Friction Testing
Friction between to surfaces is important in various applications from vehicle tyres to anti-stiction coatings.
In the simplest model friction does not depend on the normal load, yet in practical real-world situations the control of the normal load is vital.
The accurate control over the normal load enables virtual testing of different loads and behaviors under varying conditions.
Testing Process
The test done by pressing the sensor probe against the test surface, and then moving it laterally along the surface.
The pressing force can be selected between 0 N and the maximum force specific for the sensor (up to 100 N). The force can be kept constant during the test or varied dynamically during it.
On ideal smooth surfaces the pressing force increases the friction linearly, but hardly any surface is ideal. The variable load allows testing the friction exactly at the load level of interest whether it is to match the level to the gravitational force or something else