Vickers hardness tester is a precision instrument used to measure the microhardness of materials, widely used in fields such as metals and ceramics. The following is an introduction to its operation, covering core steps such as preparation, measurement, and precautions:
1、 Preparation before operation
Equipment and sample inspection
Confirm that the power supply of the hardness tester is connected, and that the pressure head, stage, and other components are securely installed without looseness or damage.
The surface of the sample needs to be ground flat and polished (roughness ≤ 0.8 μ m), with a thickness greater than 1.5 times the diagonal length of the indentation to ensure stability during testing.
Parameter Settings
2、 Core operational steps
Install the indenter and objective lens
Install the Vickers indenter (diamond regular pyramid, angle 136 °) firmly onto the spindle, and select a suitable objective lens (such as 10x low magnification lens for focusing, 40x high magnification lens for measurement).
Sample positioning and focusing
Place the sample on the stage and move it directly below the pressure head.
Adjust the coarse/fine focus knob through a low magnification objective lens to observe the surface of the sample clearly (avoiding contact with the sample by the indenter).
Loading test force
Select the test point, activate the loading button, the instrument automatically applies the test force and maintains the set time, and then unloads.
Indentation measurement and hardness calculation
Switch to high magnification objective lens, observe the indentation clearly, measure the length of two diagonal lines and take the average value (d).
Calculate the Vickers hardness value (HV) according to the formula:（fortryverify力，singlebit；fortocornerlineflatallvalue，singlebit）
Some instruments support automatic calculation and display of results.
data recording
Record the test force, holding time, hardness value, and indentation image (if traceability is required).
3、 Key precautions
Safety and precision control
Do not touch the device during loading to avoid damage to the pressure head or displacement of the sample.
The indentation should be kept away from the edge of the sample (spacing>2.5 times diagonal length) to avoid stress interference.
Equipment maintenance
Regularly calibrate with standard hardness blocks (recommended every six months) to ensure accurate testing force and measurement system.
Optical components should be cleaned with lens cleaning paper, and transmission components (such as guide rails) should be regularly lubricated to prevent dust and moisture if not in use for a long time.
exception handling
If the indentation is irregular (diagonal difference>5%), the sample needs to be re polished or the worn indenter needs to be replaced.
When the measurement value fluctuates greatly, check the sample fixation, test force stability, or increase the number of test points.
4、 Advantages and application scenarios
Advantages: Regular indentation geometry, high measurement accuracy, suitable for hardness testing of thin parts, coatings, and microstructures.
Applications: Quality inspection of metal heat treatment, hardness analysis of ceramics/ores, research on material properties, etc.
Through standardized operation and regular maintenance, Vickers hardness testers can efficiently provide material hardness data, providing reliable support for quality control and scientific research analysis.