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SOFTWARE SUPPORT

ProgrammingThe TMS-Pro

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GENERAL TIPS SETTING UP THE TEST There are several simple guidelines which should be followed when your are configuring the TMS-Pro testing system. Compression Fixtures and Testing

1. Use the Standard Fixture table supplied with TMS-Pro 2. Make sure the fixing screws are loosens to allow alignment

3. Lower the top fixing or probe on the sample or into the corresponding

base jig, align the fixture and then lock base unit in place

4. Do not allow contact between probe or fixture on sample surface as

this will prevent starting of test Tension Fixtures and Testing

1. Fit TMS-Pro with top and bottom tension fixtures 2. Lower travelling beam and lock into position when top and bottom are

aligned

3. Ensure that sample is loosely fitted to top and bottom jig to prevent residual load being present prior to testing

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Example: Shear blade assembly Lower blade down to base. Align with base slot and allow blade to pass through. Use locking nut to fix aligned blade and base plate into position Retract blade to upper position ready for sample testing

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TMS-Pro STOP

POWER

Use up and down arrows to move travelling beam

SETTING SAFETY STOP POINTS FOR ROUTINE TESTING: Each time the TMS-Pro unit is powered up an on screen request to re-calibrate the Zero point will given.

By selecting the Yes option the unit will travel up to its maximum upper safety point and set this as its Zero reference point. This is to create an upper reference point for distance travelled by the TMS-Pro unit and prevent damage to the load cell. Each TMS-Pro unit is fitted with mechanical Hard stops at the rear of the unit which should be used top set upper and lower stop point to prevent damage to the load cell or test fixtures. In-built safety stops and overload protection are also included within firmware.

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Upper reference point created at top of TMS-Pro unit. All distance settings must now be below this upper reference point.

Whilst the load cell is at its highest point lock the top mechanical hard stop in place so that it touches the top of the crosshead beam

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TMS-Pro STOP

POWER

Move the crosshead down to 5mm above the lowest setting available using the down arrow e.g the top of fixture table or bottom of container

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Move the bottom mechanical hard stop up so that it touches the bottom of the crosshead beam and lock in place

This will now create a physical upper and lower stop point to prevent damage of the load cell, test probe or containers used to hold samples

STARTING TO PROGRAM THE TMS-PRO: HOW THE TMS-PRO TEXTURE ANALYSER WORKS Imagine the unit is an upside down laboratory balance, instead of weighing the sample we push the weigh pan onto the sample and measure the samples response in compression testing. In more scientific terms the texture analyser utilises a load cell fitted to a travelling beam. The travelling beam either creates downward compression or upward tension forces within the sample. Controlled test speeds and target units of deformation or load are used as constant within test development. Test fixtures and probes are used to manipulate the forces created within a sample and replicate conditions imposed by the consumer or during production. COMPRESSION OR TENSION The first step is to set to tell the TMS-Pro unit to travel in either compression or tension mode. This depends on the samples physical properties and the characteristics you wish to identify. Most food testing applications are made within compression mode imitating how we handle or consume food products. Typical Compression Test: Typical Tension Test:

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TMS-Pro load cell is fitted with test probe. Probe travels at constant speed, registers sample surface and triggers test (point A in Graph) A

Down Cycle Up cycle Probe or fixture travels to target deformation or load creating stress in sample (Point B in Graph).

Instrument measures samples response to imposed stress

B Probe or fixture returns. Stress within sample is removed and action of sample on load cell is recorded

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TMS-Pro load cell is fitted with gripping fixture. Sample is held loosely within jaws of grip. Grip moves upwards, registers initial resistance of sample and triggers test (point A in Graph)

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Up Cycle Down cycle Grip fitted to traveling beam moves to target deformation or break load creating (Point B in graph). Test generally results in failure of sample causing it to break at its weakest point.

B Gripping fixture returns to start

pointy. If sample breaks no

response will be observed.

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We can also access other key features within the preference window. We will address these features in more detail within specific application notes

The TMS-Pro system Setup preferences may be accessed via the Setup menu when in Master mode of operation

LIMITS: Default settings. Load is automatically updated by intelligent load cell.

SPECIMEN: Activated if a unit of stress is selected in the “UNITS” menu. Cross-section details must be entered to continue.

SAMPLE DELETION: Enable or disable option for deleting result files. This is important when operators are testing and all results are required good or bad

TENSION MODE: Used to stretch or pull a sample apart. COMPRESSION MODE: Used to squash, crush, puncture or cut a sample. UNITS: Selected the units in which you wish to measure

Return to your Zero point after each test ready for the next sample

Export data directly to an Excel spreadsheet or other program or file

Override any information messages built into a program

SETTING NEW ZERO POINTS It is best practice when building a new program to include a Zero command as the first line.

