Contentful Paint

Hardness testing technologies

All you need to know.

HARDNESS KNOW-HOW

Hardness testing technologies

Here you will find useful information on the load application variants, the possibilities of measured value evaluation in hardness testing (optical vs. depth difference measurement), the electronics of a hardness tester (PC, PLC) as well as design topics from CE conformity to equipment variants (e.g. handwheel vs. motorized probe adjustment).

Electronics

Electronics

Electronics of a hardness tester (PC, PLC).

Electronics
Design

Design

From CE conformity to equipment options.

Design

Load application

Dead load with weights

Dead load with weights

Formerly, the test force was applied in hardness testing machines by means of dead loading with weights. This means that a specific test force is applied by means of a directly acting mass. The test force often can be adjusted via a lever mechanism or via changing weights.

For differential-depth methods (e.g. Rockwell), the application of the pre and main force is carried out by coupling in additional weights for the main force.

Dead load systems of this construction type usually come with damping elements, to be able to apply the test forces shock-free. Still, an overshooting of the test force cannot be avoided due to the system. Furthermore, hardness measurements are relatively strong influenced by vibrations and shocks.

Dead load with springs

Closed-loop control system

Dead load with closed-loop control system

Measurement Evaluation

Brinell SmartLight

Brinell SmartLight

The Brinell hardness test has always represented a challenge with soft metals and difficult surfaces. Particularly with soft materials, the edges are not always perfectly recognisable due to considerable deformation (bulging) around the indentation.

The use of Brinell SmartLight makes the edges of the indent easier to identify and evaluate.

The SmartLight technology developed by EMCO-TEST combines a lens with collimated light. With this lighting, parallel light beams are directed by a mirror system onto the test indentation. The light therefore strikes the test indentation perpendicularly from above and prevents any shadowing in the area of the bulge. The contour is clearly recognisable and the indentation can be precisely evaluated.

The SmartLight technology is permanently integrated into the lens and requires no further settings by the operator.

read more

Optical evaluation

Brightness control

Autofocus

Automatic evaluation

Light/ dark field illumination

Camera system

Differential depth measurement

Elektronics

Programmable logic controller (PLC)

Programmable logic controller (PLC)

A programmable logic controller (PLC) is a device that is employed and programmed for controlling or regulating a machine or system. These controllers can be found in application areas in the widest variety of industries, e.g. in fully automated production systems, injection moulding machines and likewise in hardness testing machines.

find out more
 

Embedded-PC

External PC

Design

CE conformity/ labeling

CE conformity/ labeling

Hardness testing machines are subject to several EU directives, with which they must comply and according to which they must be furnished with a CE label.

This means that checks are made to see which directives apply to the product and whether the product meets the safety targets specified in the relevant directives.

This is accomplished by means of a conformity assessment (risk analysis) to determine the health and safety requirements applicable to the machine. The machine is subsequently designed and built with due regard to the results of the risk analysis.

find out more
 

Cast-iron base

Handwheel

Motor-driven Z-axis

Motorized cross slide

Hardness testing technologies

made with passion by GO.WEST GO.WEST Communications Gmbh Logo