Guance Instruments PMLQ-500C Sponge Ball Rebound Tester
| Brand | Guance Instruments |
|---|---|
| Origin | Beijing, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Model | PMLQ-500C |
| Price | USD 1,420 (FOB Beijing) |
Overview
The Guance Instruments PMLQ-500C Sponge Ball Rebound Tester is a precision-controlled physical property testing instrument engineered for the quantitative assessment of resilience in flexible polyurethane foam materials. It operates on the principle of standardized free-fall impact mechanics, in strict accordance with ISO 8307, ASTM D3574, and GB/T 6670—2008 (Chinese national standard equivalent to ISO 8307). A calibrated steel sphere of defined mass (16.9 g ± 0.1 g) and diameter (15.9 mm ± 0.1 mm) is released from a fixed vertical height (500 mm ± 0.5 mm) onto a horizontally mounted foam specimen. The system captures the maximum rebound height via high-speed optical sensing or contactless displacement transduction, then computes the rebound ratio (%) as (rebound height / drop height) × 100. This dimensionless metric serves as a direct indicator of elastic energy recovery efficiency under transient compressive loading — a critical parameter for automotive seating, mattress manufacturing, packaging cushioning, and medical support surface qualification.
Key Features
- Compliant with international test standards: ISO 8307, ASTM D3574 Sections 8–9, GB/T 6670—2008, and JIS K6400-5
- Integrated Siemens S7-1200 PLC control architecture with deterministic real-time response and industrial-grade I/O isolation
- 7-inch high-brightness TFT touchscreen HMI with intuitive Chinese/English bilingual interface and password-protected parameter configuration
- Automated three-cycle measurement per specimen (as required by ISO 8307), including outlier detection based on statistical deviation thresholds (±5% from median)
- Batch-level data management: user-defined sample IDs, test date/time stamping, operator ID logging, and CSV export capability
- Self-calibrating optical height sensor with ±0.5 mm linearity tolerance over full 500 mm stroke; no manual zeroing or mechanical adjustment required
- Robust aluminum-alloy frame with vibration-damped base plate and non-slip specimen clamping fixture (specimen size: 100 mm × 100 mm × 50 mm min.)
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The PMLQ-500C accommodates flat, homogeneous foam specimens meeting dimensional and surface flatness criteria specified in ISO 8307 (e.g., ≤0.5 mm surface deviation across 100 mm span). It supports soft to semi-rigid flexible polyurethane foams (density range: 15–80 kg/m³), viscoelastic memory foams, and certain cross-linked ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) blends. Specimens must be conditioned at 23 °C ± 2 °C and 50 % RH ± 5 % RH for ≥16 h prior to testing per ISO 291. The instrument’s design enables GLP-compliant operation when paired with audit-trail-enabled software (optional upgrade), supporting traceability for quality control laboratories operating under ISO/IEC 17025 or IATF 16949 frameworks.
Software & Data Management
Data acquisition and reporting are managed through embedded firmware with optional PC-based analysis software (Guance FoamTest Suite v3.2). The system logs timestamped raw rebound height values, calculates mean rebound ratio with standard deviation (n = 3 per specimen), and generates PDF or Excel reports compliant with internal QA documentation requirements. Audit trail functionality (available in licensed version) records all parameter changes, user logins, and report exports in encrypted binary format, satisfying FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements for electronic records in regulated environments. Raw data files include metadata headers specifying calibration certificate ID, environmental chamber readings (if integrated), and operator credentials.
Applications
- Quality assurance of molded PU foam components in automotive interior supply chains (seat cushions, headrests, door panels)
- R&D evaluation of foam formulation modifications — e.g., catalyst concentration, polyol molecular weight, or blowing agent substitution
- Batch-to-batch consistency verification for bedding manufacturers subject to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 or CertiPUR-US® certification
- Failure mode analysis in foam aging studies (thermal, UV, or compression-set accelerated testing)
- Technical documentation support for ISO 9001:2015 Clause 8.5.1 (control of production and service provision)
FAQ
Does the PMLQ-500C comply with ASTM D3574 Section 8 (Ball Rebound Test)?
Yes — it implements all geometric, mass, height, and environmental controls mandated in ASTM D3574-22 Section 8.1–8.4.
Can the instrument be integrated into a LIMS environment?
Yes — via RS-232 or Ethernet TCP/IP interface using Modbus RTU or ASCII protocol; custom API integration support available upon request.
Is calibration certification included with shipment?
A factory calibration certificate (traceable to NIM, China) is provided; annual recalibration services are offered with NIST-traceable reference spheres and height gauges.
What maintenance is required for long-term accuracy?
No routine mechanical maintenance is needed; optical sensor window cleaning every 200 tests and annual firmware validation are recommended.
Does the system support multi-language reporting beyond Chinese and English?
Additional language packs (German, French, Japanese) are available as optional firmware modules.
