Equipment & Infrastructure



Tribology & roughness

OCAS is equipped to assess both the short and long term tribological performance of a tool material – lubricant – sheet material combination.  We furthermore have expertise in 2D and 3D surface roughness measurements. The combination of 3D roughness measurements with tribology assessment provides a unique added value. 

Multifunction tribometer

This device can be used to carry out scratch tests to study wear mechanisms. Moverover, oscillating movements in combination with independant XY-motion can create an almost unlimited amount of custom movement patterns. In combination with a wide range of loads and selection of the counterbody, friction situations using lower forces or complex motions can be simulated. 

In fact, the device can be used for many specific tests, some examples can be found on the dedicated equipment page

Flat die simulator

The sample is pulled between two clamping dies with a load up to 25 kN. Traction and normal forces are measured, allowing to calculate the mean friction coefficient. Flexible programming of load/distance/speed and the selection of counterbodies allow to simulate friction situations from heavy industry.

Translatory oscillation test

By imposing a horizontal movement and a vertical load on the upper test specimen, while the lower specimen is fixed on a table,  the long-term tribological performance is assessed as well as the friction force. The frequency of the oscillating movement is adjustable to perform experiments at a given speed for controlled operating temperatures between 20 and 280°C. This test allows to compare and assess coatings and/or lubricants according to DIN 51834 or using customised parameters.

Surface roughness

OCAS can measure 2D surface roughness parameters according to ISO 4287, using stylus or contact-free by means of Coherence Correlation Interferometry (CCI). In addition, 3D surface roughness amplitude parameters Sa, Sz; functional parameters such as Sk, Spk as well as volume parameters Vmp, Vmc, etc. can be determined. The highly accurate 3D mapping of the surface can be used to examine friction surfaces and measure volume loss as well.