Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness Tester – Analogue, Digital and Digital with CCD Optical Analysis Software

Instead of using the projected area, the Vickers hardness number is determined using the indent's surface area. Should the hardness be calculated based on the average of the two diagonals if the imprinted shape is deformed as a result of elastic recovery (particularly prevalent in anisotropic materials)? Based on the projected area of the impression, which may be determined using image analysis, it is possible to determine the Vickers hardness. Although there are few thorough investigations of this issue in the literature, the diagonal measurement is now the recommended method even for deformed indents. To meet all testing requirements, the Vickers hardness test offers two distinct force ranges: "Microindentation Vickers" (10–1000g) and "Macroindentation Vickers" (1–100kg). Vickers hardness values are continuous over the entire range of metal hardness since the indenter is the same for both ranges (typically HV100 – HV1000). As long as the test specimen is fairly homogenous, the HV value is constant, within statistical precision, over a very large test load range because the shape of the Vickers indentation is geometrically comparable at all test loads.

These conditions include test specimens below the minimum thickness for the depth of indentation; a test impression that falls too close to the edge of the specimen or another impression; or testing on cylindrical specimens. The maximum height of the specimen is 8.5cm, and the maximum depth of the specimen is 12cm.

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Magnification is the process of enlarging something's apparent size rather than its actual size. This enlargement is measured in terms of a calculated quantity known as "magnification." The term "minification" or "de-magnification" is frequently used to describe a reduction in size when this number is less than one.

Magnification typically refers to procedures like enlarging graphics or images to show more detail, boosting resolution, using a microscope, printing methods, or digital processing. The viewpoint of the image is unaffected by image magnification in every situation. Optical magnification is a dimensionless number since it measures the difference between an object's apparent size (or its size in an image) and its actual size. Optical magnification is sometimes referred to as "power" (for example, "10× power"), although this can lead to confusion with optical power.

The NG-1000 - Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness testers have the following magnification: 100X (Observation), 400X (Measurement), (Can be extended to 150X or 600X).

The following international standards are used by the NG-1000 Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness Tester: ISO 6507 and ASTM E-384.

For the three separate test force ranges for metallic materials, including hard metals and other cemented carbides, ISO 6507 specifies the Vickers hardness test technique. As a function of the test force, the Knoop indenter does not create an indentation that is geometrically equivalent. Under the same test conditions, the indentation depth for a Knoop indentation is shallower than for a Vickers indentation because of its rhombic shape. The Knoop indenter can therefore be particularly helpful for assessing thin coatings or hardness gradients on sectioned samples.

The accepted test procedure for determining a material's Knoop and Vickers hardness is ASTM E384. Test loads normally vary from 100 to 500 grams but can be as low as 1 gram and as high as 1,000 grams. At all test forces, the Vickers indenter often creates an indentation that is geometrically comparable. The list of requirements that adhere to our A2LA and ISO accreditation is provided below.

• Knoop: 100, 500 HK
• Vickers: 100g, 300g, 500g, 1000g HV
• ASTM E384
• ASTM F606
• ASTM F606M

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Since the necessary calculations are independent of the indenter's size and the indenter may be used for any materials regardless of hardness, the Vickers test is frequently simpler to apply than other hardness tests. As with all accepted methods of determining hardness, the fundamental idea is to look at a material's resistance to plastic deformation caused by a typical source. All metals can be tested with the Vickers test, which also has one of the widest hardness scales available.

The Vickers Pyramid Number (HV) or Diamond Pyramid Hardness is the term for the hardness measurement provided by the test (DPH). Although the hardness value can be expressed in pascals, pressure, which also employs the same units, should not be mistaken. The hardness number is determined by the load over the surface area of the indentation and not the area normal to the force and does therefore not pressure. These are the Vickers Scales for the NG-1000 – Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness tester: HV0.01, HV0.025, HV0.05, HV0.1, HV0.2, HV0.3, HV0.5, HV1, HV2 (Optional).

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The NG-1000 - Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness tester can convert your Vickers value to HRA, HRC, HR15N, HR30N, HR45N, and HB. An alternative to the Vickers approach is the Knoop method. The two approaches are different from one another in the following ways:

The Vickers diamond indenter penetrates the specimen twice as deep as the Knoop diamond indenter with the same test load. The Knoop method is particularly useful for testing very thin layers because of its tiny indentation depth (e.g. aluminum foil).
The Knoop method is best used with small, longish test specimens because of the long and thin (elongated) test indent, whereas the Vickers method is preferable for small, spherical specimens (square indentation).
The Vickers indentation might result in cracking when evaluating exceptionally hard and brittle materials (glass, ceramics), hence the Knoop method is best for these materials (measurement accuracy).

Given that the Knoop diagonal (the longitudinal diagonal) is around three times longer for any given indentation depth than the arithmetic mean of the Vickers diagonals, the Knoop method offers superior measurement precision, particularly when used in conjunction with extremely light test loads.

