I need to start learning how to design and perform tests 1

[bradpa77]

It looks like I am going to be given an assignment in the very near future where I will be required to design and run a test on o-rings. I've never been asked to do any testing yet. This is new territory. This project is going to be heavily scrutinized by my boss, his boss, his boss's boss, etc. Long story short, I need to deliver. I would like to do some preliminary reading on Engineering Testing but I'm having a hard time finding any books on the subject. Does anyone have any book recommendations or test methods to read up on before taking this on? I really need to be prepared. This isn't the kind of project where I can just fly by the seat of my pants. I want to have my ducks in a row before the project even hits my desk.

Thanks.

 

[TenPenny]

My first reaction is to ask, 'test for what?'

Are you supposed to test dimensional conformity? Elasticity? Fatigue? Material composition? Chemical compatibility? Price vs delivery time? Color? Wind resistance when tossed out of a moving train as a function of color of the package they came in?

I'd suggest you start by defining (for yourself) what it is that you are testing for. Maybe you're testing against a standard?

 

[MintJulep]

http://www.amazon.com/Accelerated-Testing-Validation-Alex-Porter/dp/0750676531

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...field-keywords=taguchi+design+of+experiements

 

[MadMango]

I've found that the Parker O-ring Handbook was great at "connecting the dots" in my brain.

http://www.parker.com/literature/ORD 5700 Parker_O-Ring_Handbook.pdf

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[ornerynorsk]

Agree with Ten and Mint. You need to establish what, in fact, needs to be tested, and then design an experiment and establish a statistical sample size which to test.

You should have nothing less than a very complete and detailed written protocol prior to the commencement of any physical testing. Be succinct and to the point, avoid the temptation to include aspects that wander outside of the intended scope of the test, and thoroughly justify your acceptance criteria.

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

 

[dhengr]

Brad:
How about talking with/asking the guy who is assigning you to that new job? None of us know how to do everything, and young engineers know even a little less, and there should be no shame in admitting that. They know you’ve not done this before. In fact, it might show your enthusiasm and interest in the new opportunity by going to your boss and discussing the duties and responsibility of the new position, before hand. Can he/she suggest books you might study, are there some on the office shelf, all the ASTM stds. on O-rings, etc.? Can he show you a bunch of the stds. involved, what about previous final test reports you might study? This is what you’ll be doing, what’s good/bad about each. Why are young engineers so fearful/bashful about taking questions to their boss? Do they all bite or kill on sight?

 

[dgallup]

You may want to obtain a copy of SAE J200 or ANSI/ASTM D2000. This is a classification system for rubber materials and it lists all the important performance characteristics of elastomers and the respective ASTM test methods.

Those are most of the procedures used to classify materials but you may need to do some functional testing in your application as well. For that you may have to create your own test procedures. Since we know nothing about your application we can't provide much advice at this point.

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The Help for this program was created in Windows Help format, which depends on a feature that isn't included in this version of Windows.

 

[Cockroach]

Agreed, Parker-Hannifin ORD5700 is an exceptional resource. You can download it online or get a paper copy from the vendor.

Regards,
Cockroach

 

[c0rd0bes]

http://www.jameswalker.biz/en/product_ranges/154-o-rings

james walker gives good info also

 

[TenPenny]

I must admit, I have better luck with Johnnie Walker, either Black or Red.

 

[Artisi]

TenPenny: Good one, best for a long while " Wind resistance when tossed out of a moving train as a function of color of the package they came in?"
As for red or black, black in extreme circumstances as I'm really a single malt user.

It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)

 

[chicopee]

I may suggest that you also get catalogs from "O" ring manufacturers as these documents have a lot of design engineering help sections.