MTS Systems Landmark 370 Series Instruction Manual

MTS Landmark® Test System Operation
Using MTS FlexTest® Controller Software and MTS TestSuite® MPX Testing
Software
100-275-889 C

©2015 MTSSystems Corporation. All rights reserved.
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MTS, be certain., Bionix, Echo, ElastomerExpress, Flat-Trac, FlexTest, Just In Case, Landmark, Level
Plus, MTS Acumen, MTS Criterion, MTS Echo, MTS EM Extend, MTS Exceed, MTS Insight, MTS
Landmark, MTS TestSuite, RPC, SWIFT, Temposonics, TestWare, TestWorks are registered
trademarks of MTS Systems Corporation within the United States. Acumen, AdapTrac, Advantage,
Aero ST, Aero-90, AeroPro, Criterion, cRPC, Exceed, First Road, Landmark, MAST, MicroProfiler,
MPT, MTS Exceed, MTS Fundamentals, MTS TestSuite, ReNew, SilentFlo, TempoGuard, TestLine,
Tytron, Virtual Test Lab, and VTL are trademarks of MTS Systems Corporation within the United
States. These trademarks may be registered in other countries.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
Proprietary Software
Software use and license is governed by MTS’ End User License Agreement which defines all rights
retained by MTS and granted to the End User. All Software is proprietary, confidential, and owned by
MTS Systems Corporation and cannot be copied, reproduced, disassembled, decompiled, reverse
engineered, or distributed without express written consent of MTS.
Software Verification and Validation
MTS software is developed using established quality practices in accordance with the requirements
detailed in the ISO 9001 standards. Because MTS-authored software is delivered in binary format, it is
not user accessible. This software will not change over time. Many releases are written to be backwards
compatible, creating another form of verification. The status and validity of MTS’ operating software is
also checked during system verification and routine calibration of MTS hardware. These controlled
calibration processes compare the final test results after statistical analysis against the predicted
response of the calibration standards. With these established methods, MTS assures its customers that
MTS products meet MTS’ exacting quality standards when initially installed and will continue to perform
as intended over time.
Manual Part
Number
Publication
Date Release
100-275-889 C
(English)
January 2015 MTS TestSuite Multipurpose 3.0 or later / 793 Controller
Software 5.8 or later
100-275-889 B
(English)
March 2014 MTS TestSuite Multipurpose 2.6 or later / 793 Controller
Software 5.7 or later
100-275-889 A
(English)
August 2013 MTS TestSuite Multipurpose 2.6 or later / 793 Controller
Software 5.7 or later

Landmark™ Test System Operation 3
Technical Support 7
How to Get Technical Support 7
Start with your manuals 7
Technical support methods 7
Outside the U.S. 7
Before You Contact MTS 7
Know your site number and system number 7
Know information from prior technical assistance 8
Identify the problem 8
Know relevant computer information 8
Know relevant software information 8
If You Contact MTS by Phone 9
Identify system type 9
Be prepared to troubleshoot 9
Write down relevant information 9
After you call 10
Problem Submittal Form 10
Preface 11
Before You Begin 11
Safety first! 11
Documentation Conventions 11
Hazard conventions 11
Other special text conventions 12
Special terms 12
Illustrations 12
Electronic manual conventions 12
Hypertext links 12
Safety 13
General Safety Practices 14
Safety Practices Before Operating the System 14
Safety Practices While Operating the System 19
Load Unit Hazard Labels 21
System Introduction 25
About This Manual 26
About Other MTS Documentation 26
Contents

4Landmark™ Test System Operation
Hardware Manuals 26
Software Help 26
Documentation Access on MTS.com 26
System Overview 27
Load Frame Overview 28
Introduction 28
Component Identification 28
Load Frame Controls Overview 29
Control Panel 29
Software Overview 31
MTS FlexTest (Series 793) Controller Software - Station Manager Application 31
MTS TestSuite Test Software - MTS Multipurpose (MP) Express Application 36
Key Concepts 41
About This Chapter 42
Understanding Your MTS Software 42
MTS FlexTest Controller Software and the Station Manager Application 42
MTS TestSuite Test Software and the MTS TW Express application 43
Understanding MTS File Types 44
File Types 44
Creating and Modifying Parameter Sets 46
Selecting and Saving Parameter Sets 47
How MTS Files Work Together 47
Understanding the Control Loop 48
Closed Loop Control Step-by-Step 48
Understanding Control Channels and Control Modes 50
Control Channel (For example, Actuator) 50
Control Modes (For example, Force or Displacement) 50
Using Control Modes 50
Control Mode Example 50
Using Detectors and Actions to Protect Yourself and Your Equipment 50
Sensor Limits 51
Detector Actions 51
Setting Limits Before Specimen Installation 51
Setting Limits Before Testing 51
Using the E-Stop Control 51
Understanding the Load Train 51
Positioning the Crosshead to Install the Specimen 52
Contents

