Q: What are the advantages of using a Vickers hardness tester?

Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. answers for you: The indentation of the Vickers hardness test is a square with clear outlines and accurate diagonal measurements. Therefore, the Vickers hardness test has higher precision among commonly used hardness testing methods, and its repeatability is also very good, which is superior to the Brinell hardness tester. The Vickers hardness test has a wide measurement range and can measure almost all metal materials used in industry today, from very soft materials (a few Vickers hardness units) to very hard materials (3000 Vickers hardness units). The advantage of the Vickers hardness test lies in the fact that its hardness value is independent of the magnitude of the test force. As long as the material has uniform hardness, any test force can be selected, and the hardness value remains unchanged. This is equivalent to having a unified scale within a very broad hardness range. This point is superior to the Rockwell hardness test.

Q: In which applications can Vickers hardness testers be used?

Vickers hardness testing is mainly used for material research and scientific experiments. Small-load Vickers hardness testing is primarily used for testing the hardness of small precision parts, surface hardened layer hardness and effective hardened layer depth, surface hardness of coatings, hardness of thin sheet materials and fine wires, hardness near knife edges, and hardness of dental materials, etc. Since the test force is very small and the indentation is also very small, the appearance and service performance of the specimen can remain unaffected. Our company is a firm specializing in providing metal detection and analysis instruments, producing high-quality products such as metallographic pre-processing equipment, metallographic cutting machines, metallographic mounting machines, micro-Vickers hardness testers, and Rockwell hardness testers. Welcome to Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. to make your purchase.

Question 1

What are the different testing methods for Vickers hardness testers?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa introduces to you that Vickers hardness tester testing is mainly used for material research and scientific experiments. Small-load Vickers hardness testing is primarily used for testing the hardness of small precision parts, surface hardened layer hardness and effective hardened layer depth, surface hardness of coatings, hardness of thin sheet materials and fine wires, hardness near knife edges, hardness of dental materials, etc. Since the test force is very small and the indentation is also very small, the appearance and service performance of the specimen can remain unaffected.
Vickers hardness testers are subdivided into two types of tests based on the magnitude of the test force:
1. Vickers hardness test.
2. Micro-Vickers hardness test.
The choice of test force depends on the type of specimen, specimen thickness, and the expected hardness range.

Question 2

What factors contribute to errors in the measurement results obtained using a Rockwell hardness tester?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. answers for you:
I. Human error.
(1) The technical proficiency of the operator is insufficient, and practical experience is poor; it should be used by personnel familiar with the hardness tester.
(2) If loading is too fast and the dwell time is short, the hardness of low-hardness parts will be biased high, whereas if loading is too slow and the dwell time is long, the hardness will be biased low. During operation, loading should be smooth and maintain a certain dwell time.
II. Influence of the indenter.
(1) The diamond indenter does not meet technical requirements or has wear after a period of use. If the operator cannot judge the quality of the diamond, it can be verified by a metrological testing institution.
(2) The strength and hardness of the steel ball indenter are insufficient, making it prone to deformation. After the steel ball undergoes long-term deformation due to pressure, it becomes elliptical. When the short axis is perpendicular to the part surface, the indentation is shallow and the indicated value is high; when the long axis is perpendicular to the part surface, the indentation deepens and the indicated value decreases. The tolerance for the steel ball is less than 0.002mm.

Question 3

What are the differences between a microhardness tester and a Vickers hardness tester?

Accepted Answer

The test load (i.e., test force) of a micro-hardness tester is within 1kgf. According to international standards, the micro-hardness tester commonly has 8 load levels, which can be arbitrarily selected and switched according to different requirements, namely 10gf, 25gf, 50gf, 100gf, 200gf, 300gf, 500gf, and 1000gf.
In contrast, the test load of a Vickers hardness tester is greater than 1kgf. According to international standards, the general test forces include 3kgf, 5kgf, 10kgf, 20kgf, 30kgf, 50kgf, 100kgf, etc. Of course, the use of 100kgf is relatively rare. From the above, it can be seen that the test force of the Vickers hardness tester is larger, while the test force of the micro-hardness tester is smaller.