ZERO LOAD Zero load cell reading and remove the weight of fixture

or probes fitted to the unit ZERO DISPLACEMENT

Create a new Zero Distance point for the travelling crosshead.

For routine testing where the sample starting height or tensile length is not required our next step is to set a command to travel down and register the samples surface or test trigger point. We use the “trigger point” to create an accurate starting point for our test sequence to begin. USEFUL TIP!

a) We use higher trigger forces to overcome the irregular surface geometries

b) Try using different shaped probes and fixtures such as ball probes and the FTC TPA cell to accommodate irregular sample surfaces

c) Prepare your samples using sharp parallel blades and cutting blocks to ensure sample surfaces are level

d) Remember that the resolution of the load cell will dictate minimum recommended trigger points.

Set Zero point to remove weight of fixtures or test probes and create constant for testing

Use to create and access command details

The test probe or fixture is fitted directly to the TMS-Pro load cell. Slow travel speed is selected to enable accurate detection of sample surface.

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A target load is used to establish when contact has been made with the sample surface. We call this a “Trigger Force” and manipulate it to guarantee full contact is made at the probe-sample interface

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Noise at start of test. Set the trigger point above the load registered to eliminate and create constant start point for target distance testing

LOAD CELL (g) TRIGGER LOAD (g) 2N (200) 0.002N (0.2) 5N (510) 0.005N (0.5) 10N (1020) 0.01N (1.0) 25N (2550) 0.025N (2.55) 50N (5100) 0.05N (5.1) 100N (10200) 0.1N (10.2) 250N (25490) 0.025N (25.49) 500N (50980) 0.5N (50.98) 1000N (101970) 1N (102.0) *suggested trigger only lower values are attainable.

MOVING THE CROSSHEAD To make the TMS-Pro unit move to our trigger load we must ask it to move in set direction: The selection of Tension or Compression mode has a direct effect on the operation and recorded information from your test. We must consider the mode of operation when telling the TMS-Pro to move OPERATION TENSION MODE COMPRESSION MODE

+VE Tensile load e.g. 25.45N pulling down on load cell

Compression load e.g. 25.45N pushing up on load cell

LOAD DISPLAYED

-VE Compression load e.g. -25.45N pushing up on load cell

Tensile load e.g. -25.45N pulling down on load cell

+VE Above Zero position Below Zero position DISPLACMENT ABOVE ZERO -VE Below Zero position Above Zero position

+VE Crosshead Up Crosshead Down PROGRAM COMMAND -VE Crosshead Down Crosshead Up USEFUL TIP!

a) Remember where you have set your new Zero point b) Use the above table to drive the TMS-Pro crosshead in the direction

you want c) Avoid conflicts within commands e.g.

We can not tell TMS-Pro to travel down to a distance that is above its new Zero point

We can not tell TMS-Pro to travel to a load below what the load cell is currently registering (make sure the load cell is not touching the sample surface)

We travel at 30mm/min to accurately record the point when we measure 25gf, which is our trigger force in this example

Use the append key to add the command to the end of our program

CLEARING THE TEST DATA We don’t want all the information collected before we reached our trigger point. This data relates to all the surface levelling and contacting effects at the start of our test.

If we test to a target load and the samples are all different heights we will get a large spread in deformation travelled by the TMS-Pro unit and won’t be able to detect the true difference between samples. If we are testing to target distance the spread in load will be to large to detect actual variance within sample group as each one will essentially be tested to a different target distance To remove this information and clear our graph we select the CLEAR DATA command from our program list. ACTUAL TESTING We now have to make a new Zero point for our analysis.

Use the Append key to add to the bottom of our commands list

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F Irregular spread of data caused by poor sample preparation and inadequate trigger point to create constant for target distance testing

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Zero load will remove the trigger force from any load results obtained and invalidate result.

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B

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B = Peak Load A = Trigger Load B-A = False Reading

Zero Displacement will set a new distance. This is essential if you want the TMS-Pro to move to a distance unit or report an accurate travel distance if using a Target Load or Target Break Point

Now that we know where the sample surface is and that we have made full contact between our test probe or fixture and the sample we are able to start the actual analysis. The texture analyser works by travelling at a set speed to either:

Unit travels to a LOAD unit and measures the DISTANCE travelled as a variable

TARGET LOAD

Uses: Not common in food applications. Used for irregular shaped samples with poor surface attributes as an indicator of Softness by squeezing Also used in traditional penetrometry applications where a cone is driven into the sample and held for a set time period. Unit travels to a DISTANCE unit and measures the LOAD returned as a variable

