UGC-VE-4101 1 MPx Single-Camera Video Extensometer

1 MPx video extensometer with a 400 mm LED for a larger illuminated area

The UGC-VE-4101 is a non-contact optical (video) extensometer from the X-Sight 4000 Series, supplied, configured and supported by Universal Grip. It tracks gauge marks on the specimen with one 1 MPx camera and reports strain, total length, delta length and angle in real time, so it can stay on the specimen through break with no knife edges to slip or damage. The longer housing and 400 mm LED illuminate a larger area than the 2000 Series — the better choice for long or high-elongation specimens.

 

Measuring length, accuracy class and sampling rate

Per ISO 9513 the UGC-VE-4101 measures 80 mm at Class 0.5, 160 mm at Class 1 and 320 mm at Class 2. Class 0.5 is the tight class labs choose for modulus and proof-strength work; ISO 6892-1 calls for Class 1 or better for yield and proof strength and allows Class 2 for elongation after fracture.

Typical sampling is 200 Hz (170 Hz with the full image), and narrowing the view width raises it to 1 kHz. That makes it the right choice when test speed or strain rate is high.

As a rough sizing check: with a 50 mm (2 in) metals gauge length, the Class 2 measuring length of 320 mm lets the gauge marks be followed to about 540% elongation before they leave the calibrated field, assuming the marks start near the centre of the view. We confirm the real limit from your specimen, grips and expected elongation.

 

What the UGC-VE-4101 is best for

• short-gauge metals tests to ASTM E8/E8M and ISO 6892-1

• wire, fasteners and small machined coupons

• cyclic, high-strain-rate and short-duration tests where sample rate matters more than field size

• compression and shear tests on small specimens

 

When to choose the 400 mm housing

The 4000 Series uses the same 1 MPx camera as the UGC-VE-2101 but a 424 mm housing with a 400 mm, 330 lm LED. The longer light evenly illuminates a larger area, which helps with long or high-elongation specimens, darker or reflective surfaces and viewing through a temperature-chamber window. If your field of view is short, the more compact UGC-VE-2101 is usually enough.

 

Choosing the lens and working distance

Measuring length, lens focal length and working distance are linked: choose two and the third follows. For the Class 0.5 field of view (80 mm high by 64 mm wide) the working distances are 12 mm lens 127 mm, 16 mm lens 169 mm, 25 mm lens 297 mm, 35 mm lens 455 mm, 50 mm lens 685 mm (from the front cover). Longer working distances reduce LED intensity and can need longer shutter times, so tell us your frame and chamber geometry and we will pick the lens.

 

Connects to your testing machine

Strain is streamed live to the test-machine controller over DOLI Binary, MODBUS, HP Video, TCP/IP or RS232, as an analog signal through auxiliary D/A converters, or as an encoder-style quadrature pulse. The JSON and MRT APIs let your test software start and stop measurement, switch methods and set the gauge length. That is how we retrofit video extensometers to Instron, MTS, ZwickRoell, Shimadzu, Test Resources, ADMET and Galdabini frames; see retrofitting a video extensometer to an existing machine.

 

Compare the UGC-VE-4101 with similar models

• UGC-VE-4102: 4000 Series single-camera, 2 MPx, Class 0.5 110 mm, 90 Hz typical

• UGC-VE-4105: 4000 Series single-camera, 5 MPx, Class 0.5 130 mm, 175 Hz typical

• UGC-VE-2101: 2000 Series single-camera, 1 MPx, Class 0.5 80 mm, 200 Hz typical

• UGC-VE-2201: 2000 Series dual-camera, 1 MPx, Class 0.5 2 × 80 mm, 200 Hz typical

Not sure which model fits? Read how to choose an extensometer, gauge length selection for video extensometers, or compare all models on our video extensometer page.