Universal Testing Machine or UTM also known as Universal Tester, Tensile Tester, Bend tester and

Compression Tester is generally defined as a machine used to test the tensile stress and compressive
strength of materials, the function of this machine is not limited for tensile test and compression test it
is a great multi-purpose instrument; it is also used for bend test, peel test and puncture test.

What is the working Principle of UTMs?

Today's Universal Testing Machines use a rotating ball screw in order to drive a load-bearing crosshead
up and down. An electrical motor powers a series of pulleys and gears which turn the screw, creating
the crosshead motion. The motion of the electrical motor is controlled using pulse width modulation
(PWM) by an astable oscillator circuit.  Tensile testers are relatively robust in design and therefore have
a small amount of failure modes. Therefore universal testing machines need relatively little maintenance
and are easy to fix in the event of a break down. 
Aside from the machine, a few other components are required to make up the complete system. A load
cell is used to measure the force during the test. A position sensor, most commonly an encoder, is used
to measure the location of the crosshead. Most machines are controlled using the position data channel,
and will move at a software controlled rate of speed according to the desired ASTM test or similar
procedure.

How does a test in a UTC done and work

Tensile Test
Clamp a single piece of anything on each of its ends and pull it apart until it breaks.  This measures how
strong it is (tensile strength) how stretchy it is (elongation), and how stiff it is (tensile modulus).
Compression Test
The exact opposite of a tensile test.  This is where you compress an object between two level plates until
a certain load or distance has been reached or the product breaks.  The typical measurements are the
maximum force sustained before breakage (compressive force), or load at displacement (i.e. 55 pounds
at 1” compression), or displacement at load (i.e. 0.28” of compression at 20 pounds of force).
Bend Test: This is a compression test where you support a length of material by spanning it across two
supports on each end.  There is nothing supporting the middle portion underneath of it.  Then you press
down from above directly in the middle of the span of material until the supported material breaks or
reaches a specific distance.  This test measures how strong the material in flexure (flexural strength) and
how stiff it is (flexural modulus).
Peel Test or Adhesion Test
Similar to a tensile test.  However, instead of pulling apart a single piece, you pull apart two materials
that have been bonded together.  In this test, you one clamp holds one material and the other clamp
holds the other materials.  Then you pull them apart for a few inches.  The force is measured up to 1000
times per second during the test and the average of all of the force readings are reported as the
“average peel force”.
Puncture Test
In this test you secure a circular section of material around its perimeter.  Then you come down from
above and press the material with a “puncture probe” until the material punctures.  The force when the
product breaks is called the “puncture resistance”.

Now that we have a general idea on what does a Universal Testing Machine do, let’s discuss its
components. Universal Testing Machine consists of two main units, Loading Unit and Control Unit.
Loading Unit consists of:
Load Frame
The load frame of a universal testing machine can be made either by single support or by double
support. The load Frame consists of a table (where the specimen is placed for the compression test),
upper crosshead, and lower crosshead.
Upper Crosshead and Lower Crosshead
The upper crosshead is used to clamp one end of the test specimen. The lower crosshead in the load
frame is the movable crosshead whose screws can be loosened for height adjustment and tightened.
Both the crossheads have a tapered slot at the center. This slot has a pair of racked jaws that is intended
to grip and hold the tensile test specimen.

Elongation Scale
The relative movement of the lower and upper table is measured by an elongation scale which is
provided along with the loading unit.

Control Unit Consist of:

Hydraulic Power Unit
This unit consists of an oil pump that provides non-pulsating oil flow into the main cylinder of the load
unit. This flow helps in the smooth application of load on the specimen. The oil pump in a hydraulic
power unit is run by an electric motor and sump.
Load Measuring Unit
This unit has a pendulum dynamometer unit that has a small cylinder with a piston which moves with
the non-pulsating oil flow. The pendulum is connected to the piston by pivot lever. The pivot lever
deflects based on the load applied to the specimen. This deflection is converted to the load pointer and
displays as the load on the dial.
The range of load application can be adjusted by means of a knob in the load measuring unit (0-100 kN;
0-250 kN; 0-500 kN and 0-1000 kN). The accuracy of measuring unit controls the overall accuracy of the
machine.
Control Devices
The control devices can be electric or hydraulic. Electric control devices make use of switches to move
the crossheads and switch on/off the unit. A hydraulic control device consists of two valves, Right
Control Valve and Left Control Valve or Release Valve. A right control valve is used to apply load on the
specimen. The left control valve is used to release the load application.