TARGET DISTANCE

Uses: Most common in food applications as gives ultimate control over sample geometry e.g. provided adequate trigger point is used and samples are of consistent height and geometry Unit travels until a set % DROP in load from the highest of previous load readings is recorded. If 10% is set as Break Load a drop to 90% of the highest previous load will be required before TMS-Pro reports a break. Assign Break Load as a distance “Variable” to record for future calculations by using the Commands programs during test set-up

TARGET BREAK LOAD

Uses: Used to determine the break point of gels, Fracture point of biscuits and brittle foods, and Break load in tension testing

20N

40N

60N

80N

100N

1mm 2mm 3mm 4mm 5mm 6mm 0N

0mm

120N

10N drop

Distance travelled to break

Energy to break

TMS-Pro records a load of 100N and holds it within memory as highest. Next consecutive loads are lower ranging between 99N and 91N until a load of 90N is reached. 90N is taken as BREAK LOAD

As a starting point it is recommended to make the first test to a target distance so that you can calculate what forces you will record and what the resulting response of the sample to the test conditions will be.

TMS-Pro will now travel to the set distance in the designated direction. In our example we are running in compression mode so we will travel down at 30mm/min to a distance of 4mm is reached.

The distance or load we travel to directly relates to the characteristics of the individual sample e.g. we wouldn’t compress our 15mm high burger to 16mm as we would simply be testing the metal of the texture analyser test bed.

If we over compress the sample we simply measure up forces and resistance from the metal test table ILS

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15mm

TMS-Pro moves down onto sample in compression mode.

Depending on fixture used compression; shear;

extrusion; puncture and penetration forces are created

within the sample

It is often good practice ‘Assign’ a variable at the point the unit changes direction. This will enable you to calculate energy input and other calculations easily when processing the information generated from your test data.

We assign a displacement at this point to provide a constant for our future calculations. We now need to ask TMS-Pro to return so that we can measure the response of our sample as the stress is removed.

Distance is set to Zero to return to the original trigger point of our analysis

We use the –ve connotation as we are in compression mode to move the crosshead up

We now have a trace of reflecting the down stroke of TMS-Pro where stress is put into the sample USEFUL TIP:

a) If the sample is sticky or has a stringy consistency such as a yogurt you will need to travel above the Zero point to break contact between the probe and the sample

b) If you are interested in the elastic element of the trace you must return at the same test speed to compare the Joules of energy under each portion of the graph

c) If you are only interested in the Viscous element return at high speed to save time

Once you have your first test result you can refine the method and identify what characteristics will be of interest. It is often best if several measurements are taken from a range of samples so that typical behaviour can be observed. To make life easier a range of library tests are contained within your TLPro software that can be adapted to suit the properties and requirements of your test. Access them from the ‘Load Library Program’ option in the File menu and amend as required.

Down Stroke Stress imposed on sample as compression commences TMS-Pro acts upon Sample and Response relates To viscous element

Up Stroke Stress removed from sample during decompression.

Sample acts upon TMS-Pro and response relates to

elastic element

REMEMBER TO PRESS UPDATE AFTER EACH CHANGE IS MADE

Texture Lab Pro has a feature to debug or identify areas of error with the new test program. To activate this feature check the ‘Debug’ box in the programming box. You will now be able to move through each line of the program and identify if any conflicts or errors are present.

Selecting ‘Debug’ option allows you to view each and every step of program in sequence. You will now be able to see if any areas are present within the program and confirm that the TMS-Pro unit is travelling to the distances or target loads you require.

If you have selected a Pause command within the program sequence you will need to ‘Click’ Resume on the actual test screen to move to the next step

Select single step option to view every line of program as test commences

Values for each variable created will be given. Check they are what you think they should be

Some typical settings you may wish to change include:

Use higher forces to overcome surface noise and obtain good contact between sample and test probe

TRIGGER FORCE

Use higher forces with high capacity load cells

TEST SPEED Slow speeds to capture all changes during testing Fast speeds to cause massive fracture during snap

testing

RETURN SPEED Same as compression (down stroke) if want to compare energy input to that returned

Target Load Target Distance % Deformation – design program to measure each sample and travel to a percentage of starting height

UNIT OF TRAVEL

% Break

Return probe distance to ensure break between probe and sample interface

ADHESIVE PROPERTIES

Speed of travel to break contact

CHARACTERISTICS Key characteristics and events between sample overlays

• Use Library tests • Use ‘Texture Solution’ application notes • Use academic references

The most important thing to remember when designing test sequences is to remain critical and focussed on the properties of the sample you are testing and the characteristics you wish to determine – we don’t snap a yogurt or measure the springiness of butter!

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t +1 703 444 1870f +1 703 444 9860

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