Dry, Rough and Lubricated Friction Apparatus | FrixoDynamics FX-524

The SCIENTICO FrixoDynamics FX-524 Dry, Rough and Lubricated Friction Apparatus is a wall or frame-mounted experimental unit for the systematic determination of sliding friction coefficients across three disc surface conditions — dry fine-machined, rough, and lubricated — using five interchangeable sliding material samples (steel, brass, nylon, brake lining, rubber) and a roller bearing. A repositionable braking lever presses the selected sample against any of the three discs on the common shaft, and dead weights are added to an effort pulley hanger until the shaft rotates at constant speed, establishing the friction force at that braking load. Results are calculated as friction coefficients or presented graphically as friction force versus braking load curves. The roller bearing test case provides a direct comparison of sliding versus rolling friction under identical conditions. Suitable for undergraduate tribology, machine elements, and mechanical engineering laboratories, the FX-524 is supplied complete with five material samples, weight sets, thread, and instructional manual with example results. Manufactured by SCIENTICO, available for institutional supply and international distribution.

The SCIENTICO FrixoDynamics FX-524 Dry, Rough and Lubricated Friction Apparatus is a wall or frame-mounted experimental unit for the determination of sliding friction coefficients under three distinct disc surface conditions — dry machined, rough finished, and lubricated — across five different sliding materials and a roller bearing. The apparatus enables students to study how surface condition, material pairing, and braking (normal) force combine to determine the coefficient of friction and the effort required to overcome it. Results are obtained by increasing the effort load on a pulley until the shaft rotates at a steady rate against the applied braking force, and can be presented graphically or as calculated friction coefficients. Manufactured by SCIENTICO, the FX-524 is suitable for supply to engineering institutions and distributors worldwide.

Product Overview

Friction between contacting surfaces is governed by three principal variables: the nature of the surface finish, the material pairing at the contact interface, and the presence or absence of a lubricant. The FX-524 is designed to isolate and investigate each of these variables systematically, providing a comprehensive practical introduction to tribological principles applicable across mechanical engineering, machine design, and materials science.

The apparatus is built around a main shaft carrying three identically dimensioned discs, each presenting a different surface condition. The first disc has a plain, fine-machined surface representing dry sliding conditions. The second disc is identical in base geometry but incorporates a trough beneath its surface that can be filled with grease or a liquid lubricant, introducing lubricated contact conditions. The third disc has a deliberately rough surface finish, representing a higher-friction dry contact condition. All three discs are mounted on the same shaft, allowing the braking lever to be repositioned over any one of them without changing any other part of the setup.

The braking lever holds interchangeable test samples from five sliding materials — steel, brass, nylon, brake lining, and rubber — as well as a roller bearing. Each sample or the roller bearing is pressed against the selected disc surface by the braking lever, applying a controlled normal (braking) force. The main shaft carries a pulley at one end. An effort hanger is loaded with increasing dead weights until the pulley begins to rotate and the weights descend at a constant rate. At this condition, the driving torque equals the frictional torque at the disc surface, allowing the friction force and the coefficient of friction to be calculated from the known effort load, pulley radius, braking force, and disc geometry.

By conducting the experiment across combinations of disc surface condition, sliding material, and braking force level, students build a dataset that clearly demonstrates how each variable independently and collectively influences the coefficient of friction. The roller bearing test case illustrates the reduction in friction achievable by replacing sliding contact with rolling contact under the same braking force — a direct practical comparison with engineering significance.

Parameter Specification
Model FrixoDynamics FX-524
Mounting Wall or frame-mounted
Number of Discs 3 — dry (fine machined), lubricated (with trough), rough finish
Disc Configuration Three identically dimensioned discs on a common shaft
Braking Lever Repositionable over any of the three discs
Sliding Materials Steel, brass, nylon, brake lining, rubber (5 samples)
Additional Test Element Roller bearing
Pulley 1 pulley on main shaft end
Hangers 2
Weight Set 2 x 0.5 N hangers, 4 x 5 N, 4 x 2 N, 2 x 1 N, 2 x 0.5 N
Lubrication Trough on lubricated disc — user-filled with grease or liquid lubricant
Scope of Delivery 1 experimental unit, 5 sliding material samples, 2 sets of weights, 1 thread, 1 instructional manual

Key Features

  • Three friction discs on a common shaft — dry fine-machined, lubricated (with integral trough), and rough surface — for direct comparison of surface condition effect on friction coefficient
  • Five interchangeable sliding material samples — steel, brass, nylon, brake lining, and rubber — plus a roller bearing, enabling material pairing comparison across all three disc surfaces
  • Braking lever repositionable over any disc without dismantling the apparatus, minimising experiment changeover time
  • Roller bearing test sample demonstrates the reduction in friction from sliding to rolling contact under identical braking and effort conditions
  • Onset-of-constant-speed method — effort load increased until shaft rotates at a steady rate — provides a clear, repeatable criterion for friction force determination
  • Results expressible as calculated friction coefficients or graphical force-versus-braking-load representations
  • Wall or frame-mounted design suitable for permanent laboratory installation
  • Operating and maintenance manual includes example results for comparison against student experimental data