Landmark™ Test System Operation 5
Positioning the Actuator to Install the Specimen 53
Optimizing System Response Before Testing 53
Why Tuning Is Beneficial 53
Loop Tuning for the Example Test 53
Understanding and Resolving Error Conditions 53
Using Application Logs to Identify Error Conditions 54
Running the Example HCF Test 55
About This Chapter 56
Adapting This Chapter to Your System 56
Test Procedure Overview 56
Prepare for Specimen Installation 57
Turn on the Station 58
Open the Station Manager Application 58
Verify Calibration Files 60
Set Up Meters for Specimen Installation 61
Set Limits for Specimen Installation 64
Zero the Force Signal 66
Set Initial Tuning Parameters 67
Install the Specimen 70
Power up the Pump and HPU 70
Position the Actuator Using Displacement Control 71
Zero Displacement 73
Clamp the Specimen in the Lower Grip 74
Position the Crosshead 76
Move the Specimen into the Upper Grip Using Displacement Control 76
Switch to Force Control 77
Clamp the Specimen in the Upper Grip 77
Check and Reset Meter History 78
Prepare to Run the Test 79
Perform Basic Performance Tuning 79
Switch to Peak Valley Meters 88
Adjust Limits for the Test 90
Show Station Manager Scope and Meters for the Test 91
Minimize Station Manager 92
Run the Example HCF Test 93
Open the MPX Application 94
Select the Test 94
If Necessary, Correct Any Resource Errors 95
Create a New Test Run 95
Contents

6Landmark™ Test System Operation
Run the Test 97
Review the Results 98
Generate a Report 99
Save the Test and Minimize MPX 100
Remove the Specimen 100
Remove Displacement Limits 101
Switch to Running Max/Min Displacement and Force Meters 101
If Appropriate, Remove the Intact Specimen 102
If Appropriate, Remove the Broken Specimen 105
Recover from a Tripped Limit 106
If Necessary, Recover from a Tripped Force Limit 107
If Necessary, Recover from a Tripped Displacement Limit 110
Maintenance 115
Routine Maintenance Overview Checklist 116
Maintenance Intervals 119
Daily Inspections 120
Decommissioning 123
Decommission 124
Index 127
Contents

Technical Support
Landmark™ Test System Operation 7
Technical Support
How to Get Technical Support
Start with your manuals
The manuals supplied by MTS provide most of the information you need to use and maintain your
equipment. If your equipment includes software, look for online help and README files that contain
additional product information.
Technical support methods
MTS provides a full range of support services after your system is installed. If you have any questions
about a system or product, contact Technical Support in one of the following ways.
Type of
Support Details
Web site www.mts.com > Contact Us > In the Subject field, choose To escalate a problem;
Problem Submittal Form
E-mail Worldwide: [e-mail]
Europe: [e-mail]
Telephone Worldwide: 1 800 328 2255 - toll free in U.S.; [phone] - outside U.S.
Europe: [phone], International toll free in Europe
Outside the U.S.
For technical support outside the United States, contact your local sales and service office. For a list of
worldwide sales and service locations and contact information, use the Global MTS link at the MTS
web site:
www.mts.com > About MTSSystems >Global Presence >Choose a Region
Before You Contact MTS
MTS can help you more efficiently if you have the following information available when you contact us
for support.
Know your site number and system number
The site number contains your company number and identifies your equipment type (such as material
testing or simulation). The number is typically written on a label on your equipment before the system
leaves MTS. If you do not know your MTS site number, contact your sales engineer.
Example site number: 571167

