PITSCO EDUCATION 37764 Balsa Truss Tester User Guide

PITSCO EDUCATION 37764 Balsa Truss Tester

Cautionary and Warning Statements

• This kit is designed and intended for educational purposes only.
• Use only under the direct supervision of an adult who has read and understood the instructions provided in this user guide.
• Read warnings on packaging and in manual carefully.
• Safety glasses required. Though the tester has an acrylic shield, it might not prevent all hazards if your truss breaks unexpectedly.

Materials Included

• Balsa Truss Tester
• Square block
• Four-sided angle block
• Balsa Truss Tester adapter

Items Required (not included)

• Balsa wood truss(es) for testing*
• One of the following:
  • Bucket tester, such as Pitsco’s Toothpick Bridge Tester, with sand weights, books, or blocks
  • Pitsco’s Structures Testing Instrument
• Safety glasses
• Books or blocks

• Trusses for this tester must be made with 1/8″ balsa wood and may not be more than 4 inches tall and 12 inches wide. Trusses with flat tops or with tops angled at 15º, 20º, 25º, or 30º will fit into the tester. Do not use trusses made of basswood or other materials.

Using with the Bucket Tester

1. Find two supports to rest either end of the Balsa Truss Tester on, such as two desks or tables pulled close together. Place the tester on these supports (Figure 1).
2. Attach the bucket to the hole on the end of the load block bar on the tester (Figure 2). Considering the height of the truss, try to keep the cord long enough so the bucket will be no more than an inch off the floor in case the truss breaks (you might have to place books or blocks under the bucket if the tables are very tall).
3. Place (additional) books or blocks under the bucket while adding or removing trusses.
4. Slide your truss into the side of the tester between the clear and black acrylic sides (Figure 3). Lift up the load block bar to slide the top of the truss under it. Note: If needed, the clear acrylic shield can be removed by unscrewing the six thumbscrews.
5. Make sure the ends of the truss rest on the span supports, overlapping the supports at least 1/2 inch on both sides (Figure 4). If needed, use the thumbscrews on the back of the tester to move the span supports where needed to support the truss (Figure 5). Retighten the thumbscrews.
6. For triangular trusses, select the proper angle on the angle block for the truss being tested. For flat trusses, unscrew the angle block from the tester and replace it with the square block (Figure 6).
7. Remove the book(s) from under the bucket. Continue to use the bucket tester according to its directions, adding sand or weights to test the truss.
8. After testing the truss either to a certain weight or until it breaks, replace the book(s) under the bucket and remove the truss. Remove the sand/weights from the bucket.
9. When finished testing a truss, remove it from the Balsa Truss Tester and put in the next truss. When finished testing all trusses, remove the bucket from the Balsa Truss Tester.

Using with the Structures Testing Instrument

Be sure to prepare the Structures Testing Instrument (STI) for testing according to its user guide.

1. By turning the turn force wheel clockwise, raise the center post all the way up – when the wheel starts to resist, stop turning it (Figure 7).

2. Screw the Balsa Truss Tester Adapter onto the STI’s center post until there’s only about a half inch of threads showing between the adapter and the center post (Figure 7).

3. Set up the STI, according to its user guide, to use the two span columns to support the Balsa Truss Tester (Figure 8).

4. Set the Balsa Truss Tester on the STI (Figure 9).

5. Lifting the load block bar up, slide your truss into the side of the tester between the clear and black acrylic sides (Figure 9).

6. Make sure the ends of the truss rest on the span supports, overlapping the supports at least 1/2 inch on both sides. If needed, use the thumbscrews on the back of the tester to move the span supports where needed to support the truss. Retighten the thumbscrews.

7. For triangular trusses, select the proper angle on the angle block for the truss being tested. For flat trusses, unscrew the angle block from the tester and replace it with the square block.

8. If the hole of the load block bar does not align with the holes of the adapter, move the turn force wheel counterclockwise until they do.

9. Insert the metal pin to hold the tester and adapter together
   (Figure 9).

10. Use the STI according to its directions for testing a bridge.

11. When finished testing a truss, remove it from the Balsa Truss Tester and put in the next truss.

12. When finished testing all trusses, remove the Balsa Truss Tester and Balsa Truss Tester Adapter from the STI.

P.O. Box 1708 • Pittsburg, KS 66762
www.pitsco.com
Toll-Free Orders 800-835-0686

References

• Pitsco Education | Pre-K-12 Future-Ready STEM Learning

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