Hardness Testing Indenters
Indenters
Hardness tests can be defined as forcing an indenter of a specified size, shape, and material into the surface of a test piece to obtain a hardness value. The resulting indent is measured by either the depth of penetration or the dimensions of the resulting indentation. Hardness testing plays a vital role in materials testing, quality control, and component acceptance. Buehler provides a complete range of indenters designed for Vickers, Knoop, Rockwell, and Brinell scales. Explore the product groups below for more information.
Learn more about hardness testing indenters and their concepts from our experts in our blog post on “Hardness Testing Concepts“.
Ordering Information
Please contact our lab if you need assistance selecting an appropriate indenter for your application.
Vickers and Knoop
Select one indenter per load cell
- W3100G01 - Fixed mounting indenter bracket
- W3100G02 - Allows the VH3100 indenter to be changed quickly and repeatably. Contact your sales representative to find out if the SnapGrip holder is suitable for your application
- W9100687 - ISO and ASTM certified Vickers indenter for use with VH3000, VH1102, VH1202 and VH1150 series
- W9100684 - ISO and ASTM certified Knoop indenter, for use with VH3000 and VH1202 series
Penetrator Support
Vickers Indenter
Knoop Indenter
*VH3300 has fixed, mounted indenter included in loadcell assembly. No separate indenter holder is required.
Rockwell
- 9100401 - Rockwell indenter C scale , 120° diamond cone, ASTM certified
- 9100402 - Rockwell indenter C, D, A, N scales, 120° diamond cone, ASTM certified
- 9100431 - Rockwell indenter C, A, D scales, 120° diamond cone, ISO and ASTM certified
- 9100432 - Rockwell indenter N scales, 120° diamond cone, ISO and ASTM certified
- 9100434 - Rockwell indenter C,A,D,N scales, 120° diamond cone, ISO and ASTM certified
- 900003405 - Rockwell indenter A scale for Carbides, 120° diamond cone, ASTM certified
- 900002015 - Rockwell indenter N scale, 120° diamond cone, ASTM certified
- 9100405 - Rockwell indenter 1/16" WC ball with 4 spare balls, ASTM, ISO and JIS certified
- 9100406 - Rockwell indenter 1/8" WC ball with 4 spare balls, ASTM, ISO and JIS certified
- 9100407 - Rockwell indenter 1/4“ WC ball with 1 spare ball, ASTM, ISO and JIS certified
- 9100408 - Rockwell indenter 1/2“ WC ball with 1 spare ball, ASTM, ISO and JIS certified
- 9100422 - 1/16“ Diameter WC Balls, 5 pcs, ASTM, ISO and JIS certified
- 9100423 - 1/8“ Diameter WC Balls, 5 pcs, ASTM, ISO and JIS certified
- 9100424 - 1/4“ Diameter WC Balls, 3 pcs, ASTM, ISO and JIS certified
- 9100425 - 1/2“ Diameter WC Ball, 1 pcs, ASTM, ISO and JIS certified
- W2100B2 - Brinell indenter 2.5mm WC ball, ASTM, ISO and JIS certified
- W2100B5 - Brinell indenter 5mm WC ball, ASTM, ISO and JIS certified
- A582143 - Rockwell Regular Kit – includes Rockwell C Indenter, 25 HRC, 63 HRC and 80 HRB test blocks
- A58239 - Rockwell Superficial Kit – includes Rockwell N Indenter, 46 HR30N, 80 HR30N and 70 HR30T test blocks
- A582144 - Rockwell Twin Kit – includes Rockwell C and N Indenters, 25 HRC, 63 HRC, 80 HRB, 80 HR30N and 70 HR30T test blocks
Diamond Indenter
Rockwell Indenter
Rockwell Indenter
Rockwell Indenter
Rockwell Indenter
Carbide Ball Indenter
Carbide Ball Indenter
Carbide Ball Indenter
Carbide Ball Indenter
Accessory kit for Rockwell Regular scales
Rockwell Superficial Scale Accessory Kit
Rockwell Twin Scale Accessory Kit
Rockwell indenters fit on R574, RH2150, RB2000, and Wilson legacy testers.
*C, D, and A scales refer to regular Rockwell scales, N scales refer to superficial Rockwell scales.
** WC = tungsten carbide
Rockwell Verification Kits
Kits include recommended indenter and blocks for the dedicated scales
Brinell
- 9110123 - Indenter 10mm Carbide Ball with certificate
- 9110122 - Indenter 5mm Carbide Ball with certificate
- 9110121 - Indenter 2.5mm Carbide Ball with certificate
- 900000485 - 10mm Carbide Ball with NVLAP certificate (Qty 2)**
- 900000595 - 5mm Carbide Ball with NVLAP certificate (Qty 2)**
- 900007350 - 10mm Ball Retainer, MJ, L, K, KDR, AP, & CLB3**
- W741237 - 1mm Brinell ball indenter, ISO & ASTM Certified*
- W741238 - 2.5mm Brinell ball indenter, ISO & ASTM Certified*
Includes indenter carbide ball with certificate.
*Indenters certified for use for VH3000 Series hardness testers.
**Products only available in North America & South America
Universal
- W4100K - Knoop Indenter with turret adapter
- W4100V - Vickers Indenter with turret adapter
- W4100B1 - Brinell Indenter 1mm with turret adapter
- W4100B2 - Brinell Indenter 2.5mm with turret adapter
- W4100B5 - Brinell Indenter 5mm with turret adapter
- W4100B10 - Brinell Indenter 10mm with turret adapter
- W4100R120 - Rockwell Diamond Cone Indenter
- W4100R16 - Rockwell Indenter 1/16” Ball
- W4100R8 - Rockwell Indenter 1/8” Ball
- W4100R4 - Rockwell Indenter 1/4” Ball
- W4100R2 - Rockwell Indenter 1/2” Ball
Product Literature
Related Products
Proper Indent Spacing
Vickers
According to ASTM Standards:
The distance between two indents or an indent and the edge of the test piece shall be at least two and a half times the diagonal (dV) of the indentation.
According to ISO Standards:
The distance between the centers of two indents shall be at least three times the diagonal (dV) of the indent for steel, copper, and copper alloys, and at least six times for light metals, lead, and tin, and their alloys.
The distance between the center of an indent and the edge of the test piece shall be at least two and a half times the diagonal (dV0 for steel, copper, and copper alloys, and at least three times for light metals, lead and tin and their alloys.
Knoop
According to ASTM Standards:
The distance between two indents shall be at least two times the diagonal (dK) of the indentation and two and a half times the width (dW) of the indentation. The distance between the center of an indentation and the edge of a test piece shall be at least one diagonal (dK) or two and a half times the width (dW) of the indentation.
Rockwell and Brinell
According to ASTM and ISO Standards:
The distance between the centers of two adjacent indentations shall be at least three times the diameter (d) of the indentations.
The distance from the center of any indentation to an edge of the test piece shall be at least two and a half time the diameter of the indentation.
According to ISO Standards:
The distance between two indents shall be at least two times the diagonal (dK) of the indentation and three and a half times the width (dW) of the indentation. The distance between the center of an indentation and the edge of a test piece shall be at least one diagonal (dK) or three and a half times the width (dW) of the indentation.
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