OPERATOR’S

MANUAL

Portable
Hardness
Testers

Manufactured and serviced worldwide by

www.amesportablehardnesstesters.com
 Precision Portable Hardness Tester

OPERATOR’S MANUAL

The Ames Precision Features:

Hardness Tester is a hand- • Accurate – providing true Rockwell tests with
held, manually-operated accuracy to +/- 1 point
instrument used to perform • Reliable – provides years of service when
properly maintained and calibrated
superficial or standard
• Versatile – a variety of models to cover varying
Rockwell Hardness Tests in needs – plus reversible anvil/penetrator orienta-
the field or laboratory. tion to allow internal surface testing

IMPORTANT: Your tester has been marked with month and year as a reminder to
send the instrument in for calibration.

Pin (except Model 1-4)

Scale magnifier
Hardness scales Hand wheel
Test sample
Penetrator
Anvil

Model 1 shown

Dial

Bezel

Frame Maintaining
your Ames
Hardness Tester
All Ames testers are
factory lubricated. Do not
attempt additional lubrication.
Grip
Keep the tester dry and free
from oil. Store in the case
provided. When necessary,
wipe with a commercial
cleaner.

2
Ames Portable Hardness Tester Operator Manual

Depth of
penetration
resulting from
initial (minor) MEASURING
load ROCKWELL
Additional HARDNESS
depth of
ROCKWELL C
penetration PENETRATOR
after second Standard Diamond
(major) load Penetrator with
is applied. 120° cone and
spherical
Rockwell point.
Hardness is
derived from
difference

Hardness Testing – Rockwell scales

Rockwell Hardness testing is a sys- sequence. The first, a minor load is
tem for determining the hardness of applied and the readout dial is “ze-
metals and alloys of all kinds. The roed” with the part being tested still
American Society for Testing and under load. Then the major load is
Materials (ASTM) has established a applied.
standard recognized worldwide to The penetrator is backed out to the
help manufacturers maintain the minor load point to read the distance
qualities they want in their products. traveled. The hardness reading rep-
ASTM Standards E-18 and E-110 resents the additional depth of
defines the test method and param- penetration beyond the minor load.
eters for a valid test using portable Tester accuracy is checked by run-
hardness testers. Following is a gen- ning the test on specimens whose
eral description of the method. hardness has been certified by an
A spheroconical diamond penetrator independent testing laboratory.
or a carbide ball penetrator is forced All Ames hardness testers perform
into the surface being tested at a genuine Rockwell Hardness tests,
predetermined pressure load. The giving a direct Rockwell reading. Their
hardness is read as a function of the accuracy meets or exceeds ASTM
depth of penetration. Standards E-18 and E-110. Each
To overcome errors in measurement, tester comes complete with test speci-
two pressure loads are applied in mens to assure continued accuracy.

NOTE: In any given hardness scale, valid tests can be obtained only from
materials above a certain thickness AND hardness. See chart on page 16.

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Ames Portable Tester Operator Manual

Using Ames testers

Select the penetrator
and test block. Barrel Dial Pin Magnifier
Anvil
Soft materials are usually tested in
the Rockwell B Scale, using 1/16" Anvil Penetrator
ball penetrator and 100 kg major nut
load. Hardened steel and hard al-
loys are tested in the Rockwell C
Scale, using a diamond penetrator
and a 150 kg major load. The chart
below gives some basic guidelines Bezel
for scales and penetrators.
Dot
Set up the tester. Indicator
Secure the appropriate penetrator hand
and anvil in the tester. (Refer to chart
below or additional chart provided
with this manual.)
Step 1
Before putting your specimen into
the tester, check the position of the Test Block Hand wheel
indicator hand. It should rest directly
on the dot on the indicator dial. If it
doesn’t, adjust the dial by turning the
bezel to locate the dot under the
pointer.

