Aolong DHT Micro/Vickers/Brinell/Rockwell Multi-Function Portable Hardness Tester

Overview

The Aolong DHT Multi-Function Portable Hardness Tester is an integrated mechanical property testing platform engineered for precision hardness evaluation across metallurgical, aerospace, automotive, and quality assurance laboratories. Designed to comply with core international hardness standards—including ASTM E384 (Vickers microhardness), ASTM E10 (Brinell), ASTM E18 (Rockwell), ISO 6506 (Brinell), ISO 6507 (Vickers), and ISO 6508 (Rockwell)—this instrument supports interchangeable test modules for microhardness (HV), Vickers (HV), Brinell (HBW), and Rockwell (HRC, HRB, HRA, HR15N–HR45T) measurements. Its modular architecture enables rapid configuration changes between indentation methods without recalibration, leveraging standardized indenter geometries (e.g., diamond pyramid for Vickers/micro, tungsten carbide ball for Brinell, conical diamond for Rockwell) and controlled load application via electromagnetic or hydraulic force systems. The DHT series accommodates both benchtop and field-deployable use cases, with portable variants meeting IP54 environmental rating for on-site metallographic verification in manufacturing plants or maintenance facilities.

Key Features

• Multi-method capability: Simultaneous support for Vickers, Knoop, Brinell, Rockwell, superficial Rockwell, and plastic Rockwell hardness scales within a single platform
• Modular indenter turret: Motorized, auto-indexing turret with up to six pre-aligned indenters (e.g., 136° diamond pyramid, 10 mm WC ball, 120° diamond cone)
• Dual-load actuation: Electromagnetic loading for micro/Vickers (10 g–10 kgf) and hydraulic/pneumatic loading for Brinell/Rockwell (up to 3000 kgf Brinell, 150 kgf Rockwell)
• Optical measurement system: Integrated high-resolution digital microscope (up to 400× magnification) with automatic diagonal measurement algorithm compliant with ISO 6507-2
• Portable configurations: PHB-3000 hydraulic Brinell and CV ultrasonic Vickers variants meet MIL-STD-810G shock/vibration requirements for field deployment
• GLP-compliant operation: Built-in audit trail, user access levels (admin/operator), and calibration certificate logging per ISO/IEC 17025 requirements

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The DHT platform accepts flat, cylindrical, and irregularly shaped metallic specimens ranging from thin foils (≥0.2 mm thickness) to large castings (≤500 mm diameter). Surface preparation follows ASTM E3 and ISO 1463 guidelines—grinding, polishing, and etching protocols are validated for ferrous alloys, non-ferrous metals (Al, Cu, Ti), sintered carbides, and case-hardened steels. All models are CE-marked and conform to EN ISO 16808 (ultrasonic hardness), EN ISO 1463 (coating thickness/hardness correlation), and ASTM E140 (hardness conversion tables). Benchtop units include traceable NIST-calibrated reference blocks; portable variants ship with certified hardness verification kits (e.g., HBW 10/3000, HRC 20–60).

Software & Data Management

Equipped with Aolong HardnessSuite™ v4.2 software, the DHT system delivers full compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for electronic records and signatures. Features include automated report generation (PDF/Excel), statistical process control (SPC) charts (X̄–R, Cpk), batch data export to LIMS, and real-time pass/fail decision logic based on user-defined tolerance bands. Measurement data includes indentation image capture, load dwell time, diagonal lengths, hardness value, standard deviation (n ≥ 5), and environmental metadata (temperature, humidity). Audit logs record operator ID, timestamp, calibration events, and parameter modifications—retained for ≥10 years per GMP Annex 11 requirements.

Applications

• Heat treatment validation: Case depth profiling via microhardness gradients (HV0.01–HV1) on carburized gears and nitrided tooling
• Weld quality assurance: Cross-sectional hardness mapping across fusion zone, HAZ, and base metal per AWS D1.1
• Aerospace component certification: Rockwell superficial hardness (HR15N/HR30T) of turbine blades and landing gear alloys (Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 718)
• Automotive casting inspection: Brinell hardness (HBW 10/1000) of cylinder blocks and brake calipers per SAE J417
• Failure analysis labs: Knoop microhardness (HK) of brittle phases in fracture surfaces and inclusion hardness quantification
• On-site verification: Portable PHB-3000 and CV ultrasonic Vickers units deployed for in-situ hardness checks during plant turnarounds or offshore rig inspections

FAQ

What standards does the DHT series comply with for calibration and verification?
ASTM E4, ISO 6506-3, ISO 6507-3, and ISO 6508-3 define the periodic verification procedures; all units ship with calibration certificates traceable to NIM (China National Institute of Metrology) and UKAS-accredited reference labs.
Can the system perform automatic hardness conversions between scales?
Yes—HardnessSuite™ implements ASTM E140 Annex A1 algorithms for cross-scale conversion (e.g., HV ↔ HRC ↔ HBW), with uncertainty propagation calculated per GUM (JCGM 100:2008).
Is remote diagnostics and firmware updates supported?
All Ethernet-enabled models support secure SSH-based remote maintenance and over-the-air firmware updates, with version rollback capability and cryptographic signature validation.
What is the minimum specimen thickness required for valid Rockwell testing?
Per ASTM E18 Section 7.2.1, specimen thickness must exceed 10× the depth of indentation; for HRC testing, minimum thickness is 1.5 mm (verified by backside deformation check).
How is measurement repeatability verified during routine operation?
Daily verification uses certified reference blocks; the system calculates %RSD (relative standard deviation) across five consecutive indentations and alerts if >3%—triggering automatic recalibration sequence.