We offer a range of engineering and manufacturing expertise to address your needs. For over 45 years, we have been a dependable partner to our clients, who range from start-ups to multi-national OEMs leading the development of cutting-edge technologies in the aerospace and automotive industries.

On this page, you can learn more about the industry-leading expertise and services we offer. We look forward to discussing how our services can solve your most challenging issues.

Engineering Services

Test Devices by SCHENCK’s engineering team is a tight-knit multi-disciplinary group with key competencies in mechanical, mechatronics, and industrial engineering. We offer consulting and engineering services covering machine design, automation, and analyses (advanced FEA, rotor dynamics, and test data analysis), and undertake projects to design and develop custom machines as well as complex engineering test programs.

Backed by over four decades of experience in advanced engineered testing and custom machine development, the strength of our engineering team combines analytical skills and robust hands-on experience. Our customers come to us when they seek a pragmatic and innovative partner to successfully solve challenging problems.

Custom Equipment Design & Development

As the company’s name suggests, Test Devices by SCHENCK has been in the business of designing and building customized test machines for decades. In fact, the company’s history of equipment manufacturing preceded the launch of our services business. We specialize in designing and building machines that test high-speed rotating parts; however, our capabilities extend to a broader range of customized engineered testing and in-production test machines. Some examples of our machine design and build projects include:

Spin Pits >
Grinding Wheel Test Machines
Combustion Test Rigs / Small Turbine Test Rigs
High Speed / High Power Drive Systems

Engineering Consulting Services

Test Devices by SCHENCK offers expert engineering consulting services in the field of high-speed rotor engineering. We routinely engage in performing structural analyses (advanced FEA), rotor dynamics analysis to resolve rotor unbalance issues, and consulting on test data measurement strategies and analysis as well as interpretation of data from engineering tests or field measurements.

Some examples of the consulting work we perform include:

Conceptual Design Studies of Machines: Our customers approach us to perform conceptual design and feasibility studies for new machines. This work typically involves engineering analysis, development of a CAD model, a procurement study, and a feasibility study. The effort typically culminates in a presentation of the budget and schedule required to build and test the machine.
Studies of Rotor Structural Integrity & Durability: We use FEA to investigate the stress and deformation behavior of a high-speed rotor operating in a high-temperature environment. This work entails non-linear analysis involving thermal analysis, multi-body contacts, inelastic material modeling, and a fatigue assessment.
Safety Assessments of High-Energy Rotor Containment Structures: This effort entails an assessment of the burst energy capacity of a rotor, a detailed FEA-based study of the containment structural integrity, and a cross-correlation-based assessment compared to our experience base.
Design and Development of Rotor Balance Tooling: This work includes careful review of a customer’s part design, assessing key dimensions, GD&T requirements, and relevant balance correction features on the part. Subsequent design work captures key features of the balance tooling to ensure a proper match of the tooling size, weight to part ratio, and its sensitivity and responsiveness to the balance machine designated for the work.
Engineering Experimentation: We provide customers with access to our test facility to set up and conduct small rocket ejection system tests. The data from the test, including high-speed videography, allows customers to observe and assess the structural response and performance of an explosive-based stage separation system.
Test Data Processing & Analysis: We often perform detailed and in-depth analyses of test data. This work involves the deduction and decomposition of relevant components from the original measurement, visualization of key trends and indicators, and an explanation of observations and insights gained from the study.

Rotor Balance Engineering Services

Test Devices by SCHENCK offers leading expertise in the domain of balancing. We offer expert consultation services to help you optimize your rotor balancing strategies. We leverage a probabilistic study technique to model the impact of various manufacturing methods and determine the required steps to achieve the necessary rotor balance.

We believe rotor balancing requirements should be addressed in the rotor design phase, and the development of a robust balancing process should be a part of the manufacturing strategy. Our engineering consulting services, combined with the use of high-quality SCHENCK balancing machines, ensure customers achieve the optimum path for manufacturing high-quality rotating parts in the most economical manner.

Custom Equipment Design & Development
As the company’s name suggests, Test Devices by SCHENCK has been in the business of designing and building customized test machines for decades. In fact, the company’s history of equipment manufacturing preceded the launch of our services business. We specialize in designing and building machines that test high-speed rotating parts; however, our capabilities extend to a broader range of customized engineered testing and in-production test machines. Some examples of our machine design and build projects include:
Spin Pits >

Grinding Wheel Test Machines

Combustion Test Rigs / Small Turbine Test Rigs

High Speed / High Power Drive Systems
Engineering Consulting Services
Test Devices by SCHENCK offers expert engineering consulting services in the field of high-speed rotor engineering. We routinely engage in performing structural analyses (advanced FEA), rotor dynamics analysis to resolve rotor unbalance issues, and consulting on test data measurement strategies and analysis as well as interpretation of data from engineering tests or field measurements.

