C, NGC203E.
Maximum Capacity: Up to 2 kN load.
Specimen Sizes: 50 × 50 mm (B), 3.9 × 3.9″ (100 × 100 mm) (C), 7.9 × 7.9″ (200 × 200 mm) (E).
Connection: Ø10 mm pin (upper and lower), compatible with standard UTMs.
Height: 60 mm (both upper and lower grips).
Widths: 50 mm (B), 3.9″ (100 mm) (C), 7.9″ (200 mm) (E).
Grip Weight: See model-specific table below.
Working Temperature: Ambient.
Note: The number of bonding blocks can be customized based on client requirements.

**Table 4.** NGC203 Tension Grip Series for Adhesive Strength Testing
Model	NGC203B	NGC203C	NGC203E
Specimen Size	50 mm × 50 mm	3.9″ (100 mm) × 3.9″ (100 mm)	7.9″ (200 mm) × 7.9″ (200 mm)
Maximum Force	≤ 2 kN	≤ 2 kN	≤ 2 kN
Upper Grip Weight	0.36 kg	0.95 kg	7.3 lbs (3.32 kg)
Lower Grip Weight	0.36 kg	0.95 kg	7.3 lbs (3.32 kg)
Working Temp.	Ambient
Connection	Ø10 mm pin (upper and lower)
Upper Grip Height (A)	60 mm	60 mm	60 mm
Lower Grip Height (B)	60 mm	60 mm	60 mm
Width (C)	50 mm	3.9″ (100 mm)	7.9″ (200 mm)
Bonding Block Count	Customizable per client request

The last fixture takes the highest load of the group, 5 kN, on a 70 x 70 mm substrate with a 40 x 40 mm bonded area. It closes the range where an adhesive is strong enough to pull past the 2 kN fixtures.

Model NGC503A

Tension Grip

The NGC503A Tension Grip is a compact fixture designed for precise adhesive strength testing under moderate tensile loads. Supporting forces up to 5 kN, this grip is suited to small-scale bonded specimens, such as those with substrate dimensions of 70 × 70 mm and adhesive layers of 40 × 40 mm. The grip features a shoulder-type clamping mechanism for secure and repeatable alignment during testing. Its lightweight construction and Ø10 mm pin compatibility make it suitable for most tabletop universal testing machines operating in ambient environments.

**Table 5.** NGC503A Tension Grip for Adhesive Testing
Parameter	Specification
Application	Tension test for adhesives
Maximum Force Capacity	≤ 5 kN
Upper Grip Weight	0.03 kg
Lower Grip Weight	0.16 kg
Working Temperature	Ambient
Connection Type	Ø10 mm pin (upper and lower)
Upper Grip Height (A)	45 mm
Lower Grip Height (B)	60 mm
Width (C)	90 mm
Clamping Mode	Shoulder
Specimen Size	Substrate: 70 × 70 mm Adhesive: 40 × 40 mm

NextGen’s shoulder grip solutions are crafted for high-performance tensile testing where shoulder-type samples are standard. Their modular compatibility with NG-EML and SHM UTM machines ensures maximum utility across labs and testing departments. Contact us today to discuss your testing needs or to request a formal quotation for these fixtures.

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FAQs

How Do Shoulder Fixtures Hold a Specimen in a Pull-Off Test?

A shoulder fixture holds the specimen by its shape rather than by squeezing it. The specimen, or the block it is bonded to, has a shoulder that seats in the fixture, and the tensile load passes through that seat instead of through jaw pressure on the section under test.

That suits brittle and bonded specimens, which crack or peel under jaw pressure, and it keeps the pull on the axis, which alignment-sensitive methods depend on. We supply five shoulder fixtures: one for cement mortar and four for adhesive bonds, where the substrate decides which one you need.

All five connect through Ø10 mm pins on the upper and lower grips, work at ambient temperature and are compatible with our NG-EML and SHM universal testing machines, for R&D as well as production testing.

Which Shoulder Fixture Is Used for Cement Mortar Tension Tests?

For cement mortar we supply a dedicated tension grip rated to 2 kN, the only fixture in the shoulder range made for mortar. It is built to measure the tensile strength of brittle, cement-based materials.

Brittle materials fail without yielding, so a small misalignment adds bending stress on one side of the specimen and it cracks early at that edge. The grip's precise alignment and even clamping surface keep the load on the axis, which is what makes mortar results repeatable.

Mortar is far weaker in tension than in compression, which is why a 2 kN grip suits the test. The upper grip weighs 1.18 kg and the lower 1.0 kg, with heights of 120 mm and 88 mm and a width of 88 mm.

When the tensile strength of concrete or rock is measured indirectly, by splitting a cylinder or a disc, our splitting fixtures handle that method.

Which 1 kN Shoulder Fixture Suits Square or Strip Adhesive Substrates?

Both 1 kN adhesive fixtures clamp by the shoulder, and the shape of the substrate decides between them. The NGC103A takes square substrates, 50 × 50 mm, and suits bond strength work in quality control and material development laboratories.

The NGC103B takes a longer and narrower substrate, 75 × 12 mm, for longer bonded joints. It is the one to use when the bonded joint runs along the specimen rather than across it.

They differ a little in size as well: the NGC103A is 70 mm wide with upper and lower grips 100 mm and 80 mm high, and the NGC103B is 95 mm wide with grips 110 mm and 80 mm high and suits most tabletop universal testing systems.

Which Shoulder Fixtures Take Adhesive Test Blocks Up to 200 × 200 mm?

Large bonded areas go on the NGC203 series, which comes in three sizes: the NGC203B for 50 × 50 mm test blocks, the NGC203C for 100 × 100 mm and the NGC203E for 200 × 200 mm. All three are rated to 2 kN, and each fixture is as wide as its block.

Every grip in the series is 60 mm high, upper and lower, and the dimensions are standardized for fitting to the testing machine. Weight follows size, from 0.36 kg per grip on the smallest model to 3.32 kg on the largest.

The series is modular, and the number of bonding blocks is set to each laboratory's requirements. Adhesives need time to cure, so a lab that bonds several specimens ahead of a test run can order enough blocks to prepare them in parallel.

Which Shoulder Fixture Is Used When an Adhesive Bond Breaks Above 2 kN?

For stronger adhesives we supply the NGC503A, rated to 5 kN, the highest load in the shoulder range. It takes over where a bond pulls past the 2 kN fixtures.

It holds a 70 × 70 mm substrate with a 40 × 40 mm bonded area, clamped by the shoulder for secure and repeatable alignment. The build is compact, 45 mm and 60 mm high and 90 mm wide, and suits most tabletop universal testing machines.

With the bonded area fixed at 40 × 40 mm, the force at failure converts directly into bond strength, so results from different adhesives compare on the same basis.

Tell us the adhesive, the substrate and the strength you expect in a quotation request, and our team will say which of the five shoulder fixtures to order.

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