Patent ID: 6840082

Claim:
A test machine to test the wear, wear-preventative and friction characteristics of a power-rotated first test specimen engaging a non-rotated second test specimen, the test machine comprising: a chuck connected for power rotation of the first test specimen about an axis; a holder to hold the second test specimen in a position engageable with the first test specimen; a force actuator connected for positioning the holder along said axis, the actuator being operable to establish a compressive test load between the test specimens; a load sensor connected in the load path that includes the actuator and test specimens to directly measure and provide an output signal indicative of the real-time compressive forces applied thereto during a test; an automated control module connected to the load sensor, the load sensor providing an output signal to the control module indicative of the real-time compressive force applied to the test specimens during the test; and an input reference module connected to supply a reference load signal to the control module, the control module being operably connected to the diaphragm actuator to adjust the compressive test load established therein according the reference load signal and the real-time output signal from the load sensor.