Frequently used scales

on Ames Tester Models Set
See chart provided for other scales
Scale Minor Load Major Load Penetrator
A 10 kg 60 kg Diamond
B 10 kg 100 kg l/16" Ball
C 10 kg 150 kg Diamond
E 10 kg 100 kg 1/8" Ball
Step 2. Apply Minor Load
Capture your test specimen be-
Superficial Models:
15-N 3 kg 15 kg Diamond tween the anvil and penetrator.
Make sure the penetrator point is
30-N 3 kg 30 kg Diamond not close to the mark of a previous
45-N 3 kg 45 kg Diamond test (see page 6). Slowly turn the
15-T 3 kg 15 kg 1/16" Ball hand wheel to bring the indicator
30-T 3 kg 30kg 1/16" Ball hand to the line marked “SET.” This
applies the minor pressure load to
45-T 3 kg 45 kg 1/16" Ball
the penetrator.

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Ames Portable Tester Operator Manual

Measuring Rockwell Hardness

Step 3: Set the Barrel Dial Pin
Rotate the barrel dial until its pin
rests against the upper edge of
the lucite magnifier. The upper
line of the barrel’s hardness
scales should be exactly aligned
beneath the hairline on the
magnifier.
(NOTE: Model 1-4 has no pin,
and must be aligned visually.)

Step 4: Apply Major Load. Load applied

Turn the hand wheel only until the
dial pointer rests exactly on the
major load. ACCURACY: your tester
is guaranteed to +/- 1 point
Rockwell. When using this tester,
you must use extreme care to posi-
tion the pointer exactly on the minor
and major load marks.
Rotate handwheel slowly to seat
sample, then slowly again until
target load is reached.
Shown here is a major load of 150 kg being applied for reading in the
Rockwell C scale. With Ames Superficial tester models, the gauge shows
15, 30 and 45 kg pressures and indicates in the Rockwell N and T scales.

Step 5: Take the reading Magnifier

Barrel Dial
Turn the hand wheel back to bring
the indicator hand back to "SET"
and take the reading on the barrel
dial looking through the lucite
magnifier. Each graduation on
the barrel dial indicates two points
in the Rockwell scale.
Superficial Tester:
Standard Tester: With either the diamond or ball
With the diamond penetrator, read penetrator, take your reading from the
Column C on the barrel dial (black black-numbered N-T column on the
numbers). barrel dial. (The difference in reading is
With the ball penetrator, read created by the difference in penetrators:
Column B (red numbers). N with diamond, T with 1/16" ball.)

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Ames Portable Hardness Tester Operator Manual

Using Tester Accessories Extensions

Models with jaw openings larger
Changing penetrator/anvil
than 1" come with jaw opening
Make sure to tighten it securely. (Hint:
extensions to allow testing of
take a ”dry run” reading to seat the
samples in the 0-1" thickness
penetrator and/or the anvil before
range. Insert the extension be-
taking an actual reading.)
tween the anvil and the open end
Anvils of the jaw. Be sure to tighten it
Use the flat anvil for work where the securely.
surfaces are parallel. Use the ‘V’ NOTE: The first two or three tests
anvil to hold round stock and the may be low, until the penetrator
raised flat anvil for irregular surfaces. and anvil have become firmly
Make sure to tighten it securely. seated.

Maintaining accuracy
All AMES Hardness Testers, whether in constant use or not, require
accuracy checks. To check accuracy, take the average of 5 readings on
the test block. The readings on the barrel dial should agree with the
marking on the test block, within +/- 1 point.
Further, to guarantee the accuracy of your tester, it is recommended that
tests be made in high, medium, and low ranges. For example, C Scale,
C-63, C-50, and C-28.
Once per year, your tester needs to be factory calibrated.

