CR-3000EX-L

Product Overview

The Sun Scientific CR-3000EX-L is a high-precision texture analyzer and physical property testing instrument designed for laboratories and production environments that demand accuracy, repeatability, and versatility. Engineered by Sun Scientific—a trusted name in material testing since the 1970s—the CR-3000EX-L stands out with its generous 300mm stroke length, enabling testing of large-format samples that smaller instruments cannot accommodate. Whether you work in food texture analysis, pharmaceutical testing, cosmetics development, or industrial material testing, this instrument delivers the data you need.

At the heart of the CR-3000EX-L is a precision load cell system with a measurement range spanning from 0.001N (0.1g) to 200N (20kg). This wide dynamic range means a single device can handle both delicate texture profiling of cosmetic creams and high-force compression testing of industrial rubber specimens. The instrument offers 9 distinct measurement modes—including compression, tension, bending, penetration, extrusion, and adhesion tests—making it one of the most versatile physical property testers in its class.

What truly distinguishes the CR-3000EX-L from conventional rheometers and texture analyzers is its fully automatic clearance adjustment. This feature eliminates manual setup errors and dramatically reduces test cycle times, allowing operators to run consistent, repeatable measurements without intervention. Combined with a speed range of 0.5 to 1200mm/min, USB and analog data outputs, and a compact bench-top form factor, the CR-3000EX-L is equally at home in an R&D laboratory as it is on a quality control production line.

For organizations seeking a reliable, multi-purpose compression testing machine that can also perform tension testing, penetration analysis, and peel strength measurements, the CR-3000EX-L offers an outstanding balance of performance, ease of use, and long-term value backed by Sun Scientific's decades of engineering expertise.

How It Works & Measurement Technology

The CR-3000EX-L operates on a precision linear drive mechanism that moves a crosshead along a vertical axis. The sample is placed on a base platform, and a probe, fixture, or compression plate attached to the crosshead applies force at a controlled speed. A high-resolution load cell continuously measures the force response as the probe interacts with the material, generating a detailed force-displacement curve in real time.

The instrument's 9 measurement modes cover the full spectrum of physical property testing. In compression mode, the probe pushes down on a sample to measure firmness, hardness, or crush strength—essential for food texture analysis such as bread firmness or gel strength testing. In tension mode, the crosshead pulls upward to measure tensile strength, elongation at break, or adhesion force—critical for pharmaceutical blister pack testing and adhesive peel strength analysis. Bending mode evaluates flexural properties, while penetration mode measures the force required for a probe to sink into a material, useful for cream spreadability and butter hardness assessments.

The automatic clearance adjustment system is a key innovation. Before each test, the instrument automatically detects the sample height and sets the optimal starting position, ensuring consistent contact conditions across every measurement. This removes a common source of operator error in manual texture analyzers and guarantees that results are directly comparable across different test sessions, operators, and even laboratories.

The 300mm stroke length is a significant advantage for testing larger or taller samples—such as full-size bread loaves, stacked packaging materials, or multi-layer pharmaceutical tablets—without the need to cut or modify specimens. This extended travel range, paired with a speed resolution from 0.5mm/min for delicate micro-tests to 1200mm/min for rapid production-line QC, makes the CR-3000EX-L a uniquely capable material testing instrument.

Industry Applications

Food texture analysis equipment like the CR-3000EX-L is indispensable for product development and quality control in food manufacturing. Test bread firmness over shelf life, measure gel strength in confectionery, assess noodle elasticity, evaluate fruit firmness at harvest, or determine the spreadability of peanut butter—all with a single instrument and interchangeable fixtures.

As a pharmaceutical tablet hardness tester, the CR-3000EX-L ensures tablets meet pharmacopeial standards for breaking force, measures capsule shell integrity, and evaluates the peel strength of blister packaging. Its automatic clearance adjustment is especially valuable in regulated environments where measurement consistency and traceability are paramount.

In cosmetics testing, the CR-3000EX-L quantifies cream spreadability, lipstick firmness, mascara viscosity characteristics, and the consistency of lotions and gels. These objective measurements replace subjective sensory panels and help R&D teams formulate products with precise, repeatable texture profiles.

Industrial material testing applications include rubber elasticity measurement, adhesive peel strength testing, foam compression resilience, and film tensile strength evaluation. The wide load range handles everything from thin adhesive tapes to dense elastomer specimens.

Packaging quality control benefits from seal strength testing, lid peel force measurement, and container compression resistance evaluation. The CR-3000EX-L helps packaging engineers verify that seals maintain integrity throughout distribution while remaining easy for consumers to open.

Why Choose the CR-3000EX-L?

• Multi-mode versatility: 9 measurement modes (compression, tension, bending, penetration, and more) in a single instrument
• Wide load range: From 0.1g to 20kg (0.001–200N) handles delicate and high-force applications
• 300mm stroke length: Accommodates large samples that competitors cannot test
• Fully automatic operation: Automatic clearance adjustment eliminates setup errors and speeds workflows
• Flexible speed control: 0.5 to 1200mm/min covers micro-tests and rapid production QC
• USB data output: Real-time data transfer to PC for analysis and reporting
• Compact design: Bench-top form factor fits any laboratory or production environment
• Sun Scientific reliability: Backed by decades of expertise in physical property testing instrumentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a rheometer and a texture analyzer?

A rheometer measures the flow and deformation properties of materials under applied stress, typically for fluids and semi-solids. A texture analyzer measures mechanical properties of solid and semi-solid materials—such as firmness, elasticity, and adhesion—through compression, tension, and penetration tests. The CR-3000EX-L bridges both categories, combining rheometer-level precision with the versatility of a texture analyzer across 9 measurement modes.

What industries use the CR-3000EX-L?

The CR-3000EX-L serves food manufacturing (bread firmness, gel strength, noodle elasticity), pharmaceutical production (tablet hardness, capsule break force), cosmetics development (cream spreadability, lipstick firmness), industrial material testing (rubber elasticity, adhesive peel strength), and packaging quality control (seal strength testing).

Can the CR-3000EX-L measure both solids and liquids?

The CR-3000EX-L is primarily designed for solid and semi-solid physical property testing. With its 9 measurement modes—including compression, tension, bending, and penetration—it handles solid, gel, and paste-like materials. For pure liquid rheology, a dedicated rotational rheometer may be more appropriate.

What is the load range of the CR-3000EX-L?

The CR-3000EX-L offers a load range from 0.001N (0.1g) to 200N (20kg), making it suitable for delicate cosmetic textures as well as robust industrial material testing. This wide dynamic range is one of its key advantages over single-purpose testers.

Does the CR-3000EX-L come with analysis software?

The CR-3000EX-L supports USB data output for real-time data transfer to a PC. Sun Scientific offers the Sun-Rheo-Data-Analyzer-PRO software as a companion tool for detailed graph analysis, statistical processing, and report generation. Contact SinoDevices for software licensing and integration details.

Features

• 300mm stroke length
• Load range: 0.001 to 200N (0.1g to 20kg)
• Speed range: 0.5 to 1200mm/min
• 9 measurement modes
• Fully automatic clearance adjustment
• USB and analog output
• For food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, industrial products

Specifications