Applications

  • Determination of the coefficient of sliding friction for five material pairings under dry, rough, and lubricated disc surface conditions
  • Investigation of the effect of surface finish on friction coefficient for the same material pairing
  • Demonstration of the effect of lubrication on sliding friction and effort required
  • Comparison of sliding friction (five material samples) against rolling friction (roller bearing) under identical conditions
  • Study of the relationship between braking (normal) force and the effort required to maintain constant shaft rotation
  • Investigation of force equilibrium between friction force and normal force in a rotating disc system
  • Undergraduate laboratory practicals in tribology, machine elements, mechanical engineering design, and applied mechanics
  • Supplementary demonstration for courses covering lubrication theory, surface engineering, and brake system design

Construction and System Design

The FX-524 is mounted on a wall bracket or support frame, positioning the main shaft assembly at a convenient working height. The three discs are fixed at defined positions along the main shaft, with their surfaces accessible to the braking lever from above. The lubricated disc trough sits beneath its contact surface and is filled by the user with the chosen lubricant before the experiment begins, allowing different lubricant types or viscosities to be evaluated in successive tests.

The braking lever is mounted on a pivot above the shaft and can be positioned to bear down on any one of the three discs. The selected sliding material sample or roller bearing is held securely in the lever’s sample seat, pressing against the disc surface under the lever’s own weight supplemented by any additional braking load applied via a hanger on the lever arm. The braking force is therefore controlled and quantified by the weight on the lever hanger.

The effort pulley is mounted at the end of the main shaft. A cord is wound around the pulley and connected to an effort hanger. Dead weights are added to the effort hanger incrementally until the pulley — and therefore the shaft and all three discs — begins to rotate at a constant, slow speed. At this condition, the net torque on the shaft is zero: the effort torque equals the frictional torque at the braking disc surface. From the known effort load, pulley radius, braking load, and disc radius, the friction force and coefficient of friction are calculated directly.

The five sliding material samples — steel, brass, nylon, brake lining, and rubber — represent the range of materials commonly used in braking, bearing, and power transmission applications. Each sample is machined to fit the braking lever seat, ensuring consistent contact geometry across all material tests. The roller bearing is mounted in a housing that also fits the lever seat, providing a geometrically consistent rolling contact test under the same experimental conditions.

Export and Supply Capability

The SCIENTICO FrixoDynamics FX-524 is available for supply to engineering colleges, technical universities, mechanical engineering departments, research institutions, and industrial training centres. SCIENTICO manufactures and exports laboratory equipment to institutions and distributors across multiple regions. Standard packaging is suitable for international shipment. Bulk orders, customised configurations, and institutional procurement enquiries are welcomed. Please contact SCIENTICO directly for pricing, lead times, and shipping terms.

Q1: What is the dry, rough and lubricated friction apparatus used for?

The FX-524 is used to determine the coefficient of sliding friction for different material pairings under three disc surface conditions — dry fine-machined, rough, and lubricated. Students apply a controlled braking force to a selected disc surface using one of five sliding material samples or a roller bearing, increase the effort load on the pulley until the shaft rotates at a steady rate, and calculate the friction coefficient from the measured forces. The experiment is repeated across surface conditions, material pairings, and braking load levels to build a comprehensive friction dataset.

Q2: How does the lubricated disc differ from the dry disc on the FX-524?

The lubricated disc is identical in base geometry to the dry fine-machined disc but incorporates an integral trough beneath its contact surface. Before the experiment, the user fills this trough with a chosen grease or liquid lubricant, which is drawn up to the contact interface during rotation. This introduces a lubricant film between the sliding material sample and the disc surface, reducing the coefficient of friction relative to the dry condition and directly demonstrating the effect of lubrication on friction and effort required.

Q3: What is the significance of including a roller bearing as a test element?

The roller bearing replaces sliding contact between the material sample and the disc with rolling contact. Since rolling friction is substantially lower than sliding friction for the same normal force, the roller bearing test gives a significantly lower friction coefficient than any of the five sliding material samples under the same braking and effort conditions. This comparison directly illustrates the engineering rationale for using rolling element bearings in applications where minimising frictional losses is important.

Q4: How is the coefficient of friction calculated from the FX-524 experimental data?

The coefficient of friction is calculated from the ratio of the friction force to the normal force at the disc contact. The friction force is derived from the effort load on the pulley hanger and the pulley and disc radii, using the torque balance condition at constant shaft rotation speed. The normal force is the braking load applied to the lever. With both values known, the coefficient of friction equals the friction force divided by the normal force. Results can be plotted graphically as friction force versus braking load to confirm linearity and extract the friction coefficient as the slope.

Q5: What is included in the scope of delivery for the FX-524?

The FX-524 is supplied as a complete experimental kit including: one wall or frame-mounted friction experimental unit with three-disc shaft assembly (dry, lubricated, and rough discs), braking lever, and effort pulley; five sliding material samples (steel, brass, nylon, brake lining, rubber); one roller bearing test element; two sets of calibrated weights (2 x 0.5 N hangers, 4 x 5 N, 4 x 2 N, 2 x 1 N, 2 x 0.5 N); one thread; and one instructional manual with operating procedures, maintenance guidance, and example results for student comparison.

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