Technical Support
8Landmark™ Test System Operation
When you have more than one MTS system, the system job number identifies your system. You can
find your job number in your order paperwork.
Example system number: US1.42460
Know information from prior technical assistance
If you have contacted MTS about this problem before, we can recall your file based on the:
lMTS case number
lName of the person who helped you
Identify the problem
Describe the problem and know the answers to the following questions:
lHow long and how often has the problem occurred?
lCan you reproduce the problem?
lWere any hardware or software changes made to the system before the problem started?
lWhat are the equipment model numbers?
lWhat is the controller model (if applicable)?
lWhat is the system configuration?
Know relevant computer information
For a computer problem, have the following information available:
lManufacturer’s name and model number
lOperating software type and service patch information
lAmount of system memory
lAmount of free space on the hard drive where the application resides
lCurrent status of hard-drive fragmentation
lConnection status to a corporate network
Know relevant software information
For software application problems, have the following information available:
lThe software application’s name, version number, build number, and (if available) software
patch number. This information can typically be found in the About selection in the Help menu.
lThe names of other applications on your computer, such as:
lAnti-virus software
lScreen savers
lKeyboard enhancers
lPrint spoolers
lMessaging applications

Technical Support
Landmark™ Test System Operation 9
If You Contact MTS by Phone
A Call Center agent registers your call before connecting you with a technical support specialist. The
agent asks you for your:
lSite number
lEmail address
lName
lCompany name
lCompany address
lPhone number where you can be reached
If your issue has a case number, please provide that number. A new issue will be assigned a unique
case number.
Identify system type
To enable the Call Center agent to connect you with the most qualified technical support specialist
available, identify your system as one of the following types:
lElectrodynamic material test system
lElectromechanical material test system
lHydromechanical material test system
lVehicle test system
lVehicle component test system
lAero test system
Be prepared to troubleshoot
Prepare to perform troubleshooting while on the phone:
lCall from a telephone close to the system so that you can implement suggestions made over
the phone.
lHave the original operating and application software media available.
lIf you are not familiar with all aspects of the equipment operation, have an experienced user
nearby to assist you.
Write down relevant information
In case Technical Support must call you:
lVerify the case number.
lRecord the name of the person who helped you.
lWrite down any specific instructions.

Technical Support
10 Landmark™ Test System Operation
After you call
MTS logs and tracks all calls to ensure that you receive assistance for your problem or request. If you
have questions about the status of your problem or have additional information to report, please
contact Technical Support again and provide your original case number.
Problem Submittal Form
Use the Problem Submittal Form to communicate problems with your software, hardware, manuals, or
service that are not resolved to your satisfaction through the technical support process. The form
includes check boxes that allow you to indicate the urgency of your problem and your expectation of an
acceptable response time. We guarantee a timely response—your feedback is important to us.
You can access the Problem Submittal Form at www.mts.com > Contact Us (upper-right corner) > In
the Subject field, choose To escalate a problem; Problem Submittal Form

Preface
Landmark™ Test System Operation 11
Preface
Before You Begin
Safety first!
Before you use your MTS product or system, read and understand the safety information provided with
your system. Improper installation, operation, or maintenance can result in hazardous conditions that
can cause severe personal injury or death, or damage to your equipment and specimen. Again, read
and understand the safety information provided with your system before you continue. It is very
important that you remain aware of hazards that apply to your system.
Documentation Conventions
The following paragraphs describe some of the conventions that are used in your MTS manuals.
Hazard conventions
Hazard notices may be embedded in this manual. These notices contain safety information that is
specific to the activity to be performed. Hazard notices immediately precede the step or procedure that
may lead to an associated hazard. Read all hazard notices carefully and follow all directions and
recommendations. Three different levels of hazard notices may appear in your manuals. Following are
examples of all three levels. (for general safety information, see the safety information provided with
your system.)
Danger: Danger notices indicate the presence of a hazard with a high level of risk which, if
ignored, will result in death, severe personal injury, or substantial property damage.
Warning: Warning notices indicate the presence of a hazard with a medium level of risk
which, if ignored, can result in death, severe personal injury, or substantial property damage.
Caution: Caution notices indicate the presence of a hazard with a low level of risk which, if
ignored, could cause moderate or minor personal injury or equipment damage, or could
endanger test integrity.

