Testing the flexing properties of footwear with Qinsun-lab Flexing Machine

A number of footwear-related tests require materials to be flexed at low temperatures. Qinsun provides a range of machines that incorporate a low temperature cabinet to enable tests to be carried out to determine the suitability of materials when assessed at temperatures below 0ºC.
 

The Cold Fold Tester is applied to the cold fold test based on Chrysler method and designed to measure the resistance to cold cracking of the soft trim materials.To ensure operator safety, Qinsun’s low temperature cabinets have the electrical control and drive systems outside the freezer area where moisture cannot impair electrical safety. The control system incorporates a digital temperature controller that can be set to achieve the desired temperature (from ambient down to -20ºC), plus a counter to indicate the number of flexes carried out. The counter can be preset to stop the drive mechanism when completed.

An important requirement in standards such as EN ISO 2034 is that both metallic and non-metallic inserts incorporated into the soles of safety footwear to prevent nails penetrating through to the foot need to be assessed for flex resistance. The Cold Fold Tester has been updated to incorporate higher-grade pivot point bearings to increase periods between maintenance. STM 441 is a six-station machine and the angle of flex can be adjusted to meet the appropriate standard. A timer is provided to stop the machine once the required number of flexes has been reached in order for the inserts being tested to be inspected. The machine is designed to operate at 16 cycles/second.