Chemnitzer Werkstoffmechanik GmbH

Chemnitzer Werkstoffmechanik GmbH (CWM) is a German technology company based in Chemnitz that develops and supplies optical, non-destructive materials-testing systems and analysis software. Its core technology is digital image correlation (DIC) and digital volume correlation (DVC), a high-precision measurement method for analysing deformations, displacements and strains on surfaces and inside materials. The company states that its optical measurement method follows the specifications of VDI/VDE Guideline 2626 Sheet 1 (2019-11) on optical measurement methods and digital image correlation. CWM's flagship hardware line is the microDAC® family of modular measuring systems. The universal microDAC® system performs 2D analysis of movements, deformations and strains using DIC, exploiting the natural surface structure of the measured object to determine the smallest local displacements and strains, with sample preparation needed only for transparent and shiny materials. The range also includes the Video Extensometer microDAC® strain, a DIN EN ISO 9513-certified video extensometer for tensile and compression tests that measures longitudinal and transverse strains simultaneously and without contact directly on the specimen surface, and microDAC® CTE for thermal-expansion measurement. The systems are used from the micro to the macro range and offer measured-value resolution of up to 0.01 pixels. On the software side, CWM provides VEDDAC 7 for digital image correlation and VEDDAC volume for digital volume correlation, used to analyse 2D image data and X-ray computed tomography (CT) volume data. The colour images generated by the systems visualise measurement results in real time, with blue indicating minimal or no deformation, green to yellow marking moderate shifts, and red zones indicating maximum material loads or deformations. Beyond selling systems, CWM offers measurement and analysis services. These cover thermal and mechanical loads such as tension, compression and bending, and are applied in material and component testing, deformation and damage analysis, and reliability assessment of electronic components. Services include deformation and strain measurements on the specimen surface and inside the specimen, X-ray inspection to look into the interior of components, and metallographic microsection analysis for failure analysis. Measurements can be carried out in-house or on the customer's premises, and CWM also supports research projects and develops customised software and hardware solutions for motion and deformation analyses. CWM's systems are used by companies, research institutes and universities for materials testing, product development and reliability analysis. Application areas include testing of materials, components and systems in microelectronics, determination of material parameters, fracture-mechanics analyses such as crack propagation and adhesion of material composites, measurement of swelling and shrinkage behaviour of materials exposed to moisture and temperature, investigation of mechanical and thermal deformations on machines such as textile machines and wire drawing machines, and distance and speed analyses. The company has received the BSFZ certificate, awarded by the Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (Research Allowance Certification Office) to companies eligible to claim funding through the German research allowance.

Chemnitzer Werkstoffmechanik GmbH (CWM) is a German company located in Chemnitz, a city in the state of Saxony with a long tradition in mechanical engineering, materials research and precision manufacturing. The company was established to apply optical measurement methods to the mechanical characterisation of materials, and it has built its business around digital image correlation (DIC) and, later, digital volume correlation (DVC). CWM's development is closely tied to the microDAC® product family. The microDAC® measuring system was created as a modular, universal optical system for the precise recording of displacements, deformations and strains in the 2D range, using robust correlation algorithms that deliver reliable results even in real measurement environments with spontaneous image influences. The system can be used from the micro to the far macro range and achieves a measured-value resolution of up to 0.01 pixels. Over time the product line expanded to include specialised variants: the Video Extensometer microDAC® strain, a DIN EN ISO 9513-certified video extensometer for tensile and compression tests that measures longitudinal and transverse strains simultaneously and without contact directly on the specimen surface, and microDAC® CTE for thermal-expansion measurement. On the software side, CWM developed the VEDDAC family. VEDDAC 7 handles digital image correlation on 2D image data, while VEDDAC volume extends the analysis to X-ray computed tomography (CT) volume data for digital volume correlation. This combination allows CWM to analyse deformations, displacements and strains both on surfaces and inside materials. CWM has aligned its methods with recognised standards. The company states that its optical measurement method with digital image correlation is based on the specifications of VDI/VDE Guideline 2626 Sheet 1: Optical measurement methods - Digital image correlation; fundamentals, acceptance and monitoring test (2019-11). Its microDAC® strain video extensometer is certified to DIN EN ISO 9513. Beyond hardware and software, CWM built a services business. It offers measurement and analysis services using its microDAC® systems for DIC and, in combination with X-ray computed tomography, for DVC. These services investigate thermal and mechanical loads such as tension, compression and bending and are used in material and component testing, deformation and damage analysis, and the reliability assessment of electronic components. The company also performs X-ray inspection to view the interior of components and metallographic microsection analysis for failure analysis, and it supports research projects and develops customised software and hardware solutions for motion and deformation analyses. Measurements can be carried out in-house or on the customer's premises. CWM's customer base includes companies, research institutes and universities that use its systems for materials testing, product development and reliability analysis. Application areas span microelectronics, determination of material parameters, fracture-mechanics analyses such as crack propagation and adhesion of material composites, measurement of swelling and shrinkage behaviour of materials exposed to moisture and temperature, investigation of mechanical and thermal deformations on machines such as textile machines and wire drawing machines, and distance and speed analyses. A notable recent development is the company's receipt of the BSFZ certificate. The certificate is awarded exclusively by the Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (BSFZ) (Research Allowance Certification Office). Companies receive the certificate from the BSFZ if they are eligible to claim funding through the German research allowance, which recognises their research and development activities.

• Development of the microDAC® modular optical measuring system for 2D DIC-based non-destructive material testing.

• Introduction of the Video Extensometer microDAC® strain, certified to DIN EN ISO 9513.

• Release of VEDDAC 7 software for digital image correlation and VEDDAC volume for digital volume correlation.

• Alignment of the optical measurement method with VDI/VDE Guideline 2626 Sheet 1 (2019-11).

• Receipt of the BSFZ certificate confirming eligibility for the German research allowance.

Specialist provider of high-precision optical DIC/DVC measurement systems, software and analysis services for non-destructive materials testing, materials research, structural analysis and quality control.

• microDAC®

  Universal, modular optical measuring system for precise recording of displacements, deformations and strains in the 2D range, based on digital image correlation (DIC). Usable from micro to far macro range, with measured-value resolution up to 0.01 pixels.

• Video Extensometer microDAC® strain

  DIN EN ISO 9513-certified video extensometer for tensile and compression tests, measuring longitudinal and transverse strains simultaneously, without contact and without additional markings directly on the specimen surface.

• microDAC® CTE

  System variant for thermal-expansion measurement.

• VEDDAC 7

  Software for digital image correlation (DIC) analysis of 2D image data.

• VEDDAC volume

  Software for digital volume correlation (DVC) analysis of X-ray computed tomography volume data.

1. 1Non-destructive materials testing with DIC and DVC | CWMcwm-chemnitz.de
2. 2microDAC® - Non-destructive materials testingcwm-chemnitz.de
3. 3Precise measurement and analysis services with microDAC®cwm-chemnitz.de
4. 4Universal measuring system - microDAC®cwm-chemnitz.de
5. 5Chemnitzer Werkstoffmechanik GmbHwikidata.org