Preface
12 Landmark™ Test System Operation
Other special text conventions
Important:
Important notices provide information about your system that is essential to its proper function.
While not safety-related, if the important information is ignored, test results may not be reliable,
or your system may not operate properly.
Note:
Notes provide additional information about operating your system or highlight easily
overlooked information.
Recommended:
Recommended notes provide a suggested way to accomplish a task based on what MTS has
found to be most effective.
Tip:
Tips provide helpful information or a hint about how to most efficiently accomplish a task.
Access:
Access provides the route you should follow to a referenced item in the software.
Example: Examples show specific scenarios relating to your product and appear with a shaded
background.
Special terms
The first occurrence of special terms is shown in italics.
Illustrations
Illustrations appear in this manual to clarify text. They are examples only and do not necessarily
represent your actual system configuration, test application, or software.
Electronic manual conventions
This manual is available as an electronic document in the Portable Document File (PDF) format. It can
be viewed on any computer that has Adobe Acrobat Reader installed.
Hypertext links
The electronic document has many hypertext links displayed in a blue font. All blue words in the body
text, along with all contents entries and index page numbers, are hypertext links. When you click a
hypertext link, the application jumps to the corresponding topic.

Safety
Landmark™ Test System Operation 13
Safety
General Safety Practices 14
Safety Practices Before Operating the System 14
Safety Practices While Operating the System 19
Load Unit Hazard Labels 21

Safety
14 Landmark™ Test System Operation
General Safety Practices
If you have system related responsibilities (that is, if you are an operator, service engineer, or
maintenance person), you should study this manual carefully before you attempt to perform any test
system procedure.
You should receive training on this system or a similar system to ensure a thorough knowledge of your
equipment and the safety issues that are associated with its use. In addition, you should gain an
understanding of system functions by studying the other manuals supplied with your test system.
Contact MTS for information about the content and dates of training classes that are offered.
It is very important that you study the following safety information to ensure that your facility procedures
and the system’s operating environment do not contribute to or result in a hazardous situation.
Remember, you cannot eliminate all the hazards associated with this system, so you must learn and
remain aware of the hazards that apply to your system at all times. Use these safety guidelines to help
learn and identify hazards so that you can establish appropriate training and operating procedures and
acquire appropriate safety equipment (such as gloves, goggles, and hearing protection).
Each test system operates within a unique environment which includes the following known variables:
lFacility variables (facility variables include the structure, atmosphere, and utilities)
lUnauthorized customer modifications to the equipment
lOperator experience and specialization
lTest specimens
Because of these variables (and the possibility of others), your system can operate under unforeseen
circumstances that can result in an operating environment with unknown hazards.
Improper installation, operation, or maintenance of your system can result in hazardous conditions that
can cause death, personal injury, or damage to the equipment or to the specimen. Common sense and
a thorough knowledge of the system’s operating capabilities can help to determine an appropriate and
safe approach to its operation.
Observe the prescribed safety practices before and during system operation.
It is the customer's responsibility to take the machine out of service and contact MTS Service if
discrepancies in system operation are found.
Safety Practices Before Operating the System
Before you apply power to the test system, review and complete all of the safety practices that are
applicable to your system. The goal, by doing this, is to improve the safety awareness of all personnel
involved with the system and to maintain, through visual inspections, the integrity of specific system
components.

