Information on the most widely used ASTM standards within the materials testing industry
Model: UT4074A, EN 388, ISO 13997, ISO 17704
Glove/Footwear Cut Resistance Tester is a specialized instrument designed to objectively measure the resistance of protective materials, or PPE personal protective equipment (like those used in gloves, sleeves, and footwear components) to cutting by sharp edges, typically blades. It quantifies a material's ability to protect the wearer from laceration injuries in industrial settings.
Test Principle:
Under a specified load, a circular blade rotating in the opposite direction is used to cut the sample in order to determine the cut resistance of gloves or shoe uppers.
General introduction
Glove/Footwear Cut Resistance Tester is a specialized instrument designed to objectively measure the resistance of protective materials, or PPE personal protective equipment (like those used in gloves, sleeves, and footwear components) to cutting by sharp edges, typically blades. It quantifies a material's ability to protect the wearer from laceration injuries in industrial settings.

Test Principle:
Under a specified load, a circular blade rotating in the opposite direction is used to cut the sample in order to determine the cut resistance of gloves or shoe uppers.
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Key Features
● All major components are made of stainless steel, durable and long-lasting;
● Each slot of the sample fixture has a red line mark at the center, which can be aligned with the red line on the test bench during testing to protect the cutter from damage;
● Tungsten alloy steel blade with a hardness of 740HV-800HV, blade replacement is simple;
● The instrument is equipped with two sets of fixtures, facilitating standard sample tests and sample testing operations;
● After the sample is cut, the cutter contacts the underlying conductive device to form a circuit with the signal line, and the instrument automatically stops;
EN 388: Protective Gloves Against Mechanical Risks
ISO 13997: Protective clothing - Mechanical properties - Determination of resistance to cutting by sharp objects
This is now the predominant method. A straight blade is drawn across the material sample under a fixed load. The test determines the load (in Newtons) required to cut through the sample in a specified travel distance. The result is a "Cut Resistance" index in Newtons. Higher Newtons indicate better protection.
Levels (under EN 388): Results are often reported as a "Cut" rating (A-F), where A is the lowest and F is the highest resistance (e.g., Level F = ≥ 30 Newtons).
ISO 17704: Footwear-Test methods for uppers, linings and insocks-Abrasion resistance
ASTM F2992: Standard Test Method for Measuring Cut Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing with Tomodynamometer Test Equipment
GB/T 20991: Personal protective equipment - Test methods for footwear
This tester is crucial for:
Occupational Safety: Ensuring gloves and footwear meet safety standards for workers in industries like metal handling, glass manufacturing, automotive assembly, food processing (butchering), and construction.
Quality Control & R&D: Manufacturers use it to develop, compare, and certify the performance of new materials (e.g., high-performance fibers like HPPE, aramid, fiberglass composites, and stainless steel mesh).
Standardization & Compliance: It provides reproducible, lab-based data to comply with international safety standards, replacing subjective and hazardous human trials.
Sample Preparation: A standardized sample is cut from the glove or footwear material and mounted tautly in the machine.
Blade & Load: A fresh, standardized razor blade is installed. A specific weight (load) is selected, depending on the expected resistance of the material.
Testing: The blade moves horizontally across the sample. The machine measures the force required for the blade to cut through.
Analysis: Software calculates the cut resistance in Newtons based on the blade travel and force applied. Multiple tests are run (with blade changes) to get a statistically valid average.
Rating: The result is compared to standard tables to assign a protective performance level.
When choosing or interpreting results from this tester, focus on:
Compliance:Ensure the test method matches the required standard for your region and industry (e.g., EN 388 for Europe, ASTM for the US).
The "Cut" Rating:Look for the Newton value or the letter rating (A-F) in the product's certification. This is the most critical data point for cut protection.
Context:Cut resistance is one part of a glove's overall rating, which may also include abrasion, tear, puncture, and impact resistance.

Main technical specification
| Load weight | 5N ± 0.05N |
| Blade size | Φ45 ± 0.5 mm, thickness 3 ± 0.3 mm |
| Cutting stroke | 50mm |
| Cutting speed | 10 cm/s |
| Total cutting angle | 30-35 degrees |
| Counter | 1~99999.9 |
| Sample Diameter | 38mm |
| Dimensions | 550×350×350mm |
| Power Supply | AC 220V 50Hz 500W |
| Weight | 65kg |
Main accessories (Standard delivery with machine)
1. 1 set main frame
2. 2 sets of fixtures
3. 1 pc product manual
4. 1 pc product certificate
5. 1 pc product warranty card
Standard
EN 863 Protective clothing Mechanical properties Test method: Puncture resistance
EN 863 specifies a test method for determining the puncture resistance of materials used in protective clothing and their assemblies (e.g., seams). Expressed as the maximum force (in Newtons) needed to push a standard spike through specimens at a defined speed. It is a foundational mechanical test for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) compliance, widely used in industrial, medical, and occupational safety sectors.
ISO 12236 puncture test (CBR test) is the principal international standard for measuring the static puncture resistance of geosynthetics using a 50-mm plunger. Its results are a key indicator of a material's performance in applications requiring resistance to localized, sustained pressure.
ASTM D6241 Standard Test Method for Static Puncture Index Strength of Geotextiles and Geotextile-Related Products Using a 50 mm Probe.
Puncture resistance is a critical property of geotextiles used in various civil engineering applications, such as soil reinforcement, erosion control, and drainage systems. ASTM D6241 is an index test method for measuring the static puncture strength of geotextiles and geosynthetic - related products using a 50 - mm diameter cylindrical probe, also known as the CBR (California Bearing Ratio) puncture test, which is widely used for product acceptance testing and engineering quality control.
ASTM D5514/D5514M Standard Test Methods for Large-Scale Hydrostatic Puncture Testing of Geosynthetics
ASTM D5514 test method evaluates the stress/time properties of geosynthetics by using hydrostatic pressure to compress the geosynthetic over synthetic or natural test bases consisting of manufactured test pyramids/cones, rocks, soil, or voids.
This test method allows the user to determine the relative failure mode or points of failure for geosynthetics, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
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