Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
(OP)
Hi All,
I'm in the early stages of setting up a materials testing lab and would you like to hear what you recommend for purchasing new lab equipment. I'll be starting out simple (i.e. concrete - cylinder compressive tests, fresh field concrete sampling and testing, flex bend test, soil - PI, SA, CBR, LAR, Consol, compaction, field density, and asphalt - density, Gs, marshall, air content, binder content). I've performed all these tests on various brands, but was never in a position to actually purchase them so I wanted to hear what you think as the prices varies quite a bit between them.
Also, what are your thoughts on the non-nuclear density gauges? Accepted replacement for the industry standard nuclear gauge?
Thanks!
I'm in the early stages of setting up a materials testing lab and would you like to hear what you recommend for purchasing new lab equipment. I'll be starting out simple (i.e. concrete - cylinder compressive tests, fresh field concrete sampling and testing, flex bend test, soil - PI, SA, CBR, LAR, Consol, compaction, field density, and asphalt - density, Gs, marshall, air content, binder content). I've performed all these tests on various brands, but was never in a position to actually purchase them so I wanted to hear what you think as the prices varies quite a bit between them.
Also, what are your thoughts on the non-nuclear density gauges? Accepted replacement for the industry standard nuclear gauge?
Thanks!





RE: Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
My question first would be: What was your business plan as you expanded your lab?
RE: Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
RE: Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
For a starter I'd write or phone state highway department materials departments and speak with their folks that run the equipment. Corps of Engineers at Vicksburg MS may help.
RE: Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
RE: Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
Used equipment is not likely to be something available to any significant extent. In some cases building your own helps to do certain tests.
You didn't mention test boring rigs. Several of the firms I know also got into that early on, but not always successful. Competition can be cruel.
RE: Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
RE: Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
RE: Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
As for non-nuclear gauges, I love the idea, but do not know of a single firm that is currently using them. I suspect they will supplant nukes in the future, but nukes took years (decades?) to gain traction and are still not completely trusted in places like Los Angeles (1-in-10 tests must be sand cones).
Best of luck.
RE: Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
RE: Reviews on Material Testing Equipment (Gilson, Humboldt, Forney, Troxler, Transtech, etc)
As for the nuke gauges, I believe the ASTM for the non-nuclear is relatively new so I think it's going to be awhile before it's widely accepted.