Safety
Landmark™ Test System Operation 15
Read all manuals
Study the contents of this manual and the other manuals provided with your system before attempting
to perform any system function for the first time. Procedures that seem relatively simple or intuitively
obvious can require a complete understanding of system operation to avoid unsafe or dangerous
situations.
Locate lockout/tagout points
Know where the lockout/tagout point is for each of the supply energies associated with your system.
This includes the hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, and water supplies (as appropriate) for your system to
ensure that the system is isolated from these energies when required.
Know facility safe procedures
Most facilities have internal procedures and rules regarding safe practices within the facility. Be aware
of these safe practices and incorporate them into your daily operation of the system.
Locate Emergency Stop buttons
Know the location of all the system Emergency Stop buttons so that you can stop the system quickly in
an emergency. Ensure that an Emergency Stop button is located within close proximity of the operator
at all times.
Know controls
Before you operate the system for the first time, make a trial run through the operating procedures with
the power off. Locate all hardware and software controls and know what their functions are and what
adjustments they require. If any control function or operating adjustment is not clear, review the
applicable information until you understand it thoroughly.
Have first aid available
Accidents can happen even when you are careful. Arrange your operator schedules so that a properly
trained person is always close by to render first aid. In addition, ensure that local emergency contact
information is posted clearly and in sight of the system operator.
Know potential crush and pinch points
Be aware of potential crush and pinch points on your system and keep personnel and equipment clear
of these areas.
An important consideration for servohydraulic systems is that when power is interrupted, it is likely that
stored accumulator pressure will persist for some time within the system. In addition, it is likely that as
stored energy dissipates, gravity will cause portions of the system to move.
Be aware of component movement with hydraulics off
For hydraulic systems, be aware that mechanical assemblies can shift or drift due to changes within
hydraulic hardware when hydraulics are turned off. This non-commanded movement is because oil
can transfer between the pressure and return ports and across internal components of the hydraulic
hardware. Be aware that this can happen, and clear the area around the mechanical assemblies when
hydraulics are turned off.

Safety
16 Landmark™ Test System Operation
Know electrical hazards
When the system electrical power is turned on, minimize the potential for electrical shock hazards.
Wear clothing and use tools that are properly insulated for electrical work. Avoid contact with exposed
wiring or switch contacts.
Whenever possible, turn off electrical power when you work on or in proximity to any electrical system
component. Observe the same precautions as those given for any other high-voltage machinery.
Make sure that all electrical components are adequately grounded. Grounds must remain connected
and undisturbed at all times.
Ensure correct cable connection
If a system cable has been disconnected, ensure that you establish the correct cable-to-connector
relationship during reconnection. Incorrect cable connections can result in improper servo loop
phasing or an open servo loop condition, either of which can cause unstable or unexpected and
potentially dangerous system motions. Verify the correct cable-to-connector relationship by observing
the cable and connector labeling and the system wiring schematics.
Keep bystanders safely away
Keep bystanders at a safe distance from all equipment. Never allow bystanders to be in close proximity
of specimens or equipment while the test is running.
Wear proper clothing
Do not wear neckties, shop aprons, loose clothing or jewelry, or long hair that could get caught in
equipment and result in an injury. Remove loose clothing or jewelry and restrain long hair.
Remove flammable fluids
Remove flammable fluids from their containers or from components before you install the container or
component. If desired, you can replace the flammable fluid with a non-flammable fluid to maintain the
proper proportion of weight and balance.
Know compressed gas hazards
Your system may contain accumulators that require a high-pressure gas precharge (pressures that
exceed 138 bar [2000 psi]). High-pressure devices are potentially dangerous because a great amount
of energy is available in the event of an uncontrolled expansion or rupture.
Observe the following safety practices when you work with high-pressure air or gases:
lWhen you charge an accumulator, follow all the charging instructions provided in the
appropriate product information manuals. When precharging accumulators, properly identify
the type of gas to be used and the type of accumulator to be precharged.
lUse only dry-pumped nitrogen to precharge nitrogen-charged accumulators. (Dry-pumped
nitrogen can also be labeled “oil pumped” or “dry water pumped.”) Do not use compressed air
or oxygen for precharging: the temperature increase caused by rapid gas compression can
result in highly explosive conditions when hydraulic fluid is in the presence of oxygen or
compressed air.
lAlways follow the recommended bleeding procedures before you remove or disassemble

