The latest developments in Zwick's ZHU/zwicki-line provide a system for classical and instrumented hardness testing.
This automatic universal hardness testing system covers the Vickers, Knoop, Brinell, Rockwell, ball indentation and instrumented indentation methods.
The ZHU/zwicki-line for instrumented indentation testing in the macro range covers a wide range of applications and features hardware and electronics tailored to the requirements of hardness testing.
In addition to instrumented indentation tests to determine hardness and other material parameters, the ZHU/zwicki-line can perform all hardness testing methods used for metals.
Whichever method is used, the testing system records the load-indentation depth curve to provide additional material assessment.
The instrumented indentation test includes elastic and plastic deformations in order to obtain the elastic and plastic material characteristic values.
At the core of the testing system is a hardness measuring head, into which the measuring systems for test load and indentation depth plus an indentor with hold-down device are integrated.
For optically-based hardness testing methods to Vickers, Knoop and Brinell, an add-on unit with measuring microscope is available.
This unit is motorised in accordance with the trend to increasing automation and reduction of operator influence, while indentation setting, microscope positioning and optical measurement of the indentation are all performed automatically.
The range of compound (XY) tables has also seen further improvements in support surface area, test load and travel.
The motorised tables are designed for test loads up to 250kg and have travel ranges up to 150mm x 50mm.
The range of applications covered by the ZHU/zwicki-line has been expanded to include fully automatic Jominy testing to ISO 642 and ASTM 255.
In the end-quenching test (Jominy test) the hardness of steel is determined by performing a hardness profile test with the Rockwell (HRC) or Vickers (HV30) method on a prepared specimen.
Zwick also offers motorised compound tables with appropriate Jominy tooling for three or five standardised specimens.
Testing is carried out completely automatically with Testxpert II software; the operator only has to enter the starting points and test sequence directions.
This system is suitable for use both in research and development and in production and goods inwards testing.
