Alien News

September 23, 2007

CCH conducted a drop test of Blue alien (3/8). This test used 186 lb drop weight with a 216 lb. counter weight and generated a force of 1,714 lbs. After the test, blue alien was undamaged except for indentations on the cam lobes and possible slight bending of axle and still operated OK.

Please follow this link to view the video of Drop # 7

September 9, 2007

CCH conducted a drop test of Yellow alien (3/4). This test used 186 lb drop weight with a 216 lb. counter weight and generated a force of 1,609 lbs. After the test yellow alien was undamaged except for indentations on the cam lobes and still operated OK.

Please follow this link to view the video of Drop # 6

August 3, 2007

CCH conducted another drop test today on the same cable assembly that was used in the previous 4 drops.

Drop # 5 used 188. lb drop weight with a 216 lb. counter weight and generated a force of 6.92587 kN (1,557 lbs.)

Please follow this link to view the video of Drop # 5

July 30, 2007

CCH conducted it's first drop tests on a 5/32" cable assembly this weekend with their new Drop Test Tower.

Of the 4 drops (all with the same cable assembly),

Drop # 3 used a 143 lb drop weight with a 180 lb. counter weight and generated a force of 6.17857 kN (1,389 lbs.)

Drop # 4 used a 153 lb drop weight with a 180 lb. counter weight and generated a force of 6.35205 kN (1,428 lbs.)

Please follow these links to view the video of Drop # 3 and Drop # 4

Note: Cable assemblies used for these tests are randomly picked from production.

July 23, 2007

New CCH 25 ft. Drop Test Tower, with an Omega 20,000 lb.load cell and Highspeed meter.

July 19, 2007

We now have the test results posted from Colorado Metallurgical Services on the Alien Cam cable assembly.

please visit the Testing page to view these results.

Incorrect
Incorrect
Incorrect
Incorrect
Incorrect
Incorrect
     
Correct
Correct
Correct
Correct
Correct
Correct
May 31 2007

The UIAA standard for testing frictional anchors(cams) is EN12276. All certification labs test cams to these standards. Testing an Alien by threading a cord under the cams and then applying force is not a valid test and it doesn't simulate use of the cam in a placement. In use, the cable eye can pivot in the direction of the force and also allow the cable stem to take the flex over its entire length With a cord under the cams and around the cable eye, the eye is twisted so that all the bending

force is located at just one point: the base of the cable eye. This places undue stress at one point and can cause premature breakage, similar to placing the stem over an edge.

May 23, 2007

To assure that tests made at CCH are accurate, we had our strain gage certified by Mountain Scales in Denver on May 22, 2007.

It was reading 50 lbs over at 2000 lbs,(25 lbs at 1000 lbs) but its now exactly on. A 3/4" Alien is rated at 2700 lbs in a straight pull, at 50%

cam closure or more. The cable on a 3/4 Alien will break at maximum load. However a sharp edge or application of the load in a fall

at an angle to the cable eye can damage the stem or cause it to break at less than 2700 lbs. Use additional runners to help prevent

walking or movement of the cam when climbing past it.

Certificate of Calibration Certificate of Calibration, Omega Strain Gage

May 18, 2007

Our Testing page is now published, for testing results please follow this link http://www.aliencams.com/testing.html

May 12, 2007

CCH is glad to test Aliens when they are sent to us. If you would like us to inspect your Aliens

send them to us at CCH 115 E Lyon St, Laramie WY 82072.

We are now sending sample test cables to a lab in Denver for tensile strength testing to assure that their results agree with ours. They use an Instron testing machine.

CCH  is starting an ISO certification program with TUV. We will give updates on this process.

Its been over a month since the Souders Crack incident. No report has been issued from a metallurgist

that we are aware of. Only analysis of the piece by a lab can begin to answer all the questions

and speculation that exist, we hope a report will be issued soon.

April 27, 2007

It has been recently reported to CCH that the main cable broke on an Alien. We were e-mailed photos

of the cam, however it isn't possible to make any conclusions from a photograph. We have asked the individual to forward the cam to a certified metallurgist for analysis, as of today April 27th, 2007 it has not yet been received by the lab. We will post the results as soon as we receive them from the metallurgist.

Conversions of force units  http://www.sengpielaudio.com/ConvForce.htm 

Hang 'Em High: How far can you trust your belay device http://www.mra.org/services/grants/documents/Hang_Em_High_Final.pdf

Ask a Scientist  http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy00/phy00550.htm