Safety
Landmark™ Test System Operation 17
components that contain pressurized gas. When you bleed a gas or remove a fitting, hose, or
component that contains a gas, remember that many gases cannot support life. Therefore, as
the ratio of released gas to oxygen increases, so does the potential for suffocation.
lWear appropriate safety devices to protect your hearing. Escaping air or gas can create a
noise level that can damage your hearing.
lEnsure that all pressurized air or gas is bled out of a pneumatic or gas-charged device before
you start to disassemble it. A thorough understanding of the assembly and its pressurized
areas is necessary before you undertake any maintenance. Refer to the appropriate product
information for the correct bleeding procedure.
It may not be obvious or intuitive which bolts or fittings are used to restrain a pressurized area.
On some assemblies, you must remove a cover plate to gain access to the structural bolts.
Sometimes, to protect you from a rapid release of trapped gases, a small port is exposed
when you remove this cover plate. Exposing this port ensures that the gas precharge is fully
bled before disassembly. However, this is not the recommended procedure for bleeding a
pneumatic or gas-charged device, because it can expose you to the dangers of escaping
compressed gas and particulates that are expelled from the chamber or around the seals. Do
not assume that cover plates and ports are installed in all the critical locations.
Consult MTS when in doubt about the safety or reliability of any system-related procedure or
modification that involves devices that contain any type of compressed gas.
Check bolt ratings and torques
To ensure a reliable product, fasteners (such as bolts and tie rods) used in MTS-manufactured
systems are torqued to specific requirements. If a fastener is loosened or the configuration of a
component within the system is modified, see the system and component assembly drawings (located
on the System Documentation CD) to determine the correct fastener, fastener rating, and torque. Over
torquing or under torquing a fastener can create a hazardous situation due to the high forces and
pressures present in MTS test systems.
On rare occasions, a fastener can fail even when it is correctly installed. Failure usually occurs during
torquing, but it can occur several days later. Failure of a fastener can result in a high velocity projectile.
Therefore, it is a good practice to avoid stationing personnel in line with or below assemblies that
contain large or long fasteners.
Practice good housekeeping
Keep the floors in the work area clean. Industrial chemicals, such as hydraulic fluid, that are spilled on
any type of floor can result in a dangerous, slippery surface. Do not leave tools, fixtures, or other items
not specific to the test lying about on the floor, system, or decking.
Protect hoses and cables
Protect electrical cables from spilled fluids and from excessive temperatures that can cause the cables
to harden and eventually fail. Ensure that all cables have appropriate strain relief devices installed at
the cable and near the connector plug. Do not use the connector plug as a strain relief.

Safety
18 Landmark™ Test System Operation
Protect all system hoses and cables from sharp or abrasive objects that can cause the hose or cable to
fail. Use a cable cover or cable tray where cables are in traffic locations. Never walk on hoses or cables
or move heavy objects over them. Route hoses and cables away from areas that expose them to
possible damage.
Provide proper hydraulic fluid filtration
For hydraulic systems equipped with a non-MTS hydraulic power unit, make sure that hydraulic fluid
filtration is established to maintain fluid cleanliness standards as stated in the Hydraulic Fluid Care
Manual (see the System Documentation CD). Particles present in the hydraulic fluid can cause erratic
or poor system response.
Protect accumulators from moving objects
For systems equipped with accumulators, protect accumulators with supports or guards. Do not strike
accumulators with moving objects. This could cause the accumulator(s) to separate from the manifold
resulting in equipment damage and personal injury.
Record changes
If you change any operating procedure, write the change and the date of the change in the appropriate
manual.
Provide test area guards
Use protective guards such as cages, enclosures, and special laboratory layouts when you work with
hazardous test specimens (for example, brittle or fragmenting materials or materials that are internally
pressurized).
Do not exceed the Maximum Supply Pressure
For hydraulic systems and components, make sure that hydraulic supply pressure is limited to the
maximum pressure defined by the system operating limits. Read and review “System Operating
Limits” for the system.
Do not disable safety devices
Your system may have active or passive safety devices installed to prevent system operation if the
device indicates an unsafe condition. Do not disable such devices as it may result in unexpected
system motion.
Use appropriately sized fuses
Whenever you replace fuses for the system or supply, ensure that you use a fuse that is appropriately
sized and correctly installed. Undersized or oversized fuses can result in cables that overheat and
fuses that explode. Either instance creates a fire hazard.
Provide adequate lighting
Ensure adequate lighting to minimize the chance of operation errors, equipment damage, and
personal injury.