Our company is a firm specializing in providing metal detection and analysis instruments, producing high-quality products such as metallographic pre-processing equipment, metallographic cutting machines, metallographic mounting machines, micro-Vickers hardness testers, and Rockwell hardness testers. Welcome to Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. to make your purchase.

Question 4

What are the differences between a Vickers hardness tester and a microhardness tester?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. answers for you regarding the magnification issue: Since the test force of a Vickers hardness tester ranges from several kilograms to dozens of kilograms, the test force load is relatively larger than the force value of a micro-hardness tester. For example, when measuring the same type of specimen, the indentation produced by a Vickers hardness tester is also relatively larger, and its magnification is generally suitable for observation and measurement at about 100x to 200x.
If a Vickers hardness tester were to use a magnification of 400x or higher, the produced indentation image would be too large and exceed the field of view of the eyepiece, making measurement impossible. Therefore, the commonly used magnifications for Vickers hardness testers are 200X or 100X.

Question 5

How can you distinguish between a microhardness tester and a Vickers hardness tester based on the sample being measured?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa answers for you that micro-hardness testers are more suitable for measuring the hardness of heat-treated layers of metal parts, carburized layer hardness, nitrided layer hardness, surface coatings, thin metal sheets such as copper strips, stainless steel strips, copper foil, aluminum foil, steel wire, and other micro parts. Of course, they can also measure specimens of a certain thickness. Because the test force of a Vickers hardness tester is relatively larger than that of a micro-hardness tester, it is not suitable for measuring the aforementioned coatings or surface hardness. It is more suitable for measuring the overall hardness of parts. This is because if a Vickers hardness tester is used to test thin or infiltrated layer hardness, it will penetrate the surface layer and strike the base material directly, making it impossible to accurately measure the actual hardness value of the surface or infiltrated layer.

Question 6

What are the measurement requirements for samples when using a microhardness tester?

Accepted Answer

1. Micro-hardness testers have requirements for the roughness of the workpiece. The Ra value of the roughness generally cannot exceed 0.1 microns; otherwise, the measurement accuracy will be affected. If the roughness does not meet the requirements, the user needs to use a metallographic polishing machine or other polishing equipment to polish the tested surface of the specimen so that Ra≤0.1μm.
2. If the specimen is very small or the shape is irregular (for example: a 0.1mm diameter steel wire, a 0.3mm diameter spring), for these small parts, the user needs to mount the specimen with a metallographic mounting machine. The purpose is to fix the specimen in a mold, and then perform the test after processing the surface with a metallographic grinding and polishing machine. If the specimen is special-shaped/irregularly shaped, it needs to be cut into a small sample and then processed with a metallographic grinding and polishing machine before testing.

Our company, Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd., specializes in the production of precision metallographic testing equipment, such as metallographic cutting machines, metallographic grinding and polishing machines, Vickers hardness testers, metallographic mounting machines, and other precision equipment. Friends in need are welcome to come and purchase.

Question 7

How to choose a professional hardness tester manufacturer?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa suggests that when making a specific selection, you must look at the manufacturer's reputation and strength in the market. Professional manufacturers can gain more support and recognition in the market because the quality of the products they produce and process is guaranteed, allowing for better testing of product hardness during use, and the overall safety will also be very high.
In addition, when choosing a manufacturer, you can also make a selection based on recommendations from acquaintances. Manufacturers introduced by acquaintances inherently have a very high reputation and popularity in the market, and the quality of their produced and processed products is also guaranteed. Through this method, you can know how to choose products. If problems are encountered during use, after-sales service work can also be handled in a timely manner.

Question 8

What factors should be considered when selecting a microhardness tester?

