When I purchase clay I wanted a way to measure the clay hardness. I wanted a simple repeatable accurate results calibrated to a standard
which would give me repeatable results
I designed it in a way it can be 3D printed and added some components of stainless steel which make the instrument robust and reliable to use
How to use
Take the stainless steel sample container and fill it with clay to the top of the rim. Take a palette knife and scrape across the top of the container.
Rotate the gauge support to the left or right.This allows you easy access to the base of the instrument .Placing your sample in the middle of the stainless steel base
Alignment slowly rotate the gauge support bracket and look through the drop tube you are trying to get the red dot as close as you can
in the centre of the drop tube.
Zero the centre gauge by pulling up the top of the gauge this will then read zero
take your weight and align it into the start drop line inside the drop tube and release it
look at the gauge and take note of the number this is a number you log in your notes for future references
I designed the instrument in a way it can be used to suit all different types of clay hardness. I use three different standard weights
this gives you the flexibility of using number (1) weight for heavy to medium clay , if you need a clay that is very soft used in 3D printing
you would use the scale weight (2) or (3) the weights are standardised in such a way that all your results will be repeatable
always write down your test number alongside the weight number
Next time you make a batch of clay up you use the same weight number as you did in the previous test and alter the moisture in your clay until it matches
your existing test
The instrument is designed to give maximum flexibility with a wide range of clay hardness
As everybody uses clay materials for their individual manufacturing processes it sometimes can be difficult to find one tool that that will cover
a large range of tests
The instrument scale is a very accurate precise manufactured off the shelf instrument
therefore the standards are very high
The instrument has calibration lock which are 3D printed thay are at the black of the support arm screws
Designed by Michael George Parry-Thomas