Safety
Landmark™ Test System Operation 19
Provide adequate ventilation
Make sure work and maintenance areas are adequately ventilated to minimize the risks associated
with the collection of hazardous fumes (such as vaporized hydraulic fluid). This is of special concern in
confined areas where hydraulic equipment is operating at high pressure in confined areas.
Provide means to access out-of-reach components
Make sure you can access system components that might be out of reach while standing on the floor.
For example, ladders or scaffolding might be required to reach load cell connectors on tall load units.
Safety Practices While Operating the System
Wear appropriate personal protection
Wear eye protection when you work with high-pressure hydraulic fluid, high-pressure air pressure,
breakable specimens, or when anything characteristic to the specimen could break apart.
Wear ear protection when you work near electric motors, pumps, or other devices that generate high
noise levels. This system may create sound pressure levels that exceed 70 dbA during operation.
Wear appropriate protection (gloves, boots, suits, respirators) whenever you work with fluids,
chemicals, or powders that may irritate or harm the skin, respiratory system, or eyes.
Provide test area enclosures
Use protective enclosures such as cages or shields, and special laboratory layouts when you work with
hazardous test specimens (for example, brittle or fragmenting materials or materials that are internally
pressurized).
You must evaluate risks due to ejected parts or materials from the test specimens. If the MTS Test
Area Enclosure option is not purchased by the customer, then for protection against ejected parts or
materials from test specimens and to control access to the machinery, the Customer must provide a
Test Area Enclosure to protect personnel.
Specimen temperature changes
During cyclic testing, the specimen temperature can become hot enough to cause burns. Wear
personal protection equipment (gloves) when handling specimens.
Handle chemicals safely
Whenever you use or handle chemicals (for example, hydraulic fluid, batteries, contaminated parts,
electrical fluids, and maintenance waste), see the appropriate MSDS documentation for that material
and determine the appropriate measures and equipment required to handle and use the chemical
safely. Ensure that the chemical is disposed of appropriately.
Know system interlocks
Interlock devices should always be used and properly adjusted. Interlock devices are designed to
minimize the chance of accidental damage to the test specimen or the equipment. Test all interlock
devices for proper operation immediately before a test. Do not disable or bypass any interlock devices
as doing so could allow hydraulic pressure to be applied regardless of the true interlock condition. The

Safety
20 Landmark™ Test System Operation
Reset/Override button is a software function that can be used to temporarily override an interlock while
attempting to gain control of the system.
Know system limits
Never rely on system limits such as mechanical limits or software limits to protect you or any personnel.
System limits are designed to minimize the chance of accidental damage to test specimens or to
equipment. Test all limits for proper operation immediately before a test. Always use these limits and
adjust them properly.
Do not disturb sensors
Do not bump, wiggle, adjust, disconnect, or otherwise disturb a sensor (such as an accelerometer or
extensometer) or its connecting cable when hydraulic pressure is applied.
Ensure secure cables
Ensure that all cable connections (electrical supply, control, feedback, sensor, communications, and so
forth) are either locking type, or are secured, to ensure that they cannot be disconnected by a simple
act. Do not change any cable connections when electrical power or hydraulic pressure is applied. If you
attempt to change a cable connection while the system is in operation, an open control loop condition
can result. An open control loop condition can cause a rapid, unexpected system response which can
result in severe personal injury, death, or damage to equipment. Also, ensure that all cables are
connected after you make any changes in the system configuration.
Stay alert
Avoid long periods of work without adequate rest. In addition, avoid long periods of repetitious,
unvarying, or monotonous work because these conditions can contribute to accidents and hazardous
situations. If you are too familiar with the work environment, it is easy to overlook potential hazards that
exist in that environment.
Contain small leaks
Do not use your fingers or hands to stop small leaks in hydraulic or pneumatic hoses. Substantial
pressures can build up, especially if the hole is small. These high pressures may cause the oil or gas to
penetrate your skin, causing painful and dangerously infected wounds. Turn off the hydraulic supply
and allow the hydraulic pressure to dissipate before you remove and replace the hose or any
pressurized component.
Stay clear of moving equipment/avoid crush points
Stay clear of mechanical linkages, connecting cables, and hoses that move because you may get
pinched, crushed, tangled, or dragged along with the equipment. High forces generated by the system
can pinch, cut, or crush anything in the path of the equipment and cause serious injury. Stay clear of
any potential crush points. Most test systems can produce sudden, high-force motion. Never assume
that your reactions are fast enough to allow you to escape injury when a system fails.
Know the causes of unexpected actuator motions
The high force and velocity capabilities of MTS actuators can be destructive and dangerous (especially
if actuator motion is unexpected). The most likely causes of unexpected actuator response are
operator error and equipment failure due to damage or abuse (such as broken, cut, or crushed cables