WHY
Some parts in mechanical high quality watches (like Swiss...) perform a slow motion that consists of an increase of contact pressure during some time (a day, for instance) and then a quick release and impact.
They're called cliquet systems, or ratchets, like the ones that drive the day indicator.
HOW
To simulate this particular motion with a simple lab tribometer, we invented a sloped specimen that rotates under a spring loaded countermaterial. We can run this motion on our Basalt-M rotational tribometer.
By the slope of the specimen, we control the increase of pressure, or load. By the rotation speed, we control the frequency of loading and unloading/impacting.
These tests can be done on any material, with or without coatings and or lubrication, and evaluate the friction during loading, and the impact damage.
RESULTS
- Periodic load (pressure) increase over upward slope. Effect of coatings and lubrication on friction and anti-wear
- Periodic impact on downward valley. Effect of coatings and lubrication on anti-wear under impact
- The testing parameters can be fined tuned to simulate the actual component conditions.
- Comparison between different lubricants, materials and coatings is possible due to the precision of the sensors.