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The NG1000 Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness tester features an easy-to-see LCD display in all lighting environments, a motorized turret, a built-in mini printer and a user-friendly menu for operation. By entering these values into the NG1000 LCD panel, the system will generate a Vickers/Knoop hardness value and display it to be written down or printed on the mini printer. NG1000CCD has all the features of the NG1000DGEN hardness tester with the addition of a CCD camera and user-friendly NG VickSoft software.

The user-friendly control panel allows you to navigate through the NG1000 menu easily. Test parameters can quickly be changed to suit your testing requirements. The NG1000CCD VickSoft software lets you view all your hardness results in an easy viewing panel. You can store and look back at your indentation images for re-measuring when necessary. The NG-VickSoft also allows you to plot your case depth curves and create reports for your hardness testing measurements.

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NextGen Material Testing, Inc. is committed to providing every client with the highest quality equipment for the lowest possible price. We achieve this through our corporate infrastructure. Low overhead, high production volumes, and cutting out any potential middlemen allow NextGen Material Testing, Inc. to deliver better quality testing equipment at a lesser cost.

We understand that purchasing Quality Control Equipment is the equivalent of entering into a long-term relationship with your Quality Provider that can last for decades and beyond. This is why NextGen is honoured to provide you with the highest quality products to reflect the same loyal, long-term commitment back to you. The quality of relationships NextGen develops with all of our clients is one of our secrets to success that creates a mutual win-win situation and leads to your ultimate satisfaction. NG1000 Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness tester Power Source 110V/60Hz/1Ph and overall Dimensions are 49cmx18.5cmx51.5cm (LxWxH). Weight is 45kg.

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Hardness is a material’s quality to withstand localized deformation. It may be especially important when looking for a suitable material for an environment that includes little particles that can induce material wear. Soft materials suffer indentations while hard ones resist any change in shape.

Hardness should be viewed in context with other material properties like strength, elasticity, etc. For example, many hard materials tend to be brittle, limiting their use-cases. The SI unit of hardness is N/mm². The unit Pascal is thus used for hardness, but hardness must not be confused with pressure.

The different types of hardness discussed above have different scales of measurement. For scratch, indentation, and rebound hardness, the measurement methods vary (e.g. Brinell, Rockwell, Knoop, Leeb, and Meyer). As the units are derived from these measurement methods, they are not suitable for direct comparison.

However, you can always use a conversion table for comparing the Rockwell (B & C), Vickers and Brinell values. The commonly used units for hardness measurement are:

• Brinell Hardness Number (HB)
• Vickers hardness number (HV)
• Rockwell hardness number (HRA, HRB, HRC, etc.)
• Leeb hardness value (HLD, HLS, HLE, etc.)

Minimum measuring unit for NG-1000 – Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness tester 0.01μm.

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NextGen Material Testing, Inc. prides itself on providing you with fully calibrated equipment which is over 90% ready for use. Our user-friendly interface, installation and training videos, and easy-to-read operations manuals allow the operator to grasp the operation of the equipment for immediate use swiftly. Additionally, our service engineers are happy to further assist you by phone, e-mail, Skype, as well as Team Viewer to provide you with the ability to operate your equipment right away.

Yes, training and installation are available for all of our equipment. A team of trained professionals stands ready to serve your quality service needs. As a global company, we can provide training and installation anywhere our clients are. Please contact your product consultant to request the training and installation quotation based on your purchased equipment. NextGen Material Testing, Inc. offers a highly precise and cost-effective option for all Vickers and Knoop testing requirements. The NG1000 hardness tester is available in different configurations (AGEN, DGEN and CCD) to meet all requirements for sample volumes and required accuracy.

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The NG-1000 - Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness tester have a 10x Magnification Eyepiece.

Analogue Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness tester measurements are made through the eyepiece. The operator must first rotate the dial on the microscope to align the micrometres with the diagonals of the indentation. Once aligned, the user must manually read the lengths of the diagonals on the ruler visible through the eyepiece. You then enter the diagonal lengths into the tester through the numbered keypad, and the tester will automatically convert the diagonal lengths to your hardness value and display it on the LCD screen.

Digital Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness tester measurements are made through the eyepiece. This system is equipped with an encoder. After using the micrometres to measure the diagonals, the system will transmit your readings from the eyepiece into the system through a single click of a button. The system will generate your hardness reading and display it on the LCD.

CCD Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness tester measurements are performed through a CCD Camera combined with Analytical Software. The measurements can be made through the eyepiece, or they can be done through the analysis software and CCD camera. The advanced accuracy of this Vickers hardness testing system, the Motorized Turret and the Built-in-Printer make this machine the top pick for quality control laboratories. To obtain a personalized quote, click here.

As with every other hardness test, however, the Vickers procedure is not without some flaws. Here are some of them:

1. Extensive Material Preparation

Since optical evaluation is featured in the Vickers test, the quality of the specimen’s surface must be considered good. This means that the place where the indenter is going to make contact with the specimen must be cleaned, ground, and polished. Otherwise, the test results are unreliable.

