Introduction
A Vickers hardness tester is an instrument used to measure the hardness of materials, especially metals, by indenting the surface with a diamond indenter and measuring the size of the indentation, and it is used in metallurgy, materials science, manufacturing, and quality control for testing the hardness of metals, alloys, and other materials. The Vickers hardness test uses a diamond indenter in the shape of a square-based pyramid, and the tester presses the indenter into the surface of the material with a specified test force, and measures the diagonals of the resulting square indentation with a microscope; the Vickers hardness number (HV) is calculated by dividing the test force by the surface area of the indentation, which is calculated from the diagonal length, and the test can be used for a wide range of materials, from soft to very hard, and it is suitable for thin materials and small parts, and it is used with different test forces, from microindentation to macroindentation, and the test follows standardized methods, such as ISO 6507 and ASTM E92. Vickers hardness testers are used for testing the hardness of metals and alloys, for testing case-hardened and plated surfaces, for testing thin sheets and foils, for testing ceramics and other hard materials, for quality control in manufacturing, for failure analysis, for research, and for many other applications, and they are available in various configurations, from manual testers to automated systems with image analysis, with features such as precise test forces, microscope measurement, and digital displays. With their wide applicability, Vickers hardness testers are essential for hardness testing of materials.
Automatic Micro Vickers Hardness Tester LMHT-T2012
Automatic Micro Vickers Hardness Tester offers test forces from 10gf (0.098N) to 1kgf (9.8N), with settings for 25gf, 50gf, 100gf, 200gf, 300gf, and 500gf. It covers a hardness range up ...
Digital Low Load Vickers Hardness Tester TDVH-T2010
Digital is designed with a test force range of 9.8 N to 490 N, delivering precise and versatile testing. With a display error range of ± 3.0% or ± 2.0%, it ensures accurate and consist...
Automatic Micro Vickers Hardness Tester LMHT-T2011
Automatic Micro Vickers Hardness Tester offers a hardness measurement range from 8 to 2900 HV with a high resolution of 0.01 µm. This advanced digital micro-hardness tester is equipped ...
Automatic Micro Vickers Hardness Tester LMHT-T2010
Automatic Micro Vickers Hardness Tester measures hardness from 8 to 2900 HV with a resolution of 0.01µm. It is a high-end digital micro-hardness tester equipped with an optical cross gu...
Digital Vickers Hardness tester LDVH-T2010
Digital Vickers Hardness Tester offers accurate hardness measurements across a wide range of 5 to 4000 HV. Equipped with compatibility for camera systems and Vickers indentation measurem...
Standards
ISO 6507-2:2018-Metallic materials-Vickers hardness test-Verification and calibration of testing machines
ISO 6507-1:2018-Metallic materials-Vickers hardness test-Test method
ISO 6508-1:2015-Metallic materials-Rockwell hardness test-Test method
Complies with the above standards, but is not limited to them.
Features
1. Vickers hardness tester for measuring Vickers hardness of metals and materials.
2. Diamond pyramid indenter with controlled load for micro/macro hardness testing.
3. Suitable for metallurgy, heat treatment, manufacturing, material, industrial and research labs.
4. Includes indenter, load application system, microscope, sample stage, controller and manual.
5. Supports Vickers hardness measurement for quality control, heat treatment and research.
FAQ
Q1: What testing scenarios is this tester mainly applied to?
A: The Vickers hardness tester is used in metallurgy, heat treatment, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, industrial quality control, materials science and research to measure the Vickers hardness (HV) of metals, alloys, ceramics, composites and other materials using a diamond pyramid indenter applied with a controlled test load, for quality control, heat treatment verification, material characterization and research. It supports metal and alloy hardness testing (steel, aluminum, copper, titanium, nickel alloys), heat treatment verification (quenching, tempering, case hardening, carburizing), manufacturing quality control (parts, components, welds), automotive and aerospace material testing, ceramic and composite hardness measurement, thin coating and surface layer hardness testing (micro-Vickers), weld and heat-affected zone hardness mapping, and material research and development. The Vickers test uses a square-based pyramid diamond indenter, making it suitable for a wide range of hardness values (soft to very hard materials) and both macro and micro hardness testing, with the advantage that one indenter covers all hardness levels (unlike Brinell which uses different balls, or Rockwell which uses different scales).
