The table illustrated has been configured to test the performance of rubber stoppers on multiple glass phials via penetration tests using hyopdermic needles. It is fitted to the base of a Lloyd Instruments single column materials testing machine and is fully controlled via a specially written program using NEXYGEN™ MT data analysis software and Ondio™ application builder software.

The XY table is divided into three sections consisting of a quick-change rack which can accommodate up to 40 syringe needles and another for holding up to 40 glass phials each fitted with a rubber stopper. A third section incorporates a removable bin in which used needles are deposited.

An upper pneumatically operated grip is programmed via the software to automatically pick up a hypodermic needle, removing it from its plastic cover. The table is then moved under computer control to correctly position the rubber stopper on the appropriate glass phial under the hypodermic needle to begin the penetration test. This process is repeated using the next needle and the next phial until the tests are completed.

Using NEXYGEN software, there is also the facility for pumping distilled water through the body of the hypodermic needle into the glass phial to enable any rubber residue to be flushed out and measured.