Home › Products › Cutting Dies › ISO 18488 Cutting Die
ISO 18488 Cutting Die – Strain Hardening Dumbbell
Strain Hardening Dumbbell · Tensile (strain hardening) specimen — built to ISO 18488. Hardened steel or economical ribbon steel.
Brand: Universal Grip | Model: UGC-CDH-ISO18488 / UGC-CDR-ISO18488 | ● Made to order
Cuts the ISO 18488 strain Hardening Dumbbell profile: 4 × 16 mm narrow section, 70 mm overall length
Two styles: hardened steel for 0–5 mm, ribbon steel for 0–3 mm
Integral ejector (hardened) or foam pad (ribbon) pushes each specimen free
Fits manual, pneumatic and hydraulic sample-cutting presses
Free test cuts on your material before you order
Custom profiles, multi-cavity dies and nick/notch features on request
Downloads: Ribbon Steel Die Data Sheet (PDF)
Standards: ISO 18488
Trusted by Global Companies
Precision cutting die for ISO 18488 strain Hardening Dumbbell specimens
This Universal Grip die cuts the strain Hardening Dumbbell (tensile (strain hardening) specimen) defined in ISO 18488: Polyethylene (PE) materials for piping systems — Determination of strain hardening modulus in relation to slow crack growth — Test method. ISO 18488 ranks polyethylene pipe resins for slow crack growth resistance by measuring the strain hardening modulus from a high-temperature true stress-strain curve. Thin compression-moulded dumbbells are drawn at 80 °C with an optical extensometer.
We make it in two styles so the die suits the material you cut. The one-piece hardened steel die is machined from a single piece of steel and holds its edge on rigid & semi-rigid plastics, filled compounds, rubber, sheet & film from 0 to 5 mm thick. The ribbon steel (steel-rule) die uses a precision-bent hardened rule in a laser-cut plywood base with a foam ejection pad, an economical choice for rubber, elastomers, TPE, foams, soft plastics & films up to 3 mm. Both cut the same ISO 18488 profile.
ISO 18488 specimen dimensions
The die is cut to the nominal profile in ISO 18488: overall length 70 mm, width of ends 20 mm, width of narrow section 4 mm, length of narrow section 16 mm, thickness 0.3 ± 0.025 mm and test conditions 80 °C, 20 mm/min. Always check your current edition of the standard for tolerances and the test procedure.
Where it is used
Typical uses for ISO 18488 specimens include PE pipe resins, gas & water distribution pipe, resin development and quality control of PE compounds.
Cutting specimens with the die
Put the die on an arbor press or a pneumatic press, set your sheet on a nylon cutting plate and press through in one stroke; the ejector pushes the specimen out ready to test. No press yet? An adapter lets the die run on your universal testing machine. Send us a sample of your material and we will make test cuts free of charge, so you can confirm the edge quality before you order. Hardened dies can be re-sharpened with our die sharpening tool.
ISO 18488 Cutting Die Specifications
STANDARD
ISO 18488
SPECIMEN
Strain Hardening Dumbbell
SPECIMEN TYPE
Tensile (strain hardening) specimen
OVERALL LENGTH
70 mm
WIDTH OF ENDS
20 mm
WIDTH OF NARROW SECTION
4 mm
LENGTH OF NARROW SECTION
16 mm
THICKNESS
0.3 ± 0.025 mm
TEST CONDITIONS
80 °C, 20 mm/min
HARDENED STEEL DIE
One-piece machined steel, 0–5 mm material, integral ejector plate
RIBBON STEEL DIE
Steel rule in plywood base, 0–3 mm material, foam ejection pad
PRESS COMPATIBILITY
Manual, pneumatic & hydraulic sample-cutting presses
PART NUMBERS
UGC-CDH-ISO18488 (hardened) · UGC-CDR-ISO18488 (ribbon)
Models & Options
Hardened Steel Cutting Die — One-piece machined, hardened and precision-finished; rigid & semi-rigid plastics, filled compounds, rubber, sheet & film; 0–5 mm; integral ejector plate; re-sharpenable (UGC-CDH-ISO18488)
Ribbon Steel Cutting Die — Precision-bent hardened steel rule in a laser-cut plywood base with closed-cell foam ejection pad; rubber, elastomers, TPE, foams, soft plastics & films; 0–3 mm; economical, fast turnaround (UGC-CDR-ISO18488)
Press mounting — Matched to your press make and model, or an adapter for your universal testing machine (Specify at order)
Custom features — Custom profiles, multi-cavity dies and nick/notch features on request (Custom)
What's Included
ISO 18488 cutting die in your chosen style (hardened or ribbon steel)
Specimen ejection: integral ejector plate (hardened) or foam ejection pad (ribbon)
Mounting to suit your press — tell us the make and model
Data sheet with the nominal profile dimensions
Supported Test Standards
ISO 18488 — Polyethylene (PE) materials for piping systems — Determination of strain hardening modulus in relation to slow crack growth — Test method
Compatible Grips & Fixtures
Arbor press — Benchtop press for cutting strain Hardening Dumbbell specimens with this die
Sample die press — Specimen-preparation presses and tools
Wedge grips — Self-tightening wedge grips for rigid plastic dumbbells
Pneumatic grips — Constant clamping force for thin or soft plastics
Die sharpening tool — Restore the cutting edge of a hardened steel die
Plastics testing — Grips and fixtures for plastic film, sheet and molded parts
“Customer quote”
Related Equipment
ISO 13000-2-F2 Cutting Die
PTFE Micro Dumbbell · 5 × 12 mm narrow section
ISO 20753-A2 Cutting Die
Multipurpose Dumbbell Type A2 · 10.0 × 60.0 mm narrow section
ISO 3167 Type A Cutting Die
Multipurpose Dumbbell · 10.0 × 80 mm narrow section
ISO 3167 Type B Cutting Die
Multipurpose Dumbbell · 10.0 × 60.0 mm narrow section
ISO 18488 Cutting Die FAQ
What is the ISO 18488 test used for?
ISO 18488 ranks polyethylene pipe resins for slow crack growth resistance by measuring the strain hardening modulus from a high-temperature true stress-strain curve. Thin compression-moulded dumbbells are drawn at 80 °C with an optical extensometer.
What are the ISO 18488 specimen dimensions?
The die cuts the nominal ISO 18488 profile: overall length 70 mm, width of ends 20 mm, width of narrow section 4 mm, length of narrow section 16 mm, thickness 0.3 ± 0.025 mm and test conditions 80 °C, 20 mm/min. These values come from the standard; check your current edition for tolerances.
Hardened steel or ribbon steel: which ISO 18488 die should I choose?
For rigid and semi-rigid plastics, filled compounds and sheet up to 5 mm, choose the hardened steel die. The ribbon steel die is the economical option for soft plastics and films up to 3 mm.
Which press do I need for the ISO 18488 die?
The die fits manual, pneumatic and hydraulic sample-cutting presses. On our arbor press it mounts with a lateral screw, and an adapter lets it run on a universal testing machine. Tell us your press make and model and we will match the mounting.
How do I grip and measure ISO 18488 specimens?
Hold the wide ends in wedge grips or pneumatic grips so the specimen is loaded straight along its axis.
Can you make test cuts on my material?
Yes. Send us a sample of your sheet and we will make test cuts free of charge, so you can see the edge quality and confirm the right die style before you order.
Can you make a custom or multi-cavity ISO 18488 die?
Yes. We make custom profiles, multi-cavity dies and nick or notch features on request. Send the drawing or standard, your material and thickness, and your press model.