FBT-1000 Automated Four Ball Tester

Real-Time Programmable Load Control (No Dead Weights)

Apply forces up to 10'000 N with precise closed-loop control—without cumbersome dead weights. Fully programmable step or continuous load ramps ensure accurate, repeatable testing, making the FBT-1000 ideal for extreme-pressure (EP) evaluations where the load automatically increases until lubricant film failure occurs.

EP and Wear Test With Wide Environmental Range

Perform standard Four Ball wear and EP tests over a wide temperature range from -35°C to 400°C on a single platform. Optional modules expand capability to KRL shear stability, ½-inch ball Four Ball testing, and other specialized methods, maximizing laboratory flexibility while reducing equipment costs and bench space.

Highest Precision Sensors

Integrated torque, downforce, and acoustic emission sensors continuously monitor every test, capturing friction behaviour and lubricant film breakdown as it occurs. Unlike systems relying solely on post-test wear scar analysis, the FBT-1000 provides real-time insight into failure mechanisms, delivering deeper understanding and more reliable lubricant performance evaluation.

Electrified Lubricant Testing

Develop lubricants for the next generation of electric drivetrains with controlled electrical testing. The optional electrified module applies AC, DC, or programmed electrical conditions across the rotating four-ball contact, enabling evaluation of lubricant performance under electrical stress, reducing the risk of electrical wear, pitting, and premature bearing failure in EV applications.

Research-Grade Flexibility Beyond ASTM Testing

Go beyond standard ASTM methods with complete control of load, speed, temperature, and test duration. Create custom test sequences to investigate additive performance, temperature effects, lubrication regimes, and failure mechanisms under application-specific conditions—providing insights that fixed-parameter tests cannot deliver.

Easy Testing & Automated Reporting

Intuitive, recipe-driven software automates the entire test sequence, minimizing operator involvement and ensuring consistent, repeatable results. At test completion, friction data, wear scar measurements, sensor signals, and operating conditions are automatically analysed and compiled into a standardized report—accelerating routine testing, quality control, and research workflows.

Real-Time Force Control – Maximum Performance, Unmatched Precision

Eliminate cumbersome dead weights and achieve highly accurate, closed-loop force control across the entire load range. The FBT-1000 automatically applies linear or progressive loading profiles with exceptional precision and repeatability, minimizing operator influence and maximizing laboratory productivity. Continuous real-time force regulation ensures every test is performed exactly as programmed, delivering reliable results for ASTM wear testing, extreme-pressure (EP) evaluation, lubricant development, and advanced tribology research. Designed for today’s standards and tomorrow’s requirements, the system provides the flexibility to adapt to new test methods without hardware modifications.

Electrified Four Ball Testing

As electrification transforms automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, and industrial systems, understanding the effects of electrical currents on friction, wear, and lubrication is becoming essential. Electrical potentials can accelerate corrosion, disrupt lubricant films, and promote micro-pitting, electrical erosion, and premature component failure.

The Electrified FBT-1000 applies controlled AC or DC electrical loads across the four-ball contact while measuring electrical contact behavior under realistic operating conditions. Its fully insulated design delivers accurate, repeatable results for developing lubricants and materials for electric motors, bearings, gears, and electrified drivetrains. Despite its advanced capabilities, the system retains the same intuitive one-click operation as the standard FBT-1000, making electrified tribology testing fast, simple, and highly reliable.