ASTM Standard E-18 (for testing Rockwell Hardness) says, in part:

two adjacent
dis tan ce be tween the center of
7.9 Th e the diameter of
at least three times
indentations shall be
the indentation. indentation to
e dis tan ce fro m the center of any
7.9.1 Th st two and a half
ed ge of the tes t piece shall be at lea
an
of the indentation.
times the diameter

In other words, keep indentations 3

diameters apart. Indentations can only
be made on one side of the test block.
Factory Calibration
AMES FACTORY CALIBRATION includes a thorough cleaning. For more in-
formation, visit the website or contact the nearest facility listed below:
U.S. (800) 521-0423 U.K. +44 (0) 1384 231535
email: [email protected] email: [email protected]
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6
Ames Portable Tester Operator Manual

Special Testers: Model 8

The Model 8 Tester is affixed to the Setup
stock piece by means of a large “C” When applying the instrument to the
clamp which has a screw long stock piece, take care not to allow the
enough to hold anything from about penetrator to strike the stock piece.
1/4" thick up to 8" in diameter.
Once the tester is aligned and fas-
The anvil of the screw has a ball tened to the stock piece, tighten the
socket which automatically aligns screw so that the pressure exerted is
the penetrator spindle at a right angle greater than the maximum pressure
to the workpiece. This allows test- in any Rockwell test.
ing diameters up to 8" as well as flat
or irregular pieces without changing Making Hardness Tests
the setup. Follow the same procedure for minor
Caution: the Penetrator of Model load, major load and reading as for all
8 comes through a hole in the standard Ames Testers (pages 4-5).
anvil. If it is extended while clamp- Pin Hand wheel
ing or unclamping the tester to/
from the workpiece, it is almost Indicator Barrel Dial
certain to be damaged. Be sure to hand
make sure the penetrator is re- Magnifier
tracted before clamping or
unclamping the workpiece.
Dot
Anvils
There are two anvils supplied spe- Bezel
cifically for this tester: Flat and
V-shaped. They are secured in the Anvils
measuring head by a spring-loaded
ball and can be changed by simply
pulling one out and inserting the
other.
Each has a hole to accommodate
the penetrator. When changing from
the flat to the “V,” the penetrator
must be retracted further to avoid
contacting the workpiece prema-
turely.
Use the flat anvil with the test blocks
or other flat stock; the “V” with round
stock.

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7
Ames Portable Tester Operator Manual

Special Hand wheel

Pin
Testers: Bezel Barrel Dial
Model Dot Magnifier
16 Indicator hand

Anvil

The Model 16 Tester is

affixed to the stock piece by
means of a chain clamp which
can secure the tester frame to
anything from about 4" thick up to Each has a hole to accommodate
16" in diameter. the penetrator. When changing
from the flat to the “V,” the pene-
The measuring head is independent
trator must be retracted further to
of the clamp and may be removed
avoid contacting the workpiece
for mounting on a holder of your own
prematurely.
design.
Caution: the Penetrator of Model Setup
16 comes through a hole in the When applying the instrument to the
anvil. If it is extended while clamp- stock piece, take care not to allow
ing the tester to the workpiece, it the penetrator to strike the stock
is almost certain to be damaged. piece.
Be sure to make sure the retractor Once the tester is aligned and fas-
is retracted before clamping or tened to the stock piece, tighten the
unclamping the workpiece. screw so that the pressure exerted
Anvils is greater than the maximum pres-
sure in any Rockwell test.
There are two anvils supplied spe-
cifically for this tester: Flat and Making Hardness Tests
“V”-shaped. They are secured in the Follow the same procedure for
measuring head by a spring-loaded minor load, major load and reading
ball and can be changed by simply as for all standard Ames Testers
pulling one out and inserting the (pages 4-5).
other.

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8
 Portable Hardness Tester Accessories
Anvils The correct anvil helps
you get the reading right Penetrators
the first time. 1/16" Ball #AT1257
V ANVIL 1/8" Ball #AT1259
1/4" Ball #AT 1160
1/2" #T1128
1" #T2228 1/2" Ball #AT1162
1-1/4" #T4228
CYLINDRICAL Diamond Penetrators
1/2" # T1126 Standard #T1131
3/4" #T2226 Superficial #T1178
1" #T4226

CONVEX ANVIL Extensions

1/2" # T1127 Extensions allow testing thinner items
3/4" #T2227 with larger tester models without
1" #T4227 sacrificing stability.
RAISED FLAT 3/4" (3/8" dia.) T1132
1/8" # T1130 1/2" T2232
1/4" #T1129 3/4" T4232
1" T4234
FLAT ANVIL 2" T4235
1/2" #T1125
1" #T4225

