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Bench hardness tester: Professional tool for quality control

Bench hardness testers are essential tools used in the quality control industry and used to evaluate the hardness of materials by way of indentation tests. These tools allow you to apply a fixed load for a certain period of time on an indenter, which comes into contact with the testing sample.

Features of the SAMA Tools bench hardness testers

S.A.M.A. Italia is an Italian company that specializes in the manufacturing of measuring instruments.  It offers a wide range of high quality portable and bench hardness testers, including various models like Brinell, Rockwell and Vickers. This vast range of products allows customers to choose the model that best suits their hardness measuring needs.

SAMA Tools name-brand bench hardness testers are supplied with a first calibration report, which guarantees the accuracy of the measurements immediately from the moment of purchase.  Furthermore, the customer can request periodic calibrations to be done on the instrument, when needed. Routine calibration is an important practice in order to maintain maximum precision of the instruments over time.

The different kinds of bench hardness testers

Bench hardness testers are classified according to the test method used. SAMA Tools offers several options to choose from:

Brinell Hardness Tester

The Brinell hardness tester is the most widely used method for measuring  hardness in the industry. This method involves applying a force load to the sample surface using a steel ball indenter. This hardness tester offers a wide range of loads and indenters, allowing one to measure any type of metal.

Rockwell Hardness Tester

The Rockwell hardness tester is a more versatile method which uses a conical diamond indenter or a steel ball. This method offers an automated and fast solution, suitable for samples made of different materials and shapes.

Vickers Hardness Tester

The Vickers hardness tester is used for microhardness and can measure solid and metallic materials of various hardnesses. It uses a square-based pyramid indenter and offers a wide range of test loads. This hardness tester is ideal for laboratory testing.

 

A video of one of our multiscale bench hardness tester models

Factors to consider when choosing a hardness tester

Several factors must be taken into consideration when choosing the right bench hardness tester:

Test load

The test load that is applied depends on the hardness of the material to be tested. SAMA Tools offers bench hardness testers that allow test loads ranging from 500 kgf up to 3,000 kgf. A higher test load corresponds to  higher measurement accuracy.

Hardness range

The type of indenter to be used depends on the hardness range of the materials to be tested.  SAMA Tools offers a variety of diamond or steel indenters, suitable  to be used for various hardnesses on different materials.

Accuracy

The accuracy level depends on the characteristics of the measuring surface, such as cleanliness, levelness and static or dynamic measuring systems.  SAMA Tools supplies bench hardness testers with high measuring accuracy and reliability.

Versatility

The versatility of the hardness tester is important, considering the shape and size of the samples to be tested. SAMA Tools offers versatile solutions that can be adapted to different sample shapes and sizes.

Pre- and post-purchase supplier assistance for hardness testers

Support and assistance from suppliers is crucial when purchasing measuring instruments, such as bench hardness testers.

S.A.M.A. Italia offers complete assistance, both pre-and post-sale. Before purchasing, our team of technicians is available to provide personalized advice on selecting the bench hardness tester that best suits your needs. Our expertise and experience in the sector allows us to recommend the ideal bench hardness tester model based on the material to be tested, the required hardness scale and other technical specifications.

Once you make your purchase, our commitment to post-sales service continues. We make sure that your bench hardness tester is working properly and is accurately calibrated. In case there are doubts, questions or a need for technical support, our team of experts is always ready to respond and offer suitable solutions.

We make sure that you’re completely satisfied and we strive to provide continuous and professional assistance.

The trust placed in our company is attested by the large number of customers, including important multinational groups, who have chosen to work with us.

Check out our testimonials page here!

Hardness tester calibration and personalized training courses

S.A.M.A. Italia always does its best to offer a complete package to its customers. In addition to regular and onsite calibration services, S.A.M.A. offers the option of having the newly purchased hardness tester, including calibration, delivered anywhere in the world.

As already mentioned, carrying out regular calibrations allows one to maintain the maximum precision of measurements over time and ensures that the instruments are always aligned, guaranteeing reliable and consistent results.

Furthermore, our clients can depend on us to train their quality control personnel. Quality training is a fundamental element to ensure correct management and use of hardness testers. S.A.M.A. Italia provides personalalised training courses for company staff, in order to maximize the efficiency and accuracy of the measurements made with the instruments.