Q2: What standards does the tester comply with?
A: The Vickers hardness tester follows relevant ISO, ASTM and GB/T standards for Vickers hardness testing, including ISO 6507 (metallic materials Vickers hardness test), ASTM E384 (microindentation hardness), ASTM E92 (Vickers hardness), and relevant GB/T standards including GB/T 4340 (metallic materials Vickers hardness). The hardware complies with IEC 61010 safety standards. Calibration should use certified hardness reference blocks (traceable to national standards, e.g., NIST, PTB, NIM) and verified indenter (diamond pyramid geometry per standard). The test force should be calibrated per standard (ISO 6507-2, ASTM E384). Users should verify the specific standard for their material type (metallic, ceramic, coating) and test force range (micro-Vickers: < 0.3 kgf, low-load: 0.3-20 kgf, macro: > 20 kgf).
Q3: What is the warranty period for the whole tester and key components?
A: The whole Vickers hardness tester is covered by a 12-month warranty. The diamond indenter, load application system, microscope, sample stage, controller and housing are covered, while diamond indenter (wear item - can chip or wear), reference blocks and fuses are consumables or accessories. Damage from improper use, indenter damage (chipping from hitting hard inclusions or sample edge), overloading or unauthorized repair is excluded. Extended service contracts may be available for this materials testing equipment. Diamond indenter should be inspected regularly and replaced if chipped or worn.
Q4: Is this device difficult to operate? Is professional training required?
A: Operation requires trained laboratory personnel familiar with hardness testing, metallography, sample preparation and standard methods. We provide operation manuals, training and application support. Proper sample preparation (mounting, grinding, polishing - surface finish is critical for accurate indentation measurement), indenter selection, test force selection (based on material hardness and thickness), indentation placement (avoid edges, other indents, inclusions), load application (dwell time, loading/unloading rate), indentation measurement (diagonal length measurement with microscope), result calculation (HV = 1.8544 x F / d^2) and quality control are important for accurate, reproducible Vickers hardness measurement.
Q5: What is the typical lead-time for order delivery?
A: Standard models require 7-30 working days. In-stock units can ship within 3-7 working days. Custom configurations or large built-to-order systems may require additional time, and we confirm the exact schedule before order confirmation.
Q6: Is regular calibration required? What is the recommended calibration cycle?
A: Calibration with certified hardness reference blocks recommended every 6-12 months (or per quality system). Test force verification every 6-12 months. Indenter condition inspection (chipping, wear) regularly - before each use for critical testing. Microscope and measurement system calibration (eyepiece reticle, imaging software) periodically. Routine verification with reference block per day or per batch. Full tester performance verification annually (per ISO 6507-2, ASTM E384). Sample stage and focus mechanism maintained per schedule.
Q7: Are supporting consumables universal?
A: Diamond indenters (Vickers pyramid), certified hardness reference blocks (various hardness levels), sample mounting supplies (resin, mounting cups), grinding/polishing supplies (SiC paper, diamond paste, polishing cloths), cleaning supplies and fuses are available from materials testing suppliers, though indenter type should match the tester. Long-term consumable cost depends on test volume and sample preparation needs (mounting, grinding, polishing can be significant for metallographic samples).
Q8: Can I customize parameters or supporting accessories?
A: Customization includes test force range (micro: 1-1000 gf, low-load: 1-50 kgf, macro: 1-120 kgf), automation level (manual turret, semi-automatic, fully automatic with motorized stage and auto-measurement), microscope type (optical, digital imaging), measurement system (eyepiece reticle, digital camera + software), test force selection (manual, automatic), data output, software features (hardness mapping, statistics, reports), connectivity and accessories. Additional indenters, reference blocks, sample stages and accessories can be ordered separately. Custom orders extend delivery lead-time significantly, especially for fully automatic models.
