STFE™ timber tester FAQs

Our STFE™ Timber Testing Machines are designed to test boards for bending stiffness and strength in a four point bending configuration. They are designed to be compliant with AS/NZS4063 and to be quick and easy to use as well as incredibly accurate. Their main use is for quality assurance testing as required by standards for monitoring compliance of structural timber grades.

A mechanical force is applied to boards to deflect (bend) them. The force is recorded by a load cell and deflection is generally measured by a dial gauge. This information is combined to determine stiffness or Modulus of Elasticity (MoE). To determine strength a load is either applied until the board breaks (Modulus of Rupture, MoR) or 'proof loaded' to a strength rating for the specific grade.

Yes, it is designed to be compliant with AS/NZS4063 as well as New Zealand's timber grading SOP. It is also approved for use by NZ's leading timber grading audit companies and used by an ISO accredited timber testing laboratory in Australia.

Our original model was the STFE5, which is the most widely used testing machine within the NZ Industry. The STFE5 uses a 5 tonne load cell and has a 5 tonne loading capacity. This model is most suited to 'proof load' testing which is the most common practice in NZ. We have since developed the STFE10 which uses a 10 tonne load cell and has a 10 tonne loading capacity. Due to its higher capacity, the STFE10 is better suited to 'break' or 'fracture' testing which is more common in Australia.

We also offer various levels of automation from totally manual, where load is applied by a hand pump and data is recorded by hand, to fully automated with data logging. The fully automated option still requires manual set up and loading of boards but from this point force application, deflection measurement and data recording is fully controlled by a computer that actuates an electric hydraulic pump and measures deflection by laser.

Board sizes from 65mm x 35mm to 320mm x 125mm can be tested at 18 x depth. Customisation may be possible to enable testing of sizes outside this range if required.

The machine stands 2.5m high, is 0.8m deep/wide, and is 6m long.

The STFE™ is designed to make testing quick, easy, accurate, and safe. Easy span adjustments make it quick to change sizes and front loading enables easy loading of specimens. Built in measurement scales mean spans can be set accurately to the millimetre. Downwards force application, a built in safety fence, and lateral supports all ensure safe testing.