How to Choose the Right Portable Hardness Tester?

Conducting hardness test on materials is very easy and the same time economical, which is why, the industries conduct the hardness test within their premises using hardness testers. With the advent of technology, a wide range of hardness testers are now available in the market.

Though testing the hardness is quite an easy job, it is very important that the right kind of tester is chosen for the purpose. This can be quite a task, as the wide range can actually confuse the buyers. The portable hardness testers are of two types:

Rebound Based Tester: These testers make use of a hard steel ball as an indenter. The process involves throwing a ball to the surface of the material and then calculating the rebound height.

Ultrasonic Based Tester: This tester makes use of a diamond indenter to measure the hardness of the material. The indenter is penetrated into the material by applying a force that depends upon the kind of material being tested.

Both the testers are extremely efficient and a company should choose a tester that suits their needs and the kind of materials that they use. Let us now take a look at the factors that influence the choice of a portable hardness tester:

Roughness: The roughness of the material that is used in producing and manufacturing goods in the industry is one of the main factors that influence the choice of a hardness tester. Any material which has a surface roughness that varies between 0.8 micrometers and 3.2 micrometers can be tested for hardness using rebound based tester. On the other hand, the material with surface roughness more than 3.2 micrometers, cannot be tested with rebound testers. Instead ultrasonic testers are perfect for these tests.

Thickness: Thickness is another factor that should be taken into consideration when choosing the accurate portable hardness tester. The materials which have a thickness between 4mm and 13mm can be tested using a rebound tester. Ultrasonic testers are suitable for testing the hardness of materials with thickness more than 13mm.

Composition of Material: Another important point to be considered is whether the composition of the material is different from the sample that is used for testing. In case the sample and the material have the same composition, the rebound and ultrasonic testers can be used based on the roughness and thickness of the material.

Function: In case the testers are not being used for the main stream process, one can consider investing in a cheaper tester. On the other hand, if the testers are used for the main stream process then one should consider investing in a good quality tester which might be a bit more expensive. With these tips, companies can choose the most suitable testers for their processes.

I am Kea Jones a Content Curator, New York based columnist who love to write about various buzz and current affairs in business world. Besides that I am also writting reviews for various new local business houses, products and services.