Certified Test Blocks

Hard Steel (C Scale) #T1233
Soft Steel (C Scale) #T1234
Brass (B Scale) #T1241

Bench Stand
Holds tester securely for hands free operation.
Tester is inclined at a convenient angle and
rigidly supported. Internal fibre sleeve
protects tester’s grip.
Weight: 11 lbs. Part #AT1142

Manufactured and
serviced worldwide by

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9
10
CHOOSING HARDNESS SCALES
MAJOR BARREL
MATERIAL TO BE TESTED PENETRATOR SCALE LOAD (kg) DIAL
Extremely hard materials, Diamond A 60 C
tungsten carbide, thin steel
low case hardened steel
Medium hard materials, low 1/16" ball B 100 B
andmedium hardened steels,
brass,bronze, aluminum alloys,
malleable iron, etc.
Hardened steels, hardened Diamond C 150 C
and tempered alloys, hard cast
iron, pearlitic malleable iron, titanium
and other materials harder than B100
Medium case hardened steel, Diamond D 100 C
thin steel, and pearlitic malleable iron
Cast iron, aluminum and mag- 1/8" ball E 100 B
nesium alloy bearing metals

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Annealed brass and copper 1/16" ball F 60 B
alloys; thin soft sheet metals
 MAJOR BARREL
MATERIAL TO BE TESTED PENETRATOR SCALE LOAD (kg) DIAL
Beryllium copper, phosphor 1/16" ball G 150 B
bronze, malleable irons, etc.
Aluminum sheet, zinc, lead 1/8" ball H 60 B
Cast iron, aluminum alloys, 1/8" ball K 150 B
bearing materials
Plastics; thin materials, soft 1/4" ball L 60 B
metals such as lead 1/4" ball M 100 B
1/4" ball P 150 B
1/2" ball R 60 B
1/2" ball S 100 B
1/2" ball V 150 B
Hardened steels, shallow case Diamond 15N 15 N
hardened steels, hardened strip Diamond 30N 30 N
steels down to about .006 thick Diamond 45N 45 N
or where minimum surface dis-
tortion is desirable.
CHOOSING HARDNESS SCALES, cont’d

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Soft steels, copper and alumi- 1/16" ball 15T 15 T
num alloys, etc., or where mini- 1/16" ball 45T 45 T
mum surface distortion is desirable.

11
CONVERSION CHART FOR AMES PORTABLE HARDNESS TESTER
Hardened Steel, Hard Alloys Soft Steel, Non-Ferrous Metal, Gray & Malleable Iron Casting

K g .

K g .
K g .

1/16" BALL
1 0 0 kg. L O A D
1 / 8 " B A L L
1 0 0 kg. L O A D
1/16" BALL
6 0 kg. L O A D
1/16" BALL
1 5 0 kg. L O A D
10 M.M. BALL
3 0 0 0
1/16" BALL
1 5 kg. L O A D
1/16" BALL
3 0 kg. L O A D
1/16" BALL
4 5 kg. L O A D
1/16" BALL
1 0 0 kg. L O A D
1 / 8 " B A L L
1 0 0 kg. L O A D
1/16" BALL
6 0 kg. L O A D
10 M.M. BALL
5 0 0
1/16" BALL
1 5 kg. L O A D
1/16" BALL
3 0 kg. L O A D
1/16" BALL
4 5 kg. L O A D

