Toughness tester update

I picked up the toughness tester (TT) at school, and later in the afternoon I brought Cousin Dan over here to have a look at it. Dan was totally in his element. His degree in engineering physics (with a concentration in electronics) was really put to good use as we set to work on the tester.

Here's the box the TT came in:


And here's Dan taking out the load cells. He looks so happy!!


Here are all the components. Dan is looking excited.


So I trained on this thing for a few days back in September, but I don't think I ever assembled it myself with it being in quite so many pieces. There's a "manual," but it does not really say much about how to assemble it, and there are no pictures. Luckily Cousin Dan lended a hand and we had this thing put together in a couple of minutes. Here's Dan putting together the load cells:


This photo nicely shows off the stainless steel test frame and the scissors used to conduct leaf toughness tests.


The beige box with all the cords coming out of it is the electronics box.... This is likely where the problem with the tester is.


So, at any rate, we have the tester set up. To actually do the toughness tests, it needs to be hooked up to a computer that runs the appropriate software. We can't test it out to figure out what is wrong with it because we have just realized that the data integration card cannot be plugged into our laptop. We had thought that Rob's newest Mac had a port for this device, but it turns out that it does not. Rob is telling me not to freak out and trying to come up with a solution. At the moment, it looks like I may have to buy a PC laptop. I don't know if I can buy this on the grant (which hasn't actually arrived yet)-- I didn't ask for money for a computer because I didn't think it was necessary. I am seriously, seriously distressed about this, but am trying my best not to freak out. Am hoping we can borrow a computer to at least test it out. If the start signal malfunction is a result of a problem with the electronics box, then it will have to be sent back to Hong Kong so the guy who made it can repair it. Oh, and I also have to buy some kind of special suitcase in which to transport the machine. So... even though the machine is here, my stress level is still at an all-time high. Will post as soon as I have any more info.