Specifications include, but are not limited to: The to-be-purchased item must function seamlessly with existing hardware and software valued at over $66,000 plus misc. hardware valued at over $16,000. This existing eqt. will not work, or would work only partially, with other vendor’s offerings. Our existing sensors and other equipment paired with a new instrument from same vendor is the only way to meet our requirements of auto-sensor identification; integrated/automatic calibration of sensors; built-in capability to control testing machine via those sensors. Additionally, this is the only way that allows us to use our extensive, already-written (at substantial cost), custom library of test methods. No other vendor can meet these requirements. Further info: Our existing investment in sensors (video extensometer, load cells, expansion channel module) must interface completely and seamlessly with the new device we are purchasing. We must be able to use this existing equipment on the tobe- purchased device using the same already-defined/created software test methods using the same existing sensors and ancillary equipment. This is required so that a) these specialty sensors do not have to be replaced by other expensive purchases and b) so that research can be conducted and results compared directly to our existing library of test data, without changing the underlying test methodology, test sensors and related data acquisition system design.