D I A M O N D
PENETRATOR
1 5 0 kg. L O A D
D I A M O N D
PENETRATOR
6 0 kg. L O A D
D I A M O N D
PENETRATOR
1 0 0 kg. L O A D
10 M.M. BALL
3 0 0 0
D I A M O N D
PENETRATOR
1 5 kg. L O A D
D I A M O N D
PENETRATOR
3 0 kg. L O A D
D I A M O N D
PENETRATOR
4 5 kg. L O A D
C A D 15-N 30-N 45-N B E F G 15-T 30-T 45-T B E F 15-T 30-T 45-T
ROCKWELL BRI- ROCKWELL ROCKWELL BRI- ROCKWELL ROCKWELL BRI- ROCKWELL
SCALE SCALE SCALE SCALE SCALE SCALE
NELL NELL NELL
80 92.0 86.5 97.0 92.0 87.0 100 114.5 114.0 82.0 242 93.0 82.0 72.0 50 89.0 86.0 93 77.0 49.5 23.0
79 91.5 85.5 96.5 91.5 86.5 99 114.0 113.5 80.0 235 92.5 81.5 71.0 49 88.5 85.5 92 76.5 49.0 22.0
78 91.0 84.5 -- 91.0 85.5 98 113.5 112.5 78.5 228 92.0 81.0 70.0 48 88.0 85.0 90 76.0 48.5 20.5

77 90.5 84.0 96.0 90.5 84.5 97 113.0 112.0 77.0 222 92.0 80.5 69.0 47 87.0 84.5 88 76.0 47.5 19.5
76 90.0 83.5 -- 90.0 83.5 96 112.5 111.5 75.5 216 91.5 80.0 68.0 46 86.5 84.0 87 75.5 47.0 18.5
75 89.5 83.0 95.5 89.0 82.5 95 112.0 111.0 74.0 210 91.5 79.0 67.0 45 86.0 83.5 86 75.0 46.0 17.5

74 89.0 82.0 -- 88.5 81.5 94 111.5 110.5 72.0 205 91.0 78.5 66.0 44 85.5 83.0 85 75.0 45.5 16.5
73 88.5 81.0 95.0 88.0 80.5 93 111.0 110.0 70.0 200 91.0 78.0 65.5 43 85.0 82.5 83 74.5 45.0 15.5
72 88.0 80.5 94.5 87.0 79.5 92 110.5 109.5 68.5 195 90.5 77.5 64.5 42 84.5 82.0 82 74.0 44.0 14.5

71 87.5 79.5 -- 86.5 78.5 91 110.0 109.0 67.0 190 90.5 77.0 63.5 41 84.0 81.5 81 74.0 43.5 13.5
70 87.0 79.0 94.0 86.0 77.5 90 109.5 108.5 65.5 185 90.0 76.0 62.5 40 83.0 81.0 80 73.5 43.0 12.5
69 86.5 78.0 93.5 85.0 76.5 89 109.0 108.0 64.0 179 89.5 75.5 61.5 39 82.5 80.0 79 73.0 42.0 11.0

68 86.0 77.5 -- 84.5 75.5 88 108.5 107.5 62.0 176 89.0 75.0 60.5 38 82.0 79.5 78 73.0 41.5 10.0
67 85.5 76.5 93.0 83.5 74.5 87 108.0 107.0 60.0 172 89.0 74.5 59.5 37 81.0 79.0 77 72.5 40.5 9.0
66 85.0 75.5 -- 83.0 73.0 86 107.5 106.0 58.5 169 88.5 74.0 58.5 36 80.5 78.5 76 72.0 40.0 8.0

65 84.5 75.0 690 92.0 82.0 72.0 85 107.0 105.5 57.0 165 88.0 73.5 58.0 35 80.0 78.0 75 72.0 39.5 7.0
64 83.5 74.0 673 91.5 81.0 71.0 84 106.5 105.0 55.0 162 88.0 73.0 57.0 34 79.5 77.5 75 71.5 38.5 6.0
63 83.0 73.0 658 91.5 80.0 70.0 83 106.0 104.5 53.5 159 87.5 72.0 56.0 33 79.0 77.0 74 71.0 38.0 5.0

62 82.5 72.5 645 91.0 79.0 69.0 82 105.5 104.0 52.0 156 87.0 71.5 55.0 32 78.0 76.0 74 71.0 37.5 4.0
61 82.0 72.0 628 90.5 78.5 67.5 81 105.0 103.5 50.0 153 87.0 71.0 54.0 31 77.5 75.5 73 70.5 36.5 3.0
60 81.5 71.0 614 90.0 77.5 66.5 80 104.5 103.0 48.5 150 86.5 70.0 53.0 30 77.0 75.0 72 70.5 36.0 2.0

