How to Measure Hardness with BENKWELL Portable Hardness Tester
Introduction.
Understanding the hardness of materials is crucial in various industries, including manufacturing, construction, and quality control. Hardness testing helps assess the durability and strength of materials, ensuring they meet the required standards. One effective tool for this purpose is the portable hardness tester. In this article, we will and provide a comprehensive guide on how to measure hardness using the BENKWELL Portable Hardness Tester.
Importance of Hardness Testing.
Hardness is a fundamental material property that determines its resistance to deformation, wear, and abrasion. It is a critical factor in assessing the suitability of a material for specific applications. Hardness testing aids in quality control, material selection, and evaluating the effectiveness of heat treatment processes. By measuring hardness, manufacturers can ensure that their products meet the necessary standards and comply with industry regulations.
Steps to Measure Hardness with BENKWELL Portable Hardness Tester.
1. Setting up the Tester.
Press the power button to turn it on and check if it needs charging. Inspect whether every setting is correct, paying particular attention to the material type and scale. Inconsistencies in settings with the actual conditions may lead to significant errors.
2. Sample Preparation.
The preparation of the sample and the test surface should adhere to the following basic requirements:
During the sample surface preparation process, users should avoid the impacts of cold and thermal processing.
The sample surface should be flat to ensure better results. The test surface should exhibit a metallic sheen and should be free from oxide layers or other stains.
The sample must possess sufficient mass and rigidity. If it lacks quality and rigidity, it may experience displacement or shaking during the testing impact, leading to substantial errors.
For the coupling method, the back of the testing sample should be prepared to create a flat supporting surface with a smooth formation. By applying a small amount of coupling substance (Industry Vaseline can be used), users can press it onto the surface of the supporting object (the weight of the supporting object should be more than 5 kg, and it can be replaced by a test block) to integrate them.
Samples should be thick enough and have sufficient surface absorption layers. The thickness of the sample should not be less than 5mm (1mm for Type C), and the surface absorption layer (or surface-hardening layer) should not be less than 0.8mm (0.2mm for Type C).
When the testing sample surface is not horizontal, the curvature radius of the testing and nearby surface should be larger than 30mm, and an appropriate supporting ring should be selected and installed.
A sample should not be magnetic; otherwise, the signal of the impact device may be significantly interfered with by magnetism, leading to inaccurate test results.
3. Test Procedure.
Loading: Load simply by sliding the loading tube forward.
Location: Next, place and hold the tester on the test surface at the desired test point. Ensure that the impact direction is vertical to the test surface.
Impact (Measurement): Trigger the impact by pressing the release button. The hardness value will be instantaneously displayed.
Read out the test result from the LCD.
4. Data Printing.
The tester can be linked with a wireless mini printer for printing a test report. First, place the printer near the tester, turn on the printer, press “Print”, will print out the current data. A complete test report is shown. Because printing paper is thermal paper, it should be preserved to avoid the heat and direct light. If the print records are necessary to be kept in long-term preservation, please copy and preserve in time.
The tester can be connected to a wireless mini printer for printing a test report. First, place the printer near the tester, turn on the printer, and press “Print” to generate the current data. A complete test report will be printed out. Since the printing paper is thermal paper, it should be stored to prevent exposure to heat and direct light. If the printed records need to be preserved for the long term, please make copies and store them promptly.
BENKWELL Portable Hardness Tester.
To measure hardness effectively, follow the steps with the BENKWELL Portable Hardness Tester. From setup and sample preparation to testing and data printing. Embrace the efficiency and reliability of BENKWELL for accurate hardness measurements.