Accepted Answer

1. The structural rigidity of the hardness tester. The structural rigidity of the hardness tester stipulated by the state cannot exceed 1.5 degrees. This requirement is seldom met by manufacturers, and this standard directly affects the measurement accuracy of the hardness tester. This is related to the technical expertise of each manufacturer, and many small manufacturers are likely to fail at this stage.
2. Perpendicularity ≤ 0.08/100. This means that the indenter of the hardness tester and the platform must be perpendicular. Naturally, the smaller this number, the better. Many manufacturers manufacture based on feeling—as long as it looks perpendicular, it is fine. Some use perpendicularity measuring instruments or similar tools, which involves significant error; most rely on visual inspection, which is non-standard.
3. Coaxiality < Φ0.2mm. Specifically, this means that the upper indenter and the lower lifting screw can be situated on the same vertical axis, and the error cannot be greater than Φ0.2mm. This is also something that cannot be achieved through visual inspection alone.

Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. is equipped with professional on-site installation services, so you can purchase and use our products with confidence!

Question 9

What are the advantages of using a Vickers hardness tester?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. answers for you: The indentation of the Vickers hardness test is a square with clear outlines and accurate diagonal measurements. Therefore, the Vickers hardness test has higher precision among commonly used hardness testing methods, and its repeatability is also very good, which is superior to the Brinell hardness tester. The Vickers hardness test has a wide measurement range and can measure almost all metal materials used in industry today, from very soft materials (a few Vickers hardness units) to very hard materials (3000 Vickers hardness units).
The advantage of the Vickers hardness test lies in the fact that its hardness value is independent of the magnitude of the test force. As long as the material has uniform hardness, any test force can be selected, and the hardness value remains unchanged. This is equivalent to having a unified scale within a very broad hardness range. This point is superior to the Rockwell hardness test.

Question 10

In which applications can Vickers hardness testers be used?

Accepted Answer

Vickers hardness testing is mainly used for material research and scientific experiments. Small-load Vickers hardness testing is primarily used for testing the hardness of small precision parts, surface hardened layer hardness and effective hardened layer depth, surface hardness of coatings, hardness of thin sheet materials and fine wires, hardness near knife edges, and hardness of dental materials, etc. Since the test force is very small and the indentation is also very small, the appearance and service performance of the specimen can remain unaffected.

Our company is a firm specializing in providing metal detection and analysis instruments, producing high-quality products such as metallographic pre-processing equipment, metallographic cutting machines, metallographic mounting machines, micro-Vickers hardness testers, and Rockwell hardness testers. Welcome to Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. to make your purchase.

Question 11

How should one take readings from an index type Rockwell hardness tester?

Accepted Answer

There are two types of readings for Rockwell hardness testers.
One is the dial type, also called the pointer type. Generally, for this kind of hardness tester, the reading is obtained by looking at the dial and reading the value where the pointer indicates. For example, if you are measuring HRC hardness and the pointer points to 62, the hardness value is 62HRC.
The other is the digital display type. This kind of digital Rockwell hardness tester provides a more intuitive reading; you can simply read the numerical value displayed directly on the LCD screen.

Our company is a firm specializing in providing metal detection and analysis instruments, producing high-quality products such as metallographic pre-processing equipment, metallographic cutting machines, metallographic mounting machines, micro-Vickers hardness testers, and Rockwell hardness testers. Welcome to Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. to make your purchase.

Question 12

How do different models of hardness testers reflect their specifications?

Accepted Answer

Hardness represents the ability of a material to resist a hard object pressing into its surface. It is one of the important performance indicators of metal materials. Generally, the higher the hardness, the better the wear resistance. Commonly used hardness indicators include Rockwell hardness and Vickers hardness testers.
Vickers Hardness (HV) uses a load within 100kg and a diamond square-based pyramid indenter with a vertex angle of 136° to press into the material surface. The Vickers hardness HV value (kgf/mm2) is obtained by dividing the load value by the surface area of the indentation pit in the material.
Rockwell Hardness (HR): When HB>450 or the specimen is too small, the Brinell hardness test cannot be used, and the Rockwell hardness measurement is used instead. It uses a diamond cone with a vertex angle of 120° or a steel ball with a diameter of 1.59 or 3.18mm to press into the surface of the measured material under a certain load. The hardness of the material is determined by the depth of the indentation.