59 81.0 70.5 600 89.5 76.5 65.5 79 104.0 102.0 47.0 147 86.0 69.5 52.0 29 76.5 74.5 71 70.0 35.5 1.0
58 80.5 69.5 587 89.0 75.5 64.0 78 103.5 101.5 45.5 144 86.0 69.0 51.0 28 76.0 74.0 71 69.5 34.5
57 80.0 69.0 573 89.0 75.0 63.0 77 103.0 101.0 43.5 141 85.5 68.0 50.0 27 75.0 73.5 70 69.5 34.0
56 79.5 68.0 560 88.5 74.0 62.0 76 102.5 100.5 42.0 139 85.0 67.5 49.0 26 74.5 73.0 69 69.0 33.0
55 79.0 67.0 547 88.0 73.0 61.0 75 102.0 100.0 40.5 137 85.0 67.0 48.5 25 73.5 72.5 68 68.5 32.5
54 78.5 66.5 534 87.5 72.0 59.5 74 101.5 99.5 38.5 135 84.5 66.0 47.5 24 73.0 72.0 67 68.5 32.0

53 78.0 65.5 522 87.0 71.0 58.5 73 101.0 99.0 37.0 132 84.5 65.5 46.5 23 72.0 71.5 66 68.0 31.0
52 77.5 65.0 509 86.5 70.5 57.5 72 100.5 98.5 35.5 130 84.0 65.0 45.5 22 71.5 71.0 66 67.5 30.5
51 77.0 64.0 496 86.0 69.5 56.0 71 100.0 98.0 33.5 127 83.5 64.0 44.5 21 71.0 70.0 65 67.5 29.5

50 76.5 63.5 484 85.5 68.5 55.0 70 99.5 97.5 32.0 125 83.5 63.5 43.5 20 70.0 69.5 65 67.0 29.0
49 76.0 62.5 472 85.0 67.5 54.0 69 99.0 97.0 30.5 123 83.0 62.5 42.5 19 69.0 69.0 64 67.0 28.5
48 75.5 62.0 460 84.5 66.5 52.5 68 98.5 96.0 28.5 121 82.5 62.0 41.5 18 68.5 68.5 64 66.5 27.5

47 75.0 61.0 448 84.0 66.0 51.5 67 98.0 95.5 27.0 119 82.5 61.5 40.5 17 68.0 68.0 63 66.0 27.0
46 74.5 60.5 437 83.5 65.0 50.0 66 97.5 95.0 25.5 117 82.0 60.5 39.5 16 67.0 67.5 63 66.0 26.0
45 74.0 59.5 426 83.0 64.0 49.0 65 97.0 94.5 24.0 116 81.5 60.0 38.5 15 66.5 67.0 62 65.5 25.5

44 73.5 59.0 415 82.5 63.0 48.0 64 96.5 94.0 22.0 114 81.5 59.5 37.5 14 66.0 66.5 62 65.0 25.0
43 73.0 58.0 404 82.0 62.0 46.5 63 96.0 93.5 20.5 112 81.0 58.5 36.5 13 65.0 66.0 62 65.0 24.0
42 72.5 57.5 393 81.5 61.5 45.5 62 95.5 93.0 19.0 110 80.5 58.0 35.5 12 64.5 65.0 61 64.5 23.5

41 72.0 56.5 382 81.0 60.5 44.5 61 95.0 92.5 17.5 108 80.5 57.0 34.5 11 64.0 64.5 61 64.0 23.0
40 71.5 56.0 372 80.5 59.5 43.0 60 94.5 92.0 16.0 107 80.0 56.5 33.5 10 63.0 64.0 60 64.0 22.0
39 71.0 55.0 362 80.0 58.5 42.0 59 94.0 91.0 14.0 106 80.0 56.0 32.0 9 62.0 63.5 60 63.5 21.5