2. Slow Test Cycles

Compared to the Rockwell method, the Vickers test is comparatively slower. It would take 30 to 60 seconds for the test to be conducted. This does not include the time taken to prepare the test location for the procedure.

3. Price

Due to the need for optical evaluation during the test, a Vickers Hardness tester must be equipped with an optical measurement system. As such, a Vickers hardness tester is more expensive to purchase brand new compared to a Rockwell tester.

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Depending on how high your daily specimen testing volume is, you may want to consider our NG-5000 CCD - Macro Vickers Hardness Testing Systems. This digital macro Vickers hardness tester comes with all of the capabilities of the DGEN model as well as the added value of the optical software designed for ease-of-use and elimination of human error. In order to speed the process, you may choose to upgrade to our automated software for your macro Vickers hardness tester, which allows you to capture indentation automatically and received a readout virtually instantly. Contact us today to learn which macro Vickers hardness tester is the right solution for you.

The benefits of the digital Vickers hardness testing systems can be described on two levels. Firstly, all Digital Vickers systems come with a user-friendly touch pad interface. The machine is capable of performing indentations in seconds and provide an accurate reading. The digital Vickers hardness testing system can also be used with our CCD Optical Analysis upgrade for the highest degree of accuracy and full elimination of the human error factor. The solid framing and state of the art engineering will have you benefit from this machine for many decades to come. Learn more about our Digital Vickers Hardness Testing systems for your Macro Vickers or Micro Vickers needs.

Best experience shows that the optimal solution for your Micro Vickers Hardness testing needs is highly dependent on your technical specifications. For example, if unwavering accuracy is your only focus, we would suggest our NG 1000 CCD Model - Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness Testing System with CCD Optical Analysis software. If you were looking for something more affordable, yet easy to use, we would suggest the NG 1000 AGEN Model - Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness Testing System with Analogue Display. For the sweet spot of the two worlds, our most commonly purchased Micro Vickers Hardness tester is the NG 1000 DGEN Model - Micro Vickers and Knoop Hardness Testing System with Digital Display. This unit is exceptional for both accuracy and ease-of-use. Regardless of what your Micro Vickers hardness testing needs are, NextGen has you covered with the latest and greatest in the industry. Contact our qualified consultants today to learn which unit best fit your needs.

NextGen's Micro Vickers Hardness Testing line up consists of 4 primary options. The analogue, digital, digital with CCD optical analysis and advanced semi- or fully automatic Vickers hardness testing machines. NG-1000 Series - Micro Vickers Hardness Testers are sure to meet your metallographic and other hardness testing requirements. Contact us today to learn more about how we can meet your Vickers hardness testing needs.

No, we do not offer stands for our Micro Vickers Hardness Tester - NG-1000 Series. We advise to purchase such stands locally as a more cost-effective solution.

AGEN - Analogue Vickers Hardness Tester models:
In this model of Vickers Tester Manufacturing measurements are made with the eyepiece. The micrometers are used to measure the diagonals. The numbered keypad is then used to manually enter your measurements. The hardness testing results will be generated on the LCD screen.

DGEN - Digital Vickers Hardness Tester models:
In this model of Vickers Tester Manufacturing measurements are made with the eyepiece. Adjust the micrometer to the correct positioning of the diagonals. The equipped encoder allows for the readings to be transferred to the machine with a single click of a button. The hardness reading will then be generated on the LCD screen.

CCD - Digital Vickers Hardness Tester models with CCD Optical Analysis Software:
This Vickers Tester Manufacturing system's foundation is the NG-1000DGEN and is additionally equipped with a CCD Camera and Analysis software. The operator can make measurements using the eyepiece or the analytical software and the CCD camera. This unit provide the highest accuracy and eliminates all operator's error. 

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There are two options to go with for an additional load force requirements:

A. You could order the 2000g weight to conduct the 2kg Vickers hardness test with the standard configurations of 10-1000g. The 2kg test load can be found in the Optional Accessories section of the Micro Vickers Hardness Tester or Macro Vickers Hardness Tester's quotation.

B. Depending on your application requirements you may also want to consider our Macro Vickers Hardness Testing System - NG 5000 Series. The Macro Vickers Hardness Testing System - NG 5 can perform a test load range from 300g (1.96N) to 5kg (49N), while the Macro Vickers Hardness Testing System - NG 10 unit can perform a test range from 500g (4.9N) to 10kg (98N).

Learn more about Micro Vickers Hardness Testing Systems and Macro Vickers Hardness Testing Systems and request quotation today.

NextGen makes it easy for you to get additional accessories and parts for your Vickers Hardness Testing System. You may submit your request to support@NextGenTest.com with your required accessories and/or spare parts. Our team will provide you a detailed quotation shortly.

Another option is to fill out the Service Request application. We ask that you include the Serial # of your purchased Vickers Hardness Testing equipment.