LimsPulse
Construction materials testing

Compression Testing Machine (CTM)

A rigid hydraulic press that crushes concrete cubes, cylinders and cement mortar cubes at a controlled loading rate and records the maximum load. The basic instrument of every concrete and cement lab.

  • Construction materials testing
  • Ready-mix concrete plants
  • Cement plants
  • Precast concrete
  • Infrastructure and road projects
  • Academic and research labs
Photo of a Compression Testing Machine (CTM)
Photo: Mohammad Hijjawi, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
CALIBRATION

CTM calibration procedures

Load verification with a proving ring or load cell

Compares the force shown by the CTM with the true force measured by a calibrated proving ring or reference load cell at several points across each range, and classifies the machine.

Open procedure
QUALIFICATION

Instrument qualification (DQ · IQ · OQ · PQ)

  1. 01

    DQ — Design qualification

    Defines capacity (e.g. 2,000 kN), required class (usually Class 1 or better), platen size and hardness, pace-rate control and data output needed for concrete, mortar and masonry testing.

  2. 02

    IQ — Installation qualification

    Confirms the machine is installed level on a suitable foundation, connected to the correct power supply, filled with the specified oil, and supplied with manuals, certificates and serial numbers.

  3. 03

    OQ — Operational qualification

    Verifies force indication against a traceable proving device across the range (IS 1828 Part 1 / ISO 7500-1), checks pace-rate control, platen alignment and break detection.

  4. 04

    PQ — Performance qualification

    Shows consistent results in routine use, for example by testing reference cubes or taking part in inter-laboratory proficiency testing.

In LimsPulse · Calibration Management

Keep every CTM in control: usage logs, calibration and maintenance schedules, and automatic blocking of overdue instruments.

See how