38 70.5 54.5 352 79.5 57.5 41.0 58 93.5 90.5 12.5 104 79.5 55.0 31.0 8 61.5 63.0 59 63.5 20.5
37 70.0 53.5 342 79.0 56.5 39.5 57 93.0 90.0 11.0 103 79.0 54.5 30.0 7 61.0 62.5 59 63.0 20.0
36 69.5 53.0 333 78.5 56.0 38.5 56 92.5 89.5 9.5 101 79.0 54.0 29.0 6 60.0 62.0 58 62.5 19.5

35 69.0 52.0 322 78.0 55.0 37.0 55 92.0 89.0 8.0 100 78.5 53.0 28.0 5 59.5 61.5 58 62.5 18.5
34 68.0 51.5 313 77.0 54.0 36.0 54 91.0 88.5 6.0 98 78.0 52.5 27.0 4 58.5 60.5 58 62.0 18.0
33 67.5 50.5 305 76.5 53.0 35.0 53 90.5 88.0 4.5 97 78.0 51.5 26.0 3 58.0 60.0 58 61.5 17.0

32 67.0 50.0 296 76.0 52.0 33.5 52 90.0 87.0 2.5 96 77.5 51.0 25.0 2 57.5 59.5 57 61.5 16.5
31 66.5 49.0 290 75.5 51.5 32.5 51 89.5 86.5 1.0 95 77.0 50.5 24.0 1 56.5 59.0 57 61.0 16.0
30 66.0 48.5 283 75.0 50.5 31.5

29 65.5 47.5 276 74.5 49.5 30.0

28 65.0 47.0 272 74.0 48.5 29.0
27 64.5 46.0 265 73.5 47.5 28.0 ROCKWELL-BRINELL CONVERSION TABLE
26 64.0 45.5 260 72.5 47.0 26.5 These conversion tables of Rockwell & equivalent Brinell hardness numbers show the
25 63.5 44.5 255 72.0 46.0 25.5 relationship between standard Brinell hardness numbers and the several Rockwell scales
24 63.0 44.0 248 71.5 45.0 24.0
including normal as well as superficial types. The latter are for testing thin sheet, light
23 62.5 43.0 245 71.0 44.0 23.0 carborized steel, etc. Conversion tables pertaining to hardness can only be approximate.
22 62.0 42.0 240 70.5 43.0 22.0 The U.S. Bureau of Standards has established formulas for determining the approximate
21 61.5 41.5 235 70.0 42.5 20.5
relationship between Rockwell and Brinell scales.
20 61.0 41.0 230 69.5 41.5 19.5
14
TABLE II
CORRECTIONS TO BE ADDED TO ROCKWELL C, A, AND D, VALUES
OBTAINED ON CYLINDRICAL SPECIMENS OF VARIOUS DIAMETERS.

Dial
Readings 1/4 in. 3/8 in. 1/2 in. 5/8 in. 3/4 in 7/8 in. 1 in. 1-1/4 in. 1-1/2 in.

20 6.0 4.5 3.5 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.0 1.0

25 5.5 4.0 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.0 1.0
30 5.0 3.5 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5
35 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5
40 3.5 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5
45 3.0 2.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5
50 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
55 2.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0
60 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 0
65 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 0
70 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 0
CORRECTION CHARTS

75 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 0 0

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80 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 0
85 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0
90 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 TABLE III
CORRECTIONS TO BE ADDED TO ROCKWELL 15N, 30N, AND 45N
VALUES OBTAINED ON CYLINDRICAL SPECIMENS OF VARIOUS DIAMETERS.

Dial
Readings 1/8 in. 1/4 in. 3/8 in. 1/2 in. 3/4 in. 1 in.

