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Department of Mechanical, Bioresources and Biomedical Engineering

Department of Mechanical, Bioresources and Biomedical Engineering

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Departmental Engineering Equipment

The Department of Mechanical, Bioresources, and Biomedical Engineering  has lab equipment for various engineering applications. The research equipment owned by the Department varies widely depending on the specific focus areas and research interests of the staff.

Below is the list of available equipment together with the contact persons:

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Machine Name: Friction Stir Welding

  • Machine of different metal plates (e.g. copper, aluminium)

Manufacturer: I-Stir A Par System Technology
Supplier: Jezreel
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Tshepo Gaonnwe , 011 471 2526, gaonnt@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R350 per sample, External - R500 per sample, Private Sector - R750 per sample

Machine Name: Hardness Tester

  • Vickers, Brinel, Rockwell, and Knoop hardness tests of different material

Manufacturer: Emcotest
Supplier: IMP/SPS
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Tshepo Gaonnwe, 011 471 2526, gaonnt@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R200 per sample, External - R250 per sample, Private Sector - R400 per sample

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Machine Name: Biodiesel Engine Test Bed 

  • Test biodiesel produced from biodiesel reactor 

Manufacturer: JDD Systems  
Supplier: Jezreel
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Shumani Ramuhahile, 011 471 2078, ramuhs@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R250 per sample, External - R350 per sample, Private Sector - R450 per sample

Machine Name: Biodiesel Reactor

  • Synthesis of biodiesel through the process of transesterification of vegetable oil and animal fats. 
  • Study of the transesterification process
  • Influence of temperature on reaction
  • Thermal and material balance

Manufacturer: Biodiesel reactor 216 01 033 
Supplier: Jezreel
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Shumani Ramuhahile, 011 471 2078, ramuhs@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R250 per sample, External - R350 per sample, Private Sector - R450 per sample

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Machine Name: Scanning Electron Microscopy 

  • Characterize topographic structures and evaluate surface roughness with non-contact confocal imaging
  • Determine the thickness of coatings and thin films non-destructively
  • Use a range of imaging techniques including polarization and fluorescence in optical contrast or in confocal mode
  • Characterize metallographic specimens in reflected light or thin section of rock or polymer in transmitted light
Manufacturer: Carl Ziess X-ray Microscopy, Inc 
Supplier: Ziess
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Rabelani Murwamadala, 011 471 3188, murward@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R500 per sample, External -  R800 per sample, Private Sector - R1200 per sample

Machine Name: Tensile and Bending Test

  • Tensile and bending of materials
Manufacturer: Shimadzu 
Supplier: Wirsam Scientific  
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Tshepo Gaonnwe, 011 471 2526, gaonnt@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal- R100 per sample, External -  R200 per sample, Private Sector - R350 per sample
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Machine Name: Instron 8801 (with therma chamber) 

  • Tests that can be performed are: Tensile, fatigue and compression
Manufacturer: Instron 
Supplier: Advanced Lab Solutions
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Sibusiso Nginda, 011 471 3293

nginds@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R170 per sample, External - R300 per sample, Private Sector - R550 per sample

Machine Name: Crossbeam 340

Manufacturer: Carl Ziess X-ray Microscopy, Inc  
Supplier: Zeiss
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Rabelani Murwamadala, 011 471 3188,  murward@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R100 per sample, External - R200 per sample, Private Sector - R450 per sample
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Machine Name: X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)

Manufacturer: PANalytical
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Vasudeva Veeredhi, 011 670 9420, vasudvr@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R350 per sample, External - R500 per sample, Private Sector - R750 per sample

Machine Name: Xradia 510 Versa

Manufacturer: Carl Ziess X-ray Microscopy, Inc 
Supplier: Ziess
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Rabelani Murwamadala, 011 471 3188, murward@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R120 per sample, External - R350 per sample, Private Sector - R700 per sample
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Machine Name: CellScale Biomaterials Testing 

Manufacturer: CellScale
Supplier: IMP/SPS
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Mabuda, mabudai@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R350 per sample, External - R420 per sample, Private Sector - R500 per sample

Machine Name: Cell Scale Bio-uniaxial  

  • A versatile uniaxial benchtop mechanical tester for biomaterials
Manufacturer: CellScale  
Supplier: IMP/SPS
Location: Euclid Building Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Block J J-G 061
Contact Person: Mabuda, mabudai@unisa.ac.za
Estimated costs and availability: Internal - R250 per sample, External - R315 per sample, Private Sector - R460 per sample
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Last modified: 2026/05/13