Food Technology Corporation

Food Technology Fixtures and Probes

Probes and fixtures are what we use to
manipulate the forces created during our texture
measurements. We provide you with a texture
analyzer and then our team of Application
Engineers will tailor the fixtures offered to meet
your specific test requirements. All FTC fixtures
are compatible with our competitors products
and remember if you do not see what you want
just ask us if we can make it!

Our fixtures and probes are divided into 10 sections to make finding the right product for you quick and easy.These are Loads Cells, Auxiliary, Extrusion, Bulk Analysis, Penetration,Shearing, Compression, Breaking and Tension.

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Load Cells

A range of 13 intelligent load cells that compliment the TMS texture systems.

TMS Pro Load Cells

• TMS-Pro Light Duty ILC Load Cells;
  2 - 500N Range
• TMS-Pro Heavy Duty ILC ‘S’ Beam;
  100 - 2500N Range

TMS Console Load Cells

• TMS-Console Light Duty XLC Load Cells;
  2 - 500N Range
• TMS-Console Heavy Duty XLC‘S’ Beam;
  100 - 2500N Range

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Auxiliary

FTC auxiliary products are designed to make tests easier and quicker to set-up and enable greater accuracy from testing. The use of these accessories provides a consistent presentation of samples for texture test measurement, minimizing movement and allowing reproducible set-up of samples time after time.

• TMS Standard Fixture Table
• TMS Small Sample Holder
• TMS Mini Sample Vice (& 3-Pt Bend)
• TMS Container Grips
• TMS Spherical Sample Holder
• FTC Large Scale Accessory Table

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Extrusion

Extrusion testing is useful to test products that flow, food is compressed until it extrudes through either a small hole in the bottom of the cell or around a plunger (back extrusion).

• FTC Universal Cell
• TMS Dual Extrusion Cell
• TMS Extrusion Platen Set

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Bulk Analysis

Used to measure individual pieces as a larger whole sample instead of measuring one at a time, many more are done at once. Not only is this faster, the results also tend to be more consistent.

• FTC Standard Shear Compression Cell
• FTC Thin Blade Compression Cell
• TMS Mini Kramer Shear/Ottawa Cell
• FTC Succulometer
• FTC Universal Cell

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Penetration

Penetration test, sometimes called a puncture test, is when a probe that has a smaller surface area than the product is used to penetrate the test sample.

• TMS Magness-Taylor Probe Set

Cylinder Probes (used for compression and penetration tests)

• TMS Multiple Needle Probe
• TMS Junior Multiple Probe Fixture
• Heavy Duty Imperial Sized Probes 0.5" to 2.5" ø s/s cylinders
• Lightweight Precision Probes 0.5" to 2.5" ø perspex cylinders
• Lightweight Precision Probes 1mm to 11.3mm ø s/s cylinders

Conical Probes (used to penetrate harder samples)

TMS Lightweight Precision Probes

• 90° to 20° Perspex cones
• 15° Stainless steel cone

Needle Probes

• 2mm st. steel, 9-10° taper
• 1mm st. steel, 9-10° taper

Spherical Probes (commonly used for irregularly shaped surfaces e.g. pastes. Indicates burst and extensibility strength)

FTC Imperial Steel Ball Probes

• 3/4" & 1” Ø ball probe
• TMS 1"Ø ball nylon (Avery test)

TMS Lightweight Steel Ball Probes

• 6.35mm to 12.7mm Ø

TMS Lightweight Hemispherical

• 1mm to 3mm Ø stainless steel

TMS Large Hemispherical

• 1/2" & 1” Perspex

 

Multiple Point Analysis Fixtures

Multiple Point Analysis is an extension of a penetration test, only instead of one point there are several points. This type of testing is especially good for products that have particulates in them.

• TMS Multiple Needle Probe
• TMS Junior Multiple Probe Fixture

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Shearing

Typically, shear testing refers to cutting a product into two or more pieces. An example of this kind of testing would be the Warner-Bratzler method for determining certain meat characteristics.

• FTC Heavy Duty Blade Set
• TMS Lightweight Blade Set
• TMS Wire Shear Probe & Plate
• TMS Volodkevich Bite Jaws
• TMS Perspex Knife Edge
• TMS Craft Knife

 

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Compression

In a compression test, a flat platen that is larger than the test sample is used. Samples can be compressed to a displacement, a force, a given time, or to a % of deformation. One of the most common methods used as this replicates the mastication process.

• Succulometer
TMS Compression Top Plate

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Breaking

Sometimes referred to as a snap test, is usually applied to food that is in the shape of a bar or sheet. Food is generally deformed to a given distance or until the product breaks. The three point bend is the most common fixture for this kind of test measurement.

• FTC Heavy Duty 3-Pt Bend
• TMS Lightweight 3-Pt Bend
• TMS Mini Sample Vice & 3-Pt Bend

Tension

A product or sample is pulled or stretched, often to determine the point at which it breaks.

• FTC Thin Slice Tensile Test Cell
• TMS Extensibility Fixture
• Lever Grip
• Film Grips
• Multi Jaw Grip Fixture
• Spring Loaded Roller Grip
• Wire Grip Fixture
• Small Wedge Grip Kit
• Large Wedge Grip Kit