Instron Limited

John J Merck, Jr

Richard Conti

Jon Wyman

Joerg Meissner

Patrick Micozzi

A hardness tester having a frame and a rotatable turret movably supported on the frame is provided. A plurality of load cells are fixedly mountable on the turret, and a plurality of indenters are fixedly attachable to the load cells, respectively. A user interface selectively provides signals to a motor to move the turret into contact with a test specimen via one of the indenters to thereby apply a load on the test specimen. The indenters are fixed with respect to the turret and do not move in relation to the turret when the turret is brought down to bear on the test specimen. The load cells measure the load applied to the test specimen. A closed loop control system receives load measurement signals from the load cells and controls movement of the turret, preventing the motor from applying load in excess of a predetermined selectable load amount input by a user via the user interface. The invention preferably includes a plurality of indenter adapters, each attached to respective undersides of the load cells. Each indenter adapter includes a slot into which the indenter is fittable, and least one set screw for adjusting a horizontal location of the indenter.

Hardness tester

A hardness tester is disclosed which conducts its hardness test through a penetrator impinging upon the surface of a test specimen. Enhanced accuracy and repeatability is achieved through the use of a closed loop system and directly mounting a load cell to the indentor, connecting a linear displacement transducer directly to the load cell and eliminating an elevating screw in initially positioning and applying load to the specimen to be tested.

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Medfield, MA, United States of America

John J Merck, Jr