FFT-1 Fretting Tester

The FFT-1 is a high-performance fretting wear tester developed by Rtec Instruments, designed to simulate and analyse surface damage resulting from fretting—a phenomenon where two contacting surfaces experience oscillatory motion under load. This tester is particularly valuable for assessing two-body abrasion, adhesion, and fretting fatigue wear in various materials. The FFT-1 offers a controlled stroke range from 10 microns to 2.8 mm and operates at frequencies between 1 Hz and 300 Hz, providing a wide range for simulating diverse real-world conditions. Equipped with a single high-power coil, the tester can apply a down force of up to 3000 N, making it suitable for testing materials under significant stress. It utilizes an electromagnetic voice coil actuator to impart linear reciprocating motion and features high-resolution piezo sensors for real-time friction measurement, ensuring precise and accurate data collection. The system is compatible with environmental control chambers, enabling testing across a wide temperature range—from room temperature up to 350°C. Optional chambers can extend this range from -40°C to 800°C, facilitating studies under various thermal conditions. The FFT-1 provides real-time friction and down force data, as well as high-precision stroke control, enabling the measurement of fretting loops and the analysis of wear marks for a comprehensive understanding of material behaviour. It is widely used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, bio-materials, ceramics, lubricants, metals, optics, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors, playing a crucial role in evaluating lubricants, studying material wear resistance, and developing coatings and surface treatments.