Research Lab

My research lab is called the HB Materials Research Lab (HBMRL) and it is part of the NASA MIRO Center for Space Exploration Technology Research (cSETR) at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). It is currently located inside the Challenger-Columbia Structures & Materials Lab, located in Room E211 of the UTEP Engineering Building.

Equipment:

Instron 8801 Servohydraulic Fatigue Testing System

The 8801 servohydraulic testing system can perform Tension, Flexural, Compression, Compression After Impact, Three high- and low-cycle fatigue and thermomechanical fatigue testing.

Capabilities:

  • ±100kN Load Cell

CEAST 9340 Droptower Impact System

The CEAST 9340 is suitable for a range of impact applications including tensile impact, penetration tests on plates and films, Izod, and Charpy tests.

Capabilities:

  • Energy Range: 0.30 - 405 J (0.22 - 299 ft-lb)

  • Impact Speed: 0.77 - 4.65 m/s (2.53 - 15.3 ft/s)

  • Drop Height: 0.03 - 1.10 m (1.18 - 43.3 in)

  • Drop Weight: 1.00 - 37.5 kg (2.20 - 82.7 lbs)

Integrated environmental chamber can cool specimens to -70°C (-94°F) or heat specimens to +150°C (302°F).

Genesis Compression Press

The Genesis Compression Press can be used for compression molding of rubber, plastics, composites and laminating.

Capabilities:

  • Adjustable clamp force: up to 30 tons

  • Platen size: 12” x 12”

  • Closing speed: 70-90 IPM

  • Pressing speed: 5 IPM

  • Heated platens temperature: 350 °C

  • Water cooled platens

  • Digital PID temperature controllers

  • Programmable controller with access module

Forced Air Oven

The forced air oven is a large capacity forced air drying oven for composites manufacturing.

Capabilities:

  • Capacity: 10 ft3 (283 liters)

  • Temperature range: 15 °C to 306 °C

  • Programmable Watlow ramp and soak controller

  • Adjustable shelves

Wazer Water Jet Cutter

This waterjet cutter can cut carbon fiber, stainless steel, marble, boro glass, HDPE and Silicone.

Capabilities:

  • Cutting area: 12” x 18”

  • Maximum Linear speed: 75 IPM (1905 mm/min)

Microscope

2X-225X Trinocular Stereo Zoom Microscope

Capabilities:

  • Head: 45-degree inclined 360-degree swiveling trinocular

  • Eyepiece: 30mm extreme widefield

  • Barlow Lens: 0.3X and 2.0X extreme widefield

  • Objective Zoom Range: 0.2-22.5X

  • Zoom Ratio: 112.5 : 1

  • Working Distance: 14" (350mm)

  • Field of View: 5-3/4" (145mm)

  • Diopter Adjustment: +/- 5dp

  • Interpupillary Distance: 2-3/16" - 2-15/16"(55-75mm)

Form 3 stereolithography (SLA) printer

This 3D printer has advanced low force Stereolithography, which consist a flexible tank and scalable light processing unit (LPU) to reduce the forces exerted on parts during the print process.

Capabilities:

  • XY resolution: 25 µm

  • Laser Power: 250 mW

  • Laser Spot size: 85 µm

  • Layer thickness: 25-300 µm

  • Build volume: 14.5 x 14.5 x 18.5 cm

  • Form Wash + Form Cure