VMBD Digital Active Clay Tester

Description

VMBD Digital Active Clay Tester

See how it works: watch the machine-vision active-clay test in action on our VMBD active clay tester feature page.

The Versatile VMBD fully automates the active-clay (bentonite) determination in green sand. Instead of an operator adding methylene-blue dye drop by drop and judging a blue “halo” by eye, the VMBD runs the complete AFS 2211-17-S methylene-blue clay test on its own and reads the endpoint with a machine-vision system – delivering an objective, repeatable active-clay percentage with close to zero operator input.

Why active clay matters

Only the active clay develops bond, so it sets green strength, mould rigidity and the casting-defect rate – and it is the figure you dose bentonite against. Over-add and you waste bentonite and hurt compactability; under-add and mould strength collapses. The measurement therefore has to be right and repeatable, every time.

How it works – a machine-vision endpoint

The VMBD heats, cools and stirs the sample, then titrates methylene-blue solution while a camera images the dye halo on the filter paper after each addition. Computer vision measures the halo width and classifies each iteration – core only, halo in progress, absorption complete – and the test stops itself the moment absorption is complete. Every step is logged with its image, so the result is fully auditable.

Proof you can audit

Each test produces a complete record – the recipe used, heating and cooling profile, titration least count, and the analysed halo for every iteration with its measured width in pixels. No more hand-written numbers or two technicians reporting two different endpoints.

Manual methylene-blue titration vs. the Versatile VMBD

	Manual MB titration	Versatile VMBD
Endpoint	Operator eyeballs the halo	Electronic / machine-vision sensing – automatic
Repeatability	Operator-dependent	Same across operators & shifts
Time per test	Slow; ties up a technician	~10 min, walk-away
Skilled labour	Trained titrator required	Prep & press Start
Data	Hand-written	On-board Wi-Fi hotspot + cloud sync (V-Sync)
Standard	AFS 2211-17-S	AFS 2211-17-S – automated

Key features

• Fully automatic active-clay test – add the sample, press Start
• Machine-vision endpoint detection for an objective, repeatable result
• Working range 3-20% active clay; method AFS 2211-17-S
• Heating, cooling, stirring and endpoint sensing all electronic; the test stops itself
• On-board Wi-Fi – view results on a phone or PC; V-Sync cloud sync for audit-ready records
• Full per-iteration image and data log for traceability

Technical specifications

Test	Active clay (bentonite) in green sand
Method	AFS 2211-17-S (methylene blue clay test)
Working range	3-20% active clay
Endpoint	Automatic – machine-vision halo analysis
Cycle	~10 minutes, walk-away
Connectivity	On-board Wi-Fi; phone / PC view; V-Sync cloud sync
Power supply	230 V AC, 50 Hz (please specify on order)

Reference: Springstead et al., “the problem was never the chemistry; it was the human calling a visual endpoint,” Int. J. Metalcasting, 2026.

Related guides & resources

• Moisture, compactability & clay-test calibration
• VSync – live cloud monitoring stream every reading and check it against spec

Manufactured and serviced by Versatile – trusted by 9,000+ foundry customers worldwide since 1966. Contact us for a demonstration, sample results or a quotation.