Alternate to Halfords

[PR19_Kit]

Coooer, who were you working for then?

The main systems I worked on were MTS 845, 846 & 847 shock machines and 439 and 495 vibration systems. plus a few one-off specials we built.

[NARSES2]

The main systems I worked on were MTS 845, 846 & 847 shock machines and 439 and 495 vibration systems. plus a few one-off specials we built.

You do realise that terminology has probably meant some "AI" system somewhere has put you on a "watch list" ?   

[Mossie]

Coooer, who were you working for then?

The main systems I worked on were MTS 845, 846 & 847 shock machines and 439 and 495 vibration systems. plus a few one-off specials we built.

Smith & Nephew Woundcare in Hull. My memory of the equipment is a bit vague I'm afraid, I only arranged for work to be done by others and probably only went to the packaging lab once or twice. I remember a drop test machine that basically pitched the package off a platform from a set height, a vibration table and IIRC, more than one machine that administered some kind of crush.

[PR19_Kit]

The main systems I worked on were MTS 845, 846 & 847 shock machines and 439 and 495 vibration systems. plus a few one-off specials we built.

You do realise that terminology has probably meant some "AI" system somewhere has put you on a "watch list" ?   

Do I care? 

Smith & Nephew Woundcare in Hull. My memory of the equipment is a bit vague I'm afraid, I only arranged for work to be done by others and probably only went to the packaging lab once or twice. I remember a drop test machine that basically pitched the package off a platform from a set height, a vibration table and IIRC, more than one machine that administered some kind of crush.

Coooer, yes, they had an 846 drop test system, a 439 vibration system and 407 powered crush table, as well as some stuff from our competitors, Instron. There was some kind of tie-up with De Puy in Leeds who had LOADS of MTS kit and they did some tests for Smith & Nephew under a sub-contract.

Small World, eh?

[Mossie]

Definitely! Our physical testing QA lab had Instron machines too for tensile testing, which I co-opted on occasion for testing packaging seals and adhesive strengths (I worked in R&D). I found them a bit of pain if I remember, something to do the programming, but I found that on a lot of various equipment until well designed windows based software came along.

[zenrat]

You had a machine to drop stuff?
 

[PR19_Kit]

Oh yes, the 'specimen' was lifted to an exact height, as specified by the test regulations, and then the platform would abruptly hinge away underneath it. Not only that, there were LOADS of different mats of various thicknesses and 'bouncability' which were laid on the concrete baseplate underneath to change the impact forces.

Packaging is a very exact science, or they'd like you to believe that anyway. 

However, Rapido Trains in Canada, who I work with now and then, have videos on their site of their 'packaging tests', and the really do sling the packed models down the stairs of their office block!   

[zenrat]

Next time I drop a case of wine at work i'm going to claim I did it to test the packaging...

[NARSES2]

Next time I drop a case of wine at work i'm going to claim I did it to test the packaging...

Kit could probably arrange to get you the correct acreditation if you ask him nicely 

[PR19_Kit]

Next time I drop a case of wine at work i'm going to claim I did it to test the packaging...

Kit could probably arrange to get you the correct acreditation if you ask him nicely 

           Surely, I was our Accredited Calibration Engineer for 10 yrs or more. 

[Mossie]

You had a machine to drop stuff?
 

It's warfare, like the weapon/armour cycle.  The packaging companies development new protection for their products and the postal services find innovative new ways to defeat it...

However, Rapido Trains in Canada, who I work with now and then, have videos on their site of their 'packaging tests', and the really do sling the packed models down the stairs of their office block!   

A very real world test, in fact we'd do stuff like that as a look-see before going down the formal route. If it could survive being chucked in the air or jumped on by a 15 stone guy, it would survive the tests.

When I worked at the University, our porters were very good at this. Speed and convenience was more important than the goods being in one piece.  I had some display boards that needed moving, the guys slid them down the the stairs rather than going the twenty yards to the lift.  As I came around the corner, the board went so far but they hadn't thought about lugs which span the board into the floor and smashed it. It was repaired, but still...

[zenrat]

Next time I drop a case of wine at work i'm going to claim I did it to test the packaging...

Kit could probably arrange to get you the correct acreditation if you ask him nicely 

           Surely, I was our Accredited Calibration Engineer for 10 yrs or more. 

My hands are calibrated.  I can tell if a letter is over 500g (at which point it becomes a small parcel) when I pick it up.

[PR19_Kit]

          

[NARSES2]

My hands are calibrated.  I can tell if a letter is over 500g (at which point it becomes a small parcel) when I pick it up.

Do you have one hand calibrated in metric and the other in Imperial ? I suppose you could use your feet for odd US weight measurements (US Ton/Imperial Ton etc) 

[PR19_Kit]

Getting back to Halfords paint..................... 

In a moment of madness I bought a can of their current 'Grey Primer', which purports to '......have excellent cover and dries quickly.....'. It surely does dry quickly but it's 'excellent cover' is a load of tosh! 

It's somewhat lighter than the old Grey Primer, and it needs three coats where the old stuff would only need one. It's also ludicrously expensive so DON'T BUY IT!