Through training courses, we ensure that company personnel is properly trained and is capable of correctly using the bench hardness testers and understanding different testing methods, such as Brinell, Rockwell and Vickers. During the courses, detailed information on the features and functionality of the instruments is provided, as well as best practices for obtaining accurate and repeatable measurements.

Contact us at sales@samatools.it to get more details on the courses that are available, such as duration, content and how to participate.

Portable or bench hardness testers?

The choice between portable and bench hardness testers depends on the specific application that is needed.  The SAMA Tools bench hardness testers like the Brinell, Rockwell and Vickers models, ensure precise and reliable measurements.  On ther other hand, portable hardness testers are more convenient thanks to their compact size and their ability to test materials without needing to depend on a sample.

We’ve written another article about these two types of hardness testers.  You can read more about it here:  Portable or bench hardness tester: the challenge

In conclusion, S.A.M.A. Italia is an Italian company that specializes in manufacturing measuring instruments for quality control and offers high quality bench and portable hardness testers, among a vast array of other instruments.

By purchasing a SAMA Tools name-brand hardness tester, you’re sure to receive a precise and high-quality measuring device with a first calibration certificate already included.

Furthermore, upon request, our technicians can arrange a completely personalized training course. With such a wide range of hardness testers, SAMA Tools guarantees the choice of the most suitable model for your needs based on test load, hardness range, level of precision and versatility of the device.

 How to reach S.A.M.A. Italia

 

Fill out the form

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Call us at: (+39) 0584/392342 – 392453

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Quality control in the precision machining industry

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Portable or bench hardness testers? The challenge

In a survey among LinkedIn users, we asked different professionals whether they used hardness testers in their line of work.

We received 126 answers as described here below:

44% YES
23% NO
33% used them in the past.

Of course, hardness testers are not all the same. And each one is suitable for a specific application. We invite you to keep reading to learn more about these non-destructive testing instruments.Click here to check the Linkedin poll.

Linkedin - survey

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What are hardness testers?

According to the famous encyclopedia Britannica, a hardness tester is a “device that indicates the hardness of a material, usually by measuring the effect on its surface of a localized penetration by a standardized rounded or pointed indenter of diamond, carbide, or hard steel.”

Simply put, hardness testers are non-destructive testing instruments that allow you to determine, based on the applicable standard, the value of hardness of different materials, including, but not limited to:

  • Steels and steel alloys
  • Aluminum and aluminum alloys
  • Brass
  • Copper
  • Plastic
  • Thermoplastic elastomers
hardness measure on material

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How is hardness measured?

The typical hardness test involves an object called indenter which is pressed on and into the surface of the material being tested.

The indenter must have specific dimensions and must be loaded with a specific pressure depending on the type of tester.

Afterwards, the hardness is determined by measuring the depth of the penetration or the area of the indentation. Measuring one or the other will depend on the type of hardness test being performed. The most common ones include:

  • Leeb hardness test
  • Rockwell hardness test
  • Vickers hardness test
  • Brinell hardness test
  • Shore hardness test

Why is hardness testing so important?

Knowing the hardness of the materials used on a piece or structure is important for various reasons. First of all, hardness testing allows you to assess important properties such as strength, ductility and wear resistance.

Therefore, with the information obtained, it is easy to determine whether the material is suitable for the application at hand or not and whether further surface treatment is necessary to achieve the desired results.

Also, it can be used to verify the quality of the material and determine if maintenance is required.

What are the different types of hardness testers?

As mentioned above, there are different hardness testers for different applications. So, let’s take a look at the most common ones.

Leeb Hardness Testers

As the name suggests, these testers are based on the Leeb hardness test as defined in the ISO 16859 and ASTM A956 standards. It is a dynamic test method where the ratio of rebound velocity to impact velocity of a moving impact body is used to determine the hardness.

Leeb hardness testers are usually employed for testing various metals and alloys, and they are a great choice when checking incoming and outgoing goods, for quality control activities, and maintenance of structures and workpieces subject to wear.

Here at SAMA Tools, we offer 3 different Leeb hardness tester models :

  • Leeb hardness tester SAP180, with D type impact probe and a test block.
  • Touchscreen Leeb hardness tester SAP550, with touchscreen display and a wireless printer for printing reports on the go, which is great for quality control activities on the field.
  • Pen type Leeb hardness tester SAP650, a compact and highly accurate tester with automatic detection of impact direction with a wireless interface.
Leeb hardness tester – SAP180

In photo: user with Leeb hardness tester – SAP180

Barcol Hardness Testers

Similar to the previous type, these instruments are named after the hardness test that they perform, the Barcol test.

