ISO 6508 | NextGen Material Testing

ISO 6508, Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test (multi-part series), is the test method series for hardness.

ISO 6508 Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test (multi-part series)

At a Glance

Document type: Test method series.

Edition: active; Part 1 current edition ISO 6508-1:2023.

Property determined: hardness.

Parts in the series: ISO 6508-1:2023 Test method; ISO 6508-2:2015 Verification and calibration of testing machines and indenters; ISO 6508-3:2015 Calibration of reference blocks.

Scope

ISO 6508-1 specifies the method for Rockwell regular and Rockwell superficial hardness tests for scales A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, 15N, 30N, 45N, 15T, 30T and 45T for metallic materials, and is applicable to stationary and portable hardness testing machines.

Part 2 specifies direct and indirect verification of testing machines together with verification of indenters.

Part 3 specifies calibration of reference blocks used for indirect and daily verification.

What the Result Tells You

A test to ISO 6508 characterises the hardness of the material or assembly under the conditions the method fixes: specimen form, rate of loading and the environment in which the test is run.

Because the numbers depend on those fixed conditions, a result is only meaningful when the report names the standard, the edition and any options the method allows.

Equipment for This Standard

Equipment on our site referenced against ISO 6508:

NG-RockGen DGEN Series – Digital Rockwell Hardness Tester – Rockwell Regular, Rockwell Superficial and Rockwell TWIN Digital Models

Hardness Test Blocks, Indenters and Hardness Testing Accessories

Reading the Designation

ISO 6508: the designation as published by the issuing body.

Year suffix: the revision is identified by its year, as in ISO 6508-23. A specification that names an edition fixes that edition; a later revision does not apply to an order retroactively.

When a drawing, purchase order or quality procedure cites this document, the test setup, the specimen and the report follow that citation.

Get Help With ISO 6508

For a setup built around ISO 6508, or to confirm which fixtures and accessories a given specimen calls for, Request a Quote or Contact Us.

Products With This Standard: ISO 6508

Below you can find the products in our catalog that support this standard and the related testing workflow.

NG-RockGen Analogue Series – Rockwell Hardness Tester

NG-RockGen Analogue Series is a Rockwell hardness tester for routine hardness measurement of metals, available in manual and electronic models. It supports HRA, HRB, and HRC scales with a 10 kg preload and 60, 100, or 150 kg total test forces. Suitable for hardened steel, castings, aluminum alloys, bearing steel, and hard alloys, it provides practical shop-floor and laboratory verification.

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NG-RockGen DGEN Series – Digital Rockwell Hardness Tester

NG-RockGen DGEN Series is a digital Rockwell hardness tester for measuring metal hardness by indentation depth under standard Rockwell loading. Available in regular, superficial, and TWIN configurations, it supports common HRA, HRB, HRC, N, and T scales, automatic test cycles, LCD readout, 0.001 resolution, built-in printer, RS-232 output, and repeatable testing for steel, castings, alloys, and bearing materials.

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GenRock NG-150 Series – Rockwell Hardness Tester

GenRock NG-150 Series is an advanced Rockwell hardness tester for regular and superficial hardness testing of metals and alloys. Available in manual and automatic configurations, it supports ASTM E18, EN ISO 6508, and GB/T 230 workflows. Touchscreen operation, fast indentation cycles, arc correction, data storage, RS-232 output, and 0.001 resolution help laboratories improve accuracy, repeatability, and reporting efficiency.

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Hardness Test Blocks, Indenters and Accessories

Hardness test blocks, indenters, and accessories support daily verification and reliable operation of metal hardness testing systems. The range includes certified Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers, and Knoop blocks, along with diamond, carbide, ball, and specialized indenters, anvils, and accessories. ASTM- and ISO-aligned calibration options help laboratories confirm tester accuracy whenever scales, loads, indenters, or operating conditions change.

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