Use the Grips for the purpose they were designed for.
ü Know your fibre type! Its characteristics will affect what grips you need to use, gauge length and pressure that will be required to perform the test.
ü Make sure the maximum load capacity of the grip is suitable for the specimens to be tested.
ü Ensure the jaw faces are suitable for the forces that are going to be applied during the test. 

Note Rubber faces will degrade quickly at higher loads.


ü The faces should not be too aggressive for the type of specimen such that it causes premature failure.
ü Make sure the specimen is centrally mounted and fully inserted into the grip faces.
ü Correct maintenance of the grips whether they are manual, pneumatic or hydraulic.
ü If in doubt ask your supplier for advice.

General Maintenance
ü  Check all fastenings are secure and in good order no loose or wobbly parts.
ü  Check they are moving freely / lubricated also free of loose fibres and any debris.

Manual grips
ü  Do not over tighten them.
ü  Make sure all catches lock securely.

Pneumatic grips
ü  Ensure the compressed air supply is clean and dry; that means regularly emptying the relief valve to drain off any moisture regularly.
ü  Adjusting the pressure to be appropriate in order to prevent jaw breaks but not exceeding the maximum operating pressure.
ü  If you suspect air leaks get them checked/serviced. 

Hydraulic grips
ü  Check your fluid levels.
ü  Look for any signs of a leak.
ü  Note pressure level required to give a good break and apply this consistently for each specimen.  

Jaw faces (applicable to all grip types)
ü  Check the faces for wear and tear before you fit them into your grips.
ü  Again you need to use the correct faces for the product you are testing.
ü  Please use the locating pins provided with the grips.
ü  Replace the rubber faces when they show signs of wear; badly worn or uneven faces can lead to slippage, premature failure of specimens and incorrect test results.
ü  Clean off any off any residual lubricants/ finishes’ that may have built up during testing of some specimens.

Yarn / cord testing using bollard grips
ü  Check the cord path is not worn or damaged and free of any residual build up from the yarn or cord.
ü  Set up the gauge length from nip point to nip point.
ü  Surfaces of clamp faces can become polished and cause slippage.
ü  Aggressive faces or too much pressure will cause jaw breaks.

Nose pieces
ü  Make sure they are tightened correctly but again not over tightened, which may lead to twisting of the load cell and permanent damage of the load cell.
ü  Know the rating of your grips and don’t assume the nose piece size dictates the load capacity.

Compression - Puncture Testing
ü  Check probes for damage and/or signs of wear as this will influence the way the probe penetrates the fabric under test and affect your results.
ü  After attaching the probe to the nose piece check for alignment to the lower clamping unit to ensure the probe passes through the aperture freely.
ü  Check the fabric in the lower clamping unit is clamped evenly with sufficient pressure to prevent slippage during testing. 

Today’s technology in ropes, cables, fishing nets, lifting and support straps is increasingly advanced, straps made from super strong polyethylene fibre deliver a tensile strength which can be up to 15 times stronger than an equivalent steel on a weight for weight basis.  Such polyethylene based technologies float on water, are resistant to moisture, UV light, chemicals and are altogether strong and durable. Additionally the yarn technology has applications in sporting products, the medical industry and bullet resistant body armour and clothing.

Like all materials the strength and performance of the yarns and or finished products such as ropes, straps etc must be tested and quantified. The solution is a Tinius Olsen materials testing system based on a Tinius Olsen Horizon materials test and analysis platform working with a capable test specimen gripping system to ensure zero slippage of the specimen during the test while ensuring no premature break due to excessive clamping force, and a video extensometer capable of accurate measurement of strain (capable of being classified ASTM E83 B1 and ISO 9531 0.5) through specimen failure, however violent the break.

3 mouse clicks and the tensile test is done, results automatically analysed for Pass\Failure against user defined limits, stored for use by a LIMs system and available in a user specific format, be it printed, PDF or other.