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
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

Maintenance checklist

Daily / each use

  • Clean platens and guard
  • Check for oil leaks at hoses and ram seals
  • Check the spherical seat moves freely and is lightly oiled

Weekly

  • Check hydraulic oil level
  • Check that the zero reading returns to zero after unloading
  • Inspect platen surfaces for dents or wear

Six-monthly

  • Check platen flatness and hardness if specimens show uneven failures
  • Inspect electrical connections and emergency stop
  • Filter or replace hydraulic oil as the manufacturer advises

Annual (or as SOP / accreditation requires)

  • Force verification with a calibrated proving ring or load cell traceable to national standards
  • Check of pace-rate control
  • Service of pump, valves and seals
SAFETY

Safety precautions

Before you work on the CTM
  • Always close the guard before loading; concrete fragments can be ejected at high speed.
  • Wear safety glasses, safety shoes and gloves when handling cubes (a 150 mm cube weighs about 8 kg).
  • Never put hands between the platens while the pump is running.
  • Release hydraulic pressure before adjusting spacers or removing debris.
  • Clean up oil spills at once to avoid slips.
In LimsPulse · Calibration Management

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

See how