20 6.0 3.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.5

25 5.5 3.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.0
30 5.5 3.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.0
35 5.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.0
40 4.5 2.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.0
45 4.0 2.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0
50 3.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5
55 3.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5
60 3.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.5
65 2.5 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5
CORRECTION CHARTS

70 2.0 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5

75 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0

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80 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0
85 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0

15
16
Minimum Thickness Requirements for thin materials
In any given hardness scale, valid tests can only be obtained from materials above a certain thickness AND hardness.
This chart can be used two ways.
For each thickness, this chart shows the lowest hardness material that can be tested in each scale.
For material having a given hardness, it shows the thinnest dimension of that material which can be tested in each scale.

MINIMUM SCALE
THICKNESS
INCHES 15N 30N 45N 15T 30T 45T HRC HRB HRA
0.006 92
0.008 90
0.010 88 91
0.012 83 82 77 86
0.014 76 785 74 81 79
0.016 88 74 72 75 73 71 86
0.018 66 68 68 64 62 84
0.020 57 63 55 53 82

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0.022 47 58 45 43 69 78
0.024 51 34 31 67 78
 Minimum Thickness Requirements for thin materials, continued

MINIMUM SCALE
THICKNESS
INCHES 15N 30N 45N 15T 30T 45T HRC HRB HRA
0.026 37 18 65 87 71
0.028 20 4 62 80 67
0.030 57 71 60
0.032 52 62
0.034 45 52
0.036 37 40
0.038 28 28
0.040 20

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17
 Hardness Conversion Chart – Aluminum Alloys
ALLOY & BRINELL VICKERS ROCKWELL
TEMPER E H 1ST
1100-0 23 25 36 17
1100-H12 28 25 72 48
1100-H14 32 38 35 80 55
1100-H16 38
1100-H18 44 47 60 88 66
2011-T3 95 93 106 81
2011-T8 100 98 84
2014-0 45 52 47 82
2014-T4 105 125 95
2014-T6 135 87
2017-0 45
2017-T4 105 96 110 82
2018-T61 120
2024-0 47 61 92
2024-T3 120 144 101 114
2024-T4 120 141 98 112 84
2024-T4A 120 101 114 85
2024-T6 121 102 86
2024-T36 130 105 86
2024-T42 118 100 114
2024-T81 121 102 86
3003-F 42 53 53 86 59
3003-0 28 32 55 37
3003-H12 35 44 75 52
3003-H14 40 47 45 84 63
3003-H16 47 60 91 65
3003-H18 55 56 67 100 69
3004-0 45 57
3004-H32 52
3004-H34 63
3004-H36 70
3004-H38 77 81 79
4032-T6 115
5005-0 28 60 37
5005-H12 33 80 50
5005-H32 36 80 50

18 www.amesportablehardnesstesters.com
Hardness Conversion Chart – Aluminum Alloys, cont’d
ALLOY & BRINELL VICKERS ROCKWELL
TEMPER E H 1ST
5005-H34 41 57 87 60
5005-H36 46 90 65
5005-H38 51 95 68
5050-0 36 24 70 49
5050-H32 46 49 90 61
5050-H34 53 95 65
5050-H36 58 68 99 71
5050-H38 63 74 75 73
5052-0 47 56 54 85 59
5052-H32 60 72 77 97 70
5052-H34 68 83 81 97 75
5052-H36 73 83 78
5052-H38 85 86 81
5052-F 66 76 78 97 72
5056-0 65 74 73
5056-H18 105 110
5056-H38 105
5357-0 32 58 40
5357-H32 40 85 60
5357-H34 45 58 65
5357-H36 51
5357-H38 55 65 75
6053-T6 80 83 76
6061-0 30 42 21 70 44
6061-T4 65 70 94 71
6061-T6 95 92 81
6062-0 28
6062-T4 65
6062-T6 95
6063-T5 65 61 93 66
6063-T6 73 77
6063-T42 42 42 82 54
6063-T83 82
6063-T831 70
6063-T832 95
7075-0 60 94

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 Portable Hardness Testers
Manufactured and serviced worldwide by

US: Telephone (734)-761-5400 • Fax (734) 761-5426

e-mail: [email protected]
UK: Phone +44 (0) 1384 231535 • Fax: +44 (0) 1384 252834
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Rev. 1/2016