The hardness testers represented by our Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. have high precision and stable performance, with a complete range of hardness tester specifications and models suitable for various products and tests across all walks of life.

Question 13

What are the effects of a Rockwell hardness tester on hardness values?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. answers for you: During testing with a Rockwell hardness tester, the specimen is generally a flat surface. If the test is performed on a curved specimen and its radius of curvature is not large, a correction amount should be added to the test result. For convex specimens, since the measured hardness value decreases, a correction amount should be added; for concave specimens, the correction amount should be subtracted.
Cone angle of surface Rockwell hardness testers: The surface Rockwell hardness value increases as the cone angle of the diamond indenter increases. For 30N and 45N scales, the change in angle has a significant impact on low hardness and a small impact on high hardness. For 15N scales and the high hardness values of 30N scales, there is almost no impact. The loading speed of the Rockwell hardness tester will also affect the hardness value.

Question 14

What are the different uses of hardness testers?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa answers for you: Brinell hardness testers are used for measuring the Brinell hardness value of workpieces such as cast iron; Vickers hardness testers are used for measuring the Vickers hardness value of thinner workpieces; Rockwell hardness testers are used for measuring the Rockwell hardness value of workpieces with higher hardness; Leeb hardness testers are portable hardness testers used for measuring the hardness value of products that are not suitable for disassembly or are relatively large; micro-hardness testers are a type of Vickers hardness tester used for measuring the Vickers hardness value of very thin workpieces.

Our company is a firm specializing in providing metal detection and analysis instruments, producing high-quality products such as metallographic pre-processing equipment, metallographic cutting machines, metallographic mounting machines, micro-Vickers hardness testers, and Rockwell hardness testers. Welcome to Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. to make your purchase.

Question 15

How to choose a reliable hardness tester manufacturer?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. suggests that when making a specific choice to purchase a product, you can also look at the value of the product's use in the overall market. There are many hardness tester manufacturers in the current market. When choosing a manufacturer, we can also look at the developmental advantages the manufacturer has in the entire market. After gaining a detailed understanding, you can not only choose with confidence but also know whether it has gained recognition from more people.
When making a specific selection, you must look at the manufacturer's reputation and strength in the market. Professional manufacturers can gain more support and recognition in the market because the quality of the products they produce and process is guaranteed, allowing for better testing of product hardness during use, and the overall safety will also be very high.
In addition, when choosing a manufacturer, you can also make a selection based on recommendations from acquaintances. Manufacturers introduced by acquaintances inherently have a very high reputation and popularity in the market, and the quality of their produced and processed products is also guaranteed. Through this method, you can know how to choose products. If problems are encountered during use, after-sales service work can also be handled in a timely manner.

Question 16

What are the differences in appearance between a microhardness tester and a Vickers hardness tester?

Accepted Answer

Micro-hardness testers are more compact in size and lighter in weight compared to Vickers hardness testers. The weight of a micro-hardness tester is approximately 25kg to 40kg, while a Vickers hardness tester weighs approximately 40kg to 60kg. Regarding the height of the tested specimen, micro-hardness testers can test samples with a height or thickness within the range of 0.05mm to 80mm, whereas Vickers hardness testers can generally measure larger specimens up to 1mm to 180mm.

The hardness testers represented by our Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. have high precision and stable performance, with a complete range of hardness tester specifications and models suitable for various products and tests across all walks of life.

Question 17

What are the applicable ranges for digital Vickers hardness testers?