Some examples of the consulting work we perform include:
- Conceptual Design Studies of Machines: Our customers approach us to perform conceptual design and feasibility studies for new machines. This work typically involves engineering analysis, development of a CAD model, a procurement study, and a feasibility study. The effort typically culminates in a presentation of the budget and schedule required to build and test the machine.
- Studies of Rotor Structural Integrity & Durability: We use FEA to investigate the stress and deformation behavior of a high-speed rotor operating in a high-temperature environment. This work entails non-linear analysis involving thermal analysis, multi-body contacts, inelastic material modeling, and a fatigue assessment.
- Safety Assessments of High-Energy Rotor Containment Structures: This effort entails an assessment of the burst energy capacity of a rotor, a detailed FEA-based study of the containment structural integrity, and a cross-correlation-based assessment compared to our experience base.
- Design and Development of Rotor Balance Tooling: This work includes careful review of a customer’s part design, assessing key dimensions, GD&T requirements, and relevant balance correction features on the part. Subsequent design work captures key features of the balance tooling to ensure a proper match of the tooling size, weight to part ratio, and its sensitivity and responsiveness to the balance machine designated for the work.
- Engineering Experimentation: We provide customers with access to our test facility to set up and conduct small rocket ejection system tests. The data from the test, including high-speed videography, allows customers to observe and assess the structural response and performance of an explosive-based stage separation system.
- Test Data Processing & Analysis: We often perform detailed and in-depth analyses of test data. This work involves the deduction and decomposition of relevant components from the original measurement, visualization of key trends and indicators, and an explanation of observations and insights gained from the study.
Rotor Balance Engineering Services
Test Devices by SCHENCK offers leading expertise in the domain of balancing. We offer expert consultation services to help you optimize your rotor balancing strategies. We leverage a probabilistic study technique to model the impact of various manufacturing methods and determine the required steps to achieve the necessary rotor balance.

We believe rotor balancing requirements should be addressed in the rotor design phase, and the development of a robust balancing process should be a part of the manufacturing strategy. Our engineering consulting services, combined with the use of high-quality SCHENCK balancing machines, ensure customers achieve the optimum path for manufacturing high-quality rotating parts in the most economical manner.

Testing Services

We offer testing services to suit your needs and budget. We can support everything from quick proof of concept experiments for customers interested in simple expeditious testing to full-fledged aerospace certification projects (FAA / EASA) requiring comprehensive support for detailed engineering work and project management. Our experienced engineering and technical staff are always available to offer consultation and know-how. We provide professional engineering testing services, deliver critical data and valuable insights to our clients.

Spin Testing

Spin testing is our core capability. With over four decades of experience offering spin testing services, we offer unmatched expertise to ensure the successful completion of your spin test project. Our knowledge in spin testing services reflects years of satisfying the demanding needs of customers who work with high-speed rotating parts for aerospace propulsion systems.

Spin testing is a test method that ensures the strength, durability, safety, and performance of critical high-speed rotating parts that operate under extreme conditions. Some of the most common components we spin test include jet engine disks and blades, turbomachine wheels, high-performance electric motor rotors, and flywheel energy storage systems.

We offer several types of spin testing services to support design validation, critical engine part certification, and prove out of manufacturing processes. Our spin tests include:

Proof Testing and Overspeed Certification Testing
Burst (Failure) Testing
Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) Testing
Elevated Temperature Spin Testing – Including Thermal Gradient
Dynamic Spin Testing (High Cycle Fatigue for Bladed Rotor Studies)

Spin Testing for High-Performance Electric Motor Parts

High-performance electric motors are becoming increasingly prevalent in aerospace and automotive markets, supporting progress in electrification efforts toward achieving sustainable clean transportation systems. At Test Devices by SCHENCK, we have developed specific technologies to address the needs of our “e-mobility” customers. We can help you accelerate the development of your high-performance motor through our world-class spin testing services.

