Inca testing to braking point
1 min read
Inca Geometric has won a contract to design, develop and build a test rig to determine the failure point of disc brake assemblies used on trucks. The 'life test' system will need to absorb up to 50 kNm of torque being applied to samples taken from production batches of completed disc brake assemblies.
Managing director Mike Cain says: "Currently we are 3D modelling and calculating how the rig will respond to such high levels of torque being applied to the brake assembly for extended periods to determine the life cycle, the point and nature of the failure of pads, discs or other elements that make up the assembly."
The rig will handle brake discs up to 500 mm diameter but must also be able to accommodate variations in the overall lengths of the assemblies that range between 500 and 1,100 mm. The brake assembly will be held in a moveable tailstock bolted to the bed of the rig and aligned to the drive system via linear guideways to accommodate the range of sizes. The drive system will continuously rotate at just 1 rpm with full braking force applied until the point of failure is reached.
Delivery of the test rig is scheduled for June.
