The Medical Device Testing Lab,
explained for first-timers.

First, the two ways to use the lab

Every machine works one of two ways. Getting this clear first makes everything else make sense.

A quick look inside the room

Before the test machines, here's the everyday setup — a place to weigh things, clean things, and stay safe while working with heat, dust, and chemicals.

The 12 machines we've confirmed, one by one

Each card tells you the brand and model, what the machine does in plain words, what to know before you use it, and how important it is for our AI glasses. Only machines we've photographed in person are listed here.

STATION 01

Mechanical testing

Does it hold together, and does it last? These machines push, pull, and bend parts to find out.

2 machinesStaff-run

01

Situational Staff-run (lab operates it)

Universal Tester — dynamic (fatigue)

MTS  ·  Acumen 3 AT

This machine pushes and pulls a part over and over — thousands to millions of times — to see if it slowly wears out and cracks. That slow wear-then-break is called fatigue.

For the glassesProves the hinges and arms survive years of daily folding and wear.

🛡 Safety & PPEA lab staff member runs it. Keep hands away from the moving grips — it can push and pull with real force.

🧰 What to prepareBring several identical samples, and know the force or movement you want tested.

💡 In plain wordsFatigue = damage that builds up from repeating the same small action — like bending a paperclip back and forth until it snaps.

02

Situational Staff-run (lab operates it)

Universal Tester — static (strength)

Hualong  ·  WDW-10

This machine pulls, squashes, or bends a part one time until it gives way, and records how much force that took.

For the glassesChecks how much force a frame or joint can take before it breaks.

🛡 Safety & PPEStaff run it. Parts can snap suddenly, so stay behind the guard.

🧰 What to prepareBring a few identical samples and decide the test: pull, press, or bend?

💡 In plain wordsIt measures strength — the single biggest force a part can survive in one go.

STATION 02

Environmental & ageing

Will it still work after heat, cold, and humidity? These chambers speed up years of ageing into weeks.

3 machinesStaff-run

03

Core for the glasses Staff-run (lab operates it)

Temperature & Humidity Chamber

ESPEC  ·  PL-2J

A large box that holds a set temperature and moisture level for hours or weeks, to fast-forward how a product ages.

For the glassesMakes sure the glasses keep working in heat, humidity, and sweat.

🛡 Safety & PPEStaff-run. The inside gets hot and damp — don't open it mid-run.

🧰 What to prepareBring your device and decide three things: temperature, humidity level, and how long.

💡 In plain wordsWarm, damp air ages electronics faster — so weeks in here roughly equals years in real life.

04

Core for the glasses Staff-run (lab operates it)

Temperature & Humidity Chamber

ESPEC  ·  SH-661

Same idea as the PL-2J, but reaches much colder (down to −60°C) and hot — good for cold-chain shipping and fast hot/cold swings.

For the glassesTests cold-to-hot extremes and shipping conditions.

🛡 Safety & PPEStaff-run. Both very cold and very hot surfaces — let staff handle the door.

🧰 What to prepareKnow your temperature range and how the cycle should repeat.

💡 In plain wordsFlipping between cold and hot makes materials expand and shrink, which reveals weak seals and joints.

05

Core for the glasses Staff-run (lab operates it)

Temperature Chamber (no humidity)

ESPEC  ·  SU-242-5

A temperature-only chamber for heating and cooling cycles, without controlling humidity.

For the glassesSimpler heat-and-cold stress when moisture isn't needed.

🛡 Safety & PPEStaff-run. Hot and cold surfaces.

🧰 What to prepareDecide your high and low temperatures and the number of cycles.

💡 In plain wordsCycling = heating and cooling again and again to stress a product on purpose.

STATION 03

Furnaces (very high heat)

Machines that heat materials to extreme temperatures to harden ceramics or metals.

2 machinesSelf-access

06

Not needed for the glasses Self-access (you operate it)

Sintering Furnace (dental)

Ivoclar Vivadent  ·  Programat S1

A small furnace that hardens dental zirconia crowns by heating them to about 1600°C. This hardening is called sintering.

For the glassesBuilt for dental ceramics — not used for the glasses.

🛡 Safety & PPEGets extremely hot. Use heat-proof gloves, never touch the chamber, and let it cool fully before opening.

