Plastometrex Launches MultiScale Capability to Capture High-Resolution Mechanical Property Variation

Why It Matters

By providing accurate, localized mechanical data on previously untestable geometries, MultiScale reduces reliance on conservative safety factors and accelerates material and process validation across aerospace and additive‑manufacturing sectors.

Key Takeaways

• Tests parts as thin as 0.75 mm without sectioning
• Offers 250 µm and 500 µm indenters for finer resolution
• Maps properties every 1.5 mm across complex geometries
• NASA used MultiScale to cut safety margins by 15 %
• Enables rapid five‑minute, non‑destructive tensile data

Pulse Analysis

Traditional mechanical testing struggles with thin‑walled, welded or intricately shaped components, often requiring destructive sectioning or extrapolation from bulk samples. Engineers face a data gap that hampers accurate material models and process control, especially in high‑performance sectors such as aerospace and additive manufacturing. Plastometrex’s MultiScale capability directly addresses this shortfall by delivering high‑resolution property maps without compromising part integrity, enabling a more granular understanding of local stress‑strain behavior.

The MultiScale upgrade leverages Plastometrex’s Profilometry‑based Indentation Plastometry (PIP) technology, extracting full stress‑strain curves from micro‑indentation data through accelerated inverse finite‑element analysis. By introducing 250 µm and 500 µm indenters alongside the standard 1000 µm tip, the system can probe features as small as 0.75 mm and generate property measurements at 1.5 mm intervals. Integrated into the compact PLX‑Benchtop platform and delivered via the CORSICA+ subscription, the workflow completes a five‑minute, non‑destructive test that yields both yield and ultimate tensile strength, dramatically shortening validation cycles.

Early adopters illustrate the strategic advantage of MultiScale. NASA employed the technology on additively manufactured spaceflight parts, uncovering a 15 % reduction in yield strength as wall thickness decreased—a nuance missed by conventional tensile testing. This insight enabled tighter safety margins, optimized print parameters, and refined weld procedures, translating into weight savings and cost reductions. As industries pursue lighter, more complex designs, the ability to capture localized mechanical data will become a competitive differentiator, positioning MultiScale as a catalyst for faster innovation and more efficient certification pathways.