This test is usually used on softer materials such as aluminum, aluminum alloys and some plastics. It was previously known as Barber-Colman Impressor since Walter Colman developed this test as a portable method during the World War II.

The process uses the indenter or “impressor” to press on the material and measure how deep the tip of it penetrates.

We offer 2 Barcol hardness tester models :

  • Analogue Barcol hardness tester
  • Digital Barcol hardness tester

In photo: uder with Digital barcol hardness testers – SABA934P

Webster Hardness Testers

This simple model of hardness testers allows to measure the hardness of soft materials such as soft steels, aluminum, brass and copper. Moreover, it can be applied on different geometries and very small thickness values.

The values obtained can be easily converted to the common scales, including Vickers, Rockwell and Brinell.

We offer 3 versions of the Webster hardness tester:

  • SAMW-20
  • SAMW-20a
  • SAMW-20b

The main difference is the range of thickness and diameter they can be applied on.

Webster hardness testers – SAMW

In photo Webster hardness testers – SAMW

Shore Hardness Testers

Shore hardness is defined as the resistance of a material to penetration from a spring-loaded needle-like indenter.

By definition, we can easily conclude that the process to perform a hardness test with a Shore hardness tester is very similar to the one with the Barcol tester.

There are different scales for Shore testing,  the most common ones being the Shore A scale for soft elastomers like rubber, and Shore D for hard elastomers and other polymers like thermoplastics and thermosets. This makes Shore hardness testers a great option for quality control activities in rubber and plastics industries and for maintenance on ring nuts and gaskets.

We offer 3 different versions of the Shore hardness testers:

  • Analogue Shore Hardness Testers
  • Digital Shore Hardness Testers
  • Pro Digital Shore Hardness Testers

The last one in the list is the most powerful of all, since it can handle more than the two scales mentioned above, and it comes with many other interesting features.

We also offer special stands for more accurate and repeatable results, and Shore test blocks for verification and calibration purposes.

Multifunctions shore digital hardness testers – SA6610

In photo: user with Multifunctions shore digital hardness testers – SA6610

Bench Hardness Testers

The most specialized hardness testers in the market are usually bench hardness testers, since they offer a higher accuracy and repeatability. Therefore, they are the favorite option for metrological laboratories and applications which require the maximum of these two aspects.

These testers work with the indentation principle by applying a constant load over a specific period of time on an indenter which is in contact with the sample. They can use indenters of different sizes, shapes and materials, thus providing the possibility to work with different standards and scales with the same device.

We offer 5 versions of bench hardness testers, some of them are manually operated and others which are motorized. The versions are:

  • SAB150-B which is manual, analogue and works with Rockwell A, B and C
  • SAB150-BM which is motorized, analogue and works with Rockwell A, B and C
  • SAB150-B/DGT which is manual, digital and works with Rockwell A, B and C
  • SAB150-BM/DGT which is motorized, digital and works with Rockwell A, B and C
  • SAB187,5-B which is motorized, analogue and works with Rockwell A, B and C, Brinell and Vickers hardness scales. It comes with a microscope.

All of our bench hardness testers come with a diamond cone indenter and corresponding test blocks.

Rockwell bench hardness testers – SAB150

In photo: Rockwell bench hardness testers – SAB150

So, which hardness tester is used the most?

According to the poll, most of the participants who claim to use it or have used it in the past, say they have used the bench hardness tester. This is followed by users of shore hardness testers and Leeb hardness testers. Last but not least are the Webster and Barcol hardness testers.

The most common answers to what it was used for:

  • Inspection on workpieces after hardening to ensure durability.
  • Controling of incoming goods.
  • Recognizing the hardness of the material to be welded.
quality control

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How can I select the best hardness tester for my needs?

When selecting the best hardness tester for your needs, there are different things to consider. The most important are:

  • Type of material tested
  • Requirement of standard compliance
  • Material’s approximate hardness
  • Sample size and geometry
  • Mounting requirement
  • Number of samples to be tested
  • Required accuracy and repeatability
contact us form

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If you want to see all the hardness testers that we offer and  select the right one for your needs, just click here.

Instead, if you are not sure yet or have any doubts about hardness testers, we recommend  you contact us and one of our specialists will gladly assist you.

Video summary: Portable or bench hardness testers? The challenge

 

 

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