The size of the diagonal impression that the indenter leaves behind is measured by the Vickers hardness test, an optical method. However, depth measurement methods gauge the size of the indentation made by the indenter (only Rockwell is standardized).

The depth of the indentation the indenter leaves on the surface of a workpiece (specimen) when applying a particular test force depends on how soft the material being tested is.

In order to measure the Vickers hardness, an ISO 6507-compliant pyramid-shaped indenter (with an interfacial angle of 136°) is pressed into a specimen (workpiece) with a specified test load beginning at 1 gf (HV).

The Vickers hardness (HV) is calculated by dividing the surface area of the remaining indent on the specimen by the test force (F in newtons N) (see formula below). The surface area of the remaining pyramidal indentation is determined using the average of the two diagonals because the base area of Vickers indents is normally not square (d1 and d2 in mm).

The standard specifies the Vickers hardness range (ISO 6507). Depending on the specimen material used and the test force, the Vickers hardness value might range from 1 to 3.000 HV.

Test duration for NextGen’s Macro Vickers Hardness Tester – Analogue, Digital and Digital with CCD Optical Analysis is 1-99 seconds.

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