Accepted Answer

Digital Vickers hardness testers offer a wide range of test forces. As long as the surface roughness of the workpiece meets the measurement standards, the Vickers hardness tester can perform testing.
The Vickers hardness tester applies pressure to the surface of the workpiece through a stepper motor, and then the length of the diagonal of the indentation is measured by a reading microscope. Afterward, the Vickers hardness is determined using the conversion relationship between the diagonal and the test force.
Additionally, Vickers hardness measurement software can be installed to display images on a computer screen, making the operation and measurement of hardness values more convenient and efficient.
Vickers hardness testers are mainly used for material research and scientific experiments. Small-load Vickers hardness testing is primarily used for testing the hardness of small precision parts, surface hardened layer hardness, effective hardened layer depth, surface hardness of coatings, and the hardness of thin sheet materials and fine wires. As is well known, since the test force and indentation of the Vickers hardness tester are very small, the appearance and service performance of the specimen remain unaffected.

This Vickers hardness tester from our company is a representative product and a model that has achieved an extremely high market share with overwhelming advantages. It is suitable for metal and scientific research hardness testing in various fields. Friends in need are welcome to visit Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. for further details.

Question 18

What research can a digital Vickers hardness tester be used for?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa answers for you: Vickers hardness testing is mainly used for research in metallography and metal science. It is used to determine the hardness of each constituent phase in metal structures and to study the brittleness of refractory compounds, etc.
Micro-Vickers hardness testing is also used for testing extremely small or extremely thin parts, with part thickness as thin as 3μm. It is widely applied in determining the micro-hardness of micro and thin specimens, surface infiltration and plating layers, and in determining the Knoop hardness of brittle and hard materials such as glass, ceramics, agate, and synthetic gemstones. It is an ideal hardness testing instrument for material research and inspection by scientific research institutions, factories, and quality inspection departments.

Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. is equipped with professional on-site installation services, so you can purchase and use our products with confidence!

Question 19

What are the different usage methods for different hardness testers?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd. answers this question for you:
1. Brinell hardness testers are mainly used for testing castings, such as aluminum alloys, copper alloys, etc.
2. Vickers hardness testers are used for measuring the Vickers hardness value of thinner workpieces; Vickers hardness testers are primarily for testing relatively thin small products or products after heat treatment.
3. Rockwell hardness testers: This type of hardness tester is mainly used for products after heat treatment and high-hardness products; for example, steel materials and metal material products can all be tested with it.
4. Leeb hardness testers are portable hardness testers used for measuring the hardness value of products that are not suitable for disassembly or are relatively large. They are primarily for testing the hardness of large products, where the weight of a single product must be greater than or equal to 3kg, such as molds, etc. The advantage of Leeb hardness testers is that they are convenient to carry, as most are portable. They can be used on the production line or in the laboratory, unlike desktop models that cannot be moved.

Question 20

How should a digital Rockwell hardness tester be used?

Accepted Answer

As is well known, digital Rockwell hardness testers are suitable for the hardness determination of ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and non-metallic materials, offering good reliability, operability, and intuitiveness; except for the lifting of the testing table, automation is fully realized, eliminating operation and reading errors.
1. The indenter type and the scope of research being used must not be changed at will to avoid damage caused by using the wrong indenter.
2. During testing, the hardness [measurement] should not be subjected to impact or vibration.
3. After using the hardness tester, use gauze to wipe the indenter clean; a small amount of acid-free oil should be applied to the surface of steel ball indenters and various testing anvils to prevent corrosion.
4. For the sample on the testing platform, rotate the lifting handwheel clockwise to bring the indenter into slow contact with the specimen.
5. Continue rotating the lifting handwheel; the value displayed in the hardness value display window will gradually rise from 100.0. When the display is greater than or equal to 290.0, the application of the initial test force is complete, followed by the hardness tester automatically executing a series of operations.

Our company, Taiwan Nakazawa Co., Ltd., specializes in the production of precision metallographic testing equipment, such as metallographic cutting machines, metallographic grinding and polishing machines, Vickers hardness testers, metallographic mounting machines, and other precision equipment. Friends in need are welcome to come and make a purchase.

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