Most errors come from small alignment issues that directly affect the absorbed-energy reading. A common mistake is placing the specimen off-center on the supports, which changes the impact position and leads to inconsistent results. Another frequent issue is using the wrong support span or the wrong striker radius for the selected standard. If the operator switches between ASTM and ISO samples and forgets to adjust the striking knife, the results will not match the method requirements.

Surface contamination is another problem, especially when gloves, oil or dust get on the fracture area. This can change how the specimen behaves at the moment of impact. Incorrect orientation of the notch, or choosing the wrong side to face the striker, also leads to invalid tests.

Rushed installation is usually the cause, so good habits matter. Taking a moment to verify centering, notch direction, support span and striker type prevents most issues and keeps the results usable for QA and audits.

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