Some of the most relevant innovations for high-performance electric motors include:

Studies of Rotor Profiles and Deformation Shapes at Different Speeds (Elastic and Plastic): This is useful in optimizing the rotor shape at speed, while maintaining the required air gap.
Capturing Rotor Failure Modes with High-Speed Video During Burst Tests (Including at Elevated Temperature Conditions): This is extremely valuable in studying failure mechanisms and initiation locations.
Evaluation of Rotor Fatigue Life with LCF Testing: With the use of Test Devices by SCHENCK’s proprietary Real-Time Crack Detection System (RT-CDS), we can monitor tests and detect the onset of cracks in situ (during testing). Our RT-CDS system has the ability to interrupt LCF tests before rotor disintegration, providing an ideal test scenario that does not require time-consuming failure investigations.

We can incorporate relevant test temperatures for all types of tests, including those mentioned above. Typically, electric motor tests are performed at moderately elevated temperature conditions that match their operating environments (200 °F – 400 °F). Unlike jet engine disks which are typically monolithic in construction, electric motor rotors are composite structures (e.g., a radial flux permanent magnet motor consists of a metal hub and an array of magnets held onto the hub by a fiber composite wrap) that exhibit varying responses to operating temperatures. This is often a key factor that needs to be evaluated.

High-Temperature Combustion Gas & Testing Subscale Turbine Testing Services

Test Devices by SCHENCK’s Turbine Operational Aerothermal Subscale Test (TOAST) facility offers customers in the aerospace and energy industries a convenient way to perform early-phase concept testing. This allows them to gather relevant data for maturing numerical models and to study key characteristics of new materials, sensors, coating systems, fuels, or engine parts in development.

The test facility is equipped with an in-house turbine control system, various instrumentation, test cell cameras, fuel supply lines, and a CO2 fire suppression system. We can either run a small turbine as a test surrogate or modify it, including the design and build of custom hardware, to meet your specific test requirements. Compared to a typical burner rig test, a subscale turbine test can create a much more realistic high flow rate hot combustion gas environment.

Due to its size, the “table-top” test platform offers a convenient and flexible test system allowing for impromptu adjustments to the experiment settings and measurements. This enables customers to get the exact data they need in a cost- and time-efficient way.

We have performed the following tests in our TOAST facility:

Thermal-Shock Studies for High-Temperature Sensors and Coatings
Jet Blast Survivability Tests
Exhaust Gas Emission Studies
Evaluations of Fuel Varieties & Additives
Exhaust Plume Studies
Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) and Environmental Coating Studies
Studies of Hot Particle Erosion and Anti-Abrasion Coating Systems
Studies of Air-Cooled Sample Probe Performance

Testing Facility & Capabilities

Test Devices by SCHENCK is a “one-stop-shop” for your testing needs. We operate a 55,000 square-foot facility equipped with test cells and relevant support equipment, including cranes and material handling equipment for large and heavy items, an in-house machine shop able to quickly implement any in-situ changes, rotor balancing machines, and a precision inspection (inc. CMM) department.

At Test Devices by SCHENCK, we operate seven spin rigs and a small gas turbine test facility (including high-temperature combustion gas testing). All our spin test facilities also include fortified test cells designed to ensure safety while managing high-energy burst tests. Additionally, we have ample open floor space for other types of tests and machine build work.

Production Outsourcing Services

We offer outsourced production services to support our customers in the production of critical rotating parts. Compared to engineering and testing services, our production services require careful planning and consistent processing of high-volume flows while maintaining quality of work. Our services include:

Production Overspeed / Proof Testing

We are an industry leader in production overspeed/proof testing services for aerospace customers. Leveraging our expertise in spin testing, we have developed and refined “production spin” processes that can reliably proof test and process part quantities in the thousands.

Forging Pre-Spinning Processes

We also specialize in spin testing jet engine forgings. Pre-spinning is a material conditioning step required for most cutting-edge jet engine disks today. The forgings often retain a high level of rotor unbalance and are difficult to spin at high speed; however, we have developed technologies to efficiently spin and process forgings in large quantities.

CNC Machining

We supplement and streamline the pre-spin process with in-house CNC machining capabilities. Rough and semi-finish machining services are performed on-site, alongside our pre-spin procedures, resulting in shortened turnaround times and improved production efficiency – all under one roof.

AS9100 Quality

Test Devices by SCHENCK is an AS9100 (Rev D) company, and we operate in compliance with the quality requirements for aerospace applications. We have been a long-time partner of many leading aerospace OEMs, aiding in the production of their jet engine and rocket motor parts.

Consulting & Services