Cross Cylinder Tester (XCT)

The cross-cylinder tester (XCT) developed at the Tribology Competence Center in cooperation with Fuchs Petrolub AG combines the Reichert-Reibverschleisswaage (RVW) and the Brugger tester and is used to investigate and simulate friction and wear processes under continuous sliding stress in solid, boundary and mixed friction.

With the aid of suitable adapters, tests can be carried out on this model tribometer both according to Brugger (DIN 51347) and according to the test method of Reichert. The LabView software allows variations of the speeds and running times. This allows the test methodology to be modified depending on the application. For block-on-ring tests or investigations of plain bearings, the test stand can be extended by appropriate adapters.

The normal force is applied with weights via a lever system. The drive is provided by a highly dynamic, frequency-controlled three-phase asynchronous motor. The sliding speed can be changed dynamically during the run.

The factors that are decisive for tribological behavior, such as friction partners, surface roughness, normal force, sliding speed, sliding distance, surface pressure and intermediate material, can be varied and controlled within wide limits on this test rig.