Cambridge-based materials testing companyPlastometrexhas introduced a new MultiScale capability for itsPLX-Benchtopsystem, allowing high-resolution mapping of mechanical properties across thin, welded, and geometrically complex parts. Announced in February 2026, the update allows engineers to test specimens as thin as 0.75 mm and perform property mapping with 1.5 mm indent spacing, expanding access to stress–strain data in areas that are typically inaccessible to conventional tensile testing.
The MultiScale capability builds on Plastometrex’s ASTM-standardised Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry (PIP) testing method. It uses indentation data and accelerated inverse finite element analysis to extract full stress–strain curves, including yield strength and ultimate tensile strength (UTS), from a single automated five-minute test.
Testing thin walls and complex geometries without sectioning
Conventional mechanical testing often requires destructive sample preparation and standardised specimen geometries. Thin-walled parts, welded joints, and additively manufactured components with complex features can be difficult or impossible to evaluate directly.
With MultiScale, PLX-Benchtop users can test directly on components as thin as 0.75 mm without cutting out sections. Alongside the standard 1000 µm indenter, the system also supports 500 µm and 250 µm indenters, allowing mechanical behaviour to be measured at multiple length scales.
Dr Jimmy Campbell, CTO at Plastometrex, said the development tackles a common problem for engineers working with thin or geometrically complex parts. He said the goal was to make it possible to “test the untestable” and get reliable property data wherever it’s needed.
Application in additively manufactured components
MultiScale has already been used byNASAto measure local differences in mechanical properties within a spaceflight component. By mapping stress–strain responses across an additively manufactured part, the method showed links between process, structure, and properties. This helped guide manufacturing improvements and allowed less conservative safety factors.
One reported result found that yield strength dropped by about 15% as wall thickness decreased. This kind of local variation may be missed by traditional tensile testing, which usually averages behaviour over larger, standardised specimens.
Dr Mike Coto, CCO at Plastometrex, stated that the increased spatial resolution enables users to examine fine-scale variations that influence overall component performance. He noted that this can support decisions such as adjusting print parameters, refining weld procedures, or reducing unnecessary safety margins while maintaining structural integrity.
Source: 3D Printing Industry
