Tensile testing, revolutionized for plastics.

The CubeTen is LabsCubed's automated tensile testing machine for rigid plastics and adhesives. Load up to 15 specimens at once and it measures, grips and pulls each one unattended — with a force capacity of up to 10 kN and elongation up to 1000% — while your team moves on to higher-value work.

Tensile testing to ASTM D638 and ISO 527, as well as DIN and JIS methods. The same machine also runs adhesive tests such as Single Lap Shear and T-Peel without requiring any modifications.

All five ASTM D638 geometries — Type I for rigid plastics, Type II for materials that won't break as a Type I, Type III for thick sections up to 14 mm, Type IV for thin plastics and comparisons of different rigidity, and Type V micro-tensile specimens — plus ISO 527-2 Type 1A multipurpose moulded and Type 1B machined specimens.

A wide range of polymers tested at ambient temperature, including PP, HDPE, PVC, ABS, Polycarbonate (PC), Nylon (PA), POM, PBT and TPU, as well as thermosets such as epoxy and phenolic resins.

An extensometer is required whenever modulus or strain values are reported. Crosshead displacement is acceptable for basic elongation checks, but it includes machine compliance and will overstate strain. The CubeTen supports crosshead displacement, an automated physical extensometer, and a video extensometer.

Manual positioning, gauge marking and clamping are the main sources of test-to-test variation. The CubeTen measures width and thickness with calibrated sensors, auto-aligns each specimen in the grips and applies a consistent gripping force, so the operator is removed from the result — delivering up to 40% more consistent data.

The CubeTen is built for Lab Managers, Quality Directors and R&D Engineers at plastics compounders and processors with medium-to-high testing volumes — typically facilities running 10 or more plastic tensile tests per day.

Most customers achieve a full return on investment in 18–24 months, driven by recovering up to 95% of technician testing time and by reducing costly scrap and rework through eliminating operator-induced variability.

Every test delivers stress-strain curves, shear and peel data, and in-depth raw data for each specimen. Results can be reviewed on the machine's touchscreen or in the cloud-based LabsCubed Portal, and our software team integrates directly with your existing systems, including Alpha Workbench, Uncountable, SAP and other LIMS/ERP platforms.

The CubeTen is engineered for rigid plastics and high-strength materials, with up to 10 kN of force and support for adhesive tests like Single Lap Shear and T-Peel. The CubeOne is built for rubber and elastomers, with up to 1 kN of force and optimized for high-elongation materials.

No. LabsCubed has 10 years of comparative test data showing that our horizontal orientation delivers results identical to traditional vertical machines. The design is what enables high-speed robotic loading, and each system is precision-calibrated so gravity and friction have no impact on load readings.

The CubeTen is optimized for high-throughput testing at standard laboratory ambient temperatures. We do not currently support extreme high- or low-temperature testing, such as environmental chambers.

We offer a white-glove setup: a LabsCubed specialist performs on-site installation, calibration to ASTM standards and team training. After installation, we provide prompt remote support and annual on-site calibration services to keep your CubeTen at peak performance.