There are many companies selling Rockwell hardness testers on the market currently. How to choose the appropriate equipment? Or rather, how do we make the right choice with so many models available?
This question often troubles purchasers, as the wide range of models and varying prices make it difficult to decide. Below is a brief guide to help you select a suitable Rockwell hardness tester.
Rockwell hardness testers are the most widely used instruments in hardness testing. Due to their advantages such as simple operation, fast testing speed, low requirements for workpieces, and minimal skill demands for operators, they are widely used in heat treatment factories, workshops, universities, research institutes, aerospace fields etc.
1.Principle of Rockwell Hardness Testers
Rockwell hardness testers operate on the depth measurement principle. Simply speeking: apply different force values to different indenters ,create indentations, and directly read the hardness value.
2. Classification of Rockwell Hardness Testers
1) Classified by Scale
Standard Rockwell hardness testers: test 15 scales including HRA, HRB, and HRC.
superificial Rockwell hardness testers: test 15 scales including HR15N, HR30N, HR45N, HR15T,etc.
Plastic Rockwell hardness testers: test plastic scales such as HRE, HRL, HRM, HRR,etc.
Full Rockwell hardness testers: cover all Rockwell scales (standard, superficial, and plastic), totaling 30 scales.
2) Classified by Machine Type
Desktop Rockwell hardness testers
Portable Rockwell hardness testers
3) Classified by Display Type
Analog-type (dial reading): manual load, manual unload, and dial reading.
Digital display (LCD or touchscreen): automatic load, automatic unload, and automatic hardness value display.
4) Classified by Force Application Mechanism
Weight load
Closed-loop sensor load/cell load
5) Classified by Machine Structure
Screw lifting
Head up&down type
6) Classified by Automation Level
6.1) Manual Rockwell Hardness Tester
Initial test force manually load; main test force manually load and unload.
Operation: the indenter contact with sample , large pointer turn three full circles, manually pull down the loading handle to apply force, then push the handle to unload,read value of the pointer,resolution 0.5HR.
6.2) Electric Rockwell Hardness Tester
Initial test force manually load; main test force automatically load, dwell, and unload (need press “Load” button; dwell time is adjustable)
Operation steps: the indenter contact with the sample, large pointer turn three full circles, press “Load” button, automatically load, dwell, and unload; read the value of the pointer, resolution 0.1HR.
6.3) Digital Display Rockwell Hardness Tester: two types
6.3.1) Initial test force manually load;.main test force automatically load, dwell, and unload.
Operation : the indenter contact with the sample , progress bar reach OK, automatic load, dwell, and unload,hardness value display automatically, resolution 0.1HR.
6.3.2) Initial test force automatically load; main test force automatically load, dwell, and unload.
operation: when the distance between the indenter and the sample is 0.5mm, press “Load” button, the indenters automatically fall, load, dwell, unload, indenters automatically lift, hardness value display automatically, resolution0.1HR.
6.4) Fully Automatic Digital Rockwell Hardness Tester (for reference: “Fully Automatic Rockwell Hardness Tester – Understand in One Sentence”)
Features: automatic screw lifting, automatic test force selection, automatic initial and main test force load, automatic unload, and automatic hardness value display.
Operation: one-button operation, press the start button; the workbench automatically rises, after the sample contacts the indenter, automatically load, unload, hardness value display automatically .
(The workbench lifts automatically without height restrictions, without manual rotation of the screw swing .)
7) Classified by Customization
Standard machines; customized machines;online hardness testers, etc.
3.Rockwell hardness testers vary in price based on their configuration and function. How to Choose a Hardness Tester?
1.If you want the most affordable option: choose a pointer-type, manually load model, which is durable,such as HR-150A ,HR-150C;
2.If you want a cost-effective, high precision tester: choose the cell load digital display model HRS-150S;
3.If you need high automation type: choose the fully automatic Rockwell hardness tester HRS-150X;
4.If you test a large number of workpieces daily of 100% inspection and need fast testing speed: choose an automatic Rockwell hardness tester;
5.If you need test thin workpieces: choose superficial Rockwell hardness tester HR-45C, HRS-45S;
6.If you test engineering plastics, acrylic, etc.: choose the plastic Rockwell hardness tester XHRS-150S;
7.If you test inner surfaces of ring-shape, tubular, frame parts, or base of bossed parts: choose the nose-type Rockwell hardness tester HRS-150ND;
8.If you test large or heavy workpieces that are inconvenient for screw type: choose a fully Head automatic Up & Down Type Rockwell hardness tester HRSS-150C,HRZ-150SE.
Post time: Aug-06-2025