Q9: Does the purchase include on-site installation and commissioning service?
A: Standard delivery includes the Vickers hardness tester and accessories with an operation manual. On-site installation, calibration and training are not included for standard orders but can be arranged at additional cost (recommended for automatic models and precision testing). Remote guidance is provided.
Q10: What types of samples are compatible with this equipment?
A: The Vickers hardness tester measures hardness of metals (steel, cast iron, aluminum, copper, brass, titanium, nickel alloys, magnesium, zinc), ceramics (alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide), composites (metal matrix, ceramic matrix), thin coatings (electroplated, PVD, CVD, thermal spray), welds, heat-treated parts, case-hardened layers, and other solid materials within the material hardness, sample thickness, surface finish and test force specification. Very soft materials (rubber, plastics) are typically not tested with Vickers (use Shore or IRHD for rubbers, Rockwell for plastics). Very thin samples or coatings require micro-Vickers with low test force (to avoid indenting through the coating into the substrate - the indentation depth should be less than 1/10 of the coating thickness per standard). Very hard materials (diamond, cubic boron nitride) cannot be tested with a diamond indenter (would damage the indenter). Users should follow the specific test method (ISO 6507, ASTM E384, ASTM E92, GB/T 4340) for sample preparation and testing, prepare samples properly (mount in resin if needed, grind with SiC paper, polish with diamond paste to mirror finish - surface roughness is critical: Ra < 0.1 um recommended for accurate indentation measurement; poor surface finish causes irregular indentation shapes and measurement errors), select appropriate test force based on material hardness and thickness (higher force for harder/thicker materials, lower force for softer/thinner materials or coatings - typical forces: 0.3 kgf for micro, 1-5 kgf for low-load, 10-30 kgf for macro), place indents properly (minimum distance from edge: 2.5x diagonal length; minimum distance between indents: 3x diagonal length; avoid inclusions, pores, grain boundaries unless specifically testing those), apply load with proper dwell time (typically 10-15 seconds for metallic materials, longer for materials with creep - dwell time should be specified in the result), measure both diagonals of the square indentation (d1 and d2, average them - if d1/d2 ratio > 1.1, the indentation is irregular and should be discarded), calculate Vickers hardness: HV = 1.8544 x F / d^2 (where F is test force in kgf, d is average diagonal in mm), report results in HV with test force and dwell time specified (e.g., HV1 250 means 250 HV at 1 kgf, HV0.3 300 means 300 HV at 0.3 kgf), and for quality control, compare with material specification or heat treatment requirement. The tester should be placed on a stable, vibration-isolated table (vibration during indentation can cause irregular indentation and measurement errors - use a vibration isolation table if the lab has significant vibration from nearby machinery). The diamond indenter should be inspected before each use (chipping or wear causes incorrect indentation shape - use a microscope to inspect the indenter tip; replace if chipped or worn). The sample surface should be perpendicular to the indenter axis (non-perpendicular surface causes irregular indentation - use a leveling mount or proper sample stage). The microscope illumination should be proper (too dark or too bright affects diagonal measurement - adjust illumination for clear indentation edges). For automatic testers, the imaging system should be calibrated (pixel size, distortion correction) for accurate measurement. The test should be replicated (5-10 indents per sample, or per standard) for statistical significance, especially for heterogeneous materials (welds, castings, composites). For hardness mapping (welds, case hardening), use a grid of indents with proper spacing. The sample should be properly identified and tracked (chain of custody for quality control). Waste (used mounting resin, grinding/polishing waste, cleaning solvents) should be disposed of per applicable regulations. For heat-treated parts, the hardness test location should be specified (surface, core, specific location per drawing or standard). For case-hardened parts, measure hardness at specified depths from the surface (use micro-Vickers with a traverse from surface to core).
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