Mortar Flow Tables and Flow Test Equipment
Choose mortar flow test equipment around the procedure your laboratory follows. A flow table raises and drops its tabletop to spread the prepared mortar specimen; it is not a rotating platform. The resulting spread is used to assess consistency under the specified test conditions.
Compare Manual and Motorized Flow Tables
A manual hand-driven flow table uses a hand crank. Check its documented test-method suitability before specifying it for acceptance testing; the listed manual model is described for applications where strict standards adherence is not the primary requirement.
A motorized mortar flow table provides powered operation. Compare the operating sequence, electrical requirements and whether a counter is included or purchased separately. Do not assume every table in the category has identical controls or meets the same apparatus requirements.
Check the Mold and Measurement Accessories
The flow mold shapes the sample before the spread measurement. Confirm the required dimensions and whether a mold and collar are supplied with the table. A replacement flow-table mold should match the selected apparatus and procedure.
Compare the percent-flow caliper with the measuring requirements of your method. Use compatible specimen-preparation tools rather than substituting a concrete tamping rod simply because it appears in a related category.
Plan the Installation Before Ordering
Check the support, fixing points and clearance needed for operation and cleaning. The listed standard motorized and hand-driven tables are designed for mounting to a concrete pedestal that is not supplied. Confirm the mounting arrangement for the exact model rather than assuming a bench is an equivalent support.
Keep Flow Testing Separate from Strength Testing
A flow result describes the mortar's behavior in the prescribed test; it is not a compressive-strength result. When preparing strength specimens, choose the appropriate cement and mortar cube molds separately. Select the required grade of standard test sand for your procedure rather than treating all silica sands as interchangeable.
Complete the Equipment Check
Before purchase, confirm the table model, method documentation, power supply, mounting base, mold, measuring device and included accessories. Use the current test method and instrument instructions for sample preparation, drop sequence, timing and calculation; this buying guide is not a substitute for the test procedure.