🧰 What to prepareOnly ceramic pieces made for it; follow the built-in firing program.

💡 In plain wordsSintering = heating a powder-shaped part so its grains fuse into one solid piece, without fully melting.

07

Not needed for the glasses Self-access (you operate it)

High-Temperature Furnace

Nabertherm  ·  LHT 03/17 D (1650C)

A powerful furnace (up to 1650°C) for hardening ceramics, heat-treating metal, or burning a sample down to ash.

For the glassesA general high-heat furnace for ceramics and metals — not for the glasses.

🛡 Safety & PPEExtreme heat and possible fumes. Heat-proof gloves, good ventilation, and full cool-down time.

🧰 What to prepareKnow your material's safe temperature and the heating steps it needs.

💡 In plain wordsHeat can change how hard and strong a metal is — this controlled heating is called heat treatment.

STATION 04

Materials & inspection

Preparing, cleaning, shaping, and looking closely at small parts and surfaces.

4 machinesSelf-access

08

Not needed for the glasses Self-access (you operate it)

Sandblaster

Sirio  ·  SR 923 R

A sealed box where you blast a part with fine grit to clean it or roughen its surface. You reach in using the built-in gloves.

For the glassesSurface prep for metal/ceramic parts — not needed for the glasses.

🛡 Safety & PPEAlways use the attached gloves, keep the door sealed, and never breathe the dust.

🧰 What to prepareBring parts tough enough for blasting, and choose the grit type.

💡 In plain wordsBlasting with grit either scrubs off crust or roughens a surface so glue and coatings grip better.

10

Situational Self-access (you operate it)

Precision Cutter (slow)

Buehler  ·  IsoMet 1000

A slow, precise saw with a thin blade that cuts small parts neatly without damaging them.

For the glassesSlices a failed part cleanly for a cross-section look.

🛡 Safety & PPEThin blade with liquid coolant — keep fingers clear and let it feed slowly.

🧰 What to prepareClamp the sample securely and choose the blade speed.

💡 In plain wordsA clean cross-section (a flat slice through a part) lets you see what's inside it.

11

Situational Self-access (you operate it)

Precision Cutter (fast)

Buehler  ·  IsoMet High Speed

A faster version of the precision saw, for harder or larger pieces.

For the glassesFaster cutting for the same failure-analysis job.

🛡 Safety & PPEFaster blade — same rules: hands clear, use coolant, wear eye protection.

🧰 What to prepareSecure the sample and pick a higher blade speed for hard material.

💡 In plain wordsMore speed means quicker cuts, but a slightly rougher edge than the slow saw.

13

Core for the glasses Self-access (you operate it)

Stereo Microscope

Leica  ·  S6D

A microscope for looking at small things at low zoom (6× to 40×), with a camera that shows the view on a screen.

For the glassesInspect solder joints, the camera module, and connectors while you build the glasses.

🛡 Safety & PPEGentle equipment — just avoid forcing the focus knob and keep the lenses clean.

🧰 What to prepareBring the parts you want to inspect, and clean them first.

💡 In plain wordsA stereo microscope gives a 3D-like view — ideal for checking solder and tiny defects.

STATION 05

Electronics bench

The one electronics-bench tool confirmed on-site so far: an oscilloscope for watching a circuit board's signals.

1 machineSelf-access

17

Core for the glasses Self-access (you operate it)

Oscilloscope

Rohde & Schwarz  ·  RTB

An oscilloscope draws electrical signals as a moving line on a screen, so you can actually 'see' the electricity.

For the glassesWatches the electrical signals to debug the circuit board.

🛡 Safety & PPEConnect the probes to the right points; this is low-voltage bench work.

🧰 What to prepareKnow which points on the board you want to look at.

💡 In plain wordsA 'scope' turns invisible electrical signals into a picture that changes over time.

Putting it together: testing the AI glasses

If we brought a pair of Innospire glasses to this lab, here's a sensible order to use the machines that we've confirmed are here — from first bench test to proving it survives real life.

What it costs

From HKSTP's price list (1 April 2024). These are guide prices and can change — always confirm before planning a budget.

Smallest bill is HK$500. HKSTP tenants and local students/academics get discounts — ask at +852 2629 6761 or mdtl@hkstp.org.