Quick answer: Before testing, with criteria linked to required function and inspection method.
When should failure criteria be set?
Breakage is not the only possible failure. Output drift, incomplete return, attachment movement or unacceptable wear may matter. Defining criteria after seeing results can hide a functional failure. Keep observations and reasons for stopping separately from the original acceptance limits.
A practical verification method
Review the test plan for measurable criteria and verify each stopping decision against the predeclared rule.
| Item | What to record | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Reference configuration | Part or assembly identity and drawing revision | Make comparisons traceable |
| Test conditions | Relevant position, direction and operating condition | Compare the same characteristic |
| Decision evidence | Review the test plan for measurable criteria and verify each stopping decision against the predeclared rule. | Resolve the specific question before approval |
Use the result in an engineering request
Describe the observed condition and the required function separately. Include the relevant drawing revision and your results from the check above. If an acceptance limit has not been established, identify it as an open design input rather than treating a successful trial as approval.
Review the related Leading Spring product information. For a project-specific review, send the mechanism description, available geometry and the evidence relevant to this decision through the contact page.
Editorial note: AI-assisted engineering guidance, prepared from the topic-specific reasoning shown here and the company’s public product context. Illustrations explain decisions; they are not customer-case photographs or test results. Product-specific suitability requires review against your approved requirements.