What hardness reference blocks are used for
Hardness reference blocks are used for the annual indirect verification and for the regular, usually daily, checking of hardness testing machines. The reliability of a tester and its traceability to the national hardness standard can only be demonstrated with blocks whose hardness varies very little across the surface and which are calibrated with a small measurement uncertainty.
Calibration is carried out by a laboratory that is independent of the manufacturer and accredited by DAkkS to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. The blocks are made from homogeneous German steel, heat-treated with decades of experience and finished on CNC machines.
- Made in Germany
- German steel, heat treatment and machining in Germany
- DAkkS calibration
- To DIN EN ISO 6506-3, 6507-3, 6508-3 and ASTM E10, E18, E92
- Marked reference indentations
- Including a visual representation of the Vickers indentations
- Documentation software
- Free of charge, for the periodic verification of your testers
On request, blocks can be supplied with grid lines or with multiple calibration for several methods on one block.
Rockwell hardness reference blocks
DIN EN ISO 6508-3ASTM E18 Optional: multiple calibration, grid lines
| Dimensions | Method | Hardness values |
|---|---|---|
| 60x60x16 mm | HRC | 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 63 |
| HRB | 98 | |
| HRA | 60, 63, 65, 68, 70, 73, 76, 79, 81, 83 | |
| HR45N | 18, 25, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 69 | |
| HR30N | 40, 44, 49, 55, 60, 63, 67, 72, 76, 79 | |
| HR15N | 68, 71, 74, 77, 80, 82, 85, 87, 90, 91 | |
| HR30T | 80, 82 | |
| HR15T | 91, 92, 93 | |
| 100x100x16 mm | HRC | 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 63 |
| HRB | 98 | |
| HRA | 60, 63, 65, 68, 70, 73, 76, 79, 81, 83 | |
| HR45N | 18, 25, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 69 | |
| HR30N | 40, 44, 49, 55, 60, 63, 67, 72, 76, 79 | |
| HR15N | 68, 71, 74, 77, 80, 82, 85, 87, 90, 91 | |
| HR30T | 80, 82 | |
| HR15T | 91, 92, 93 | |
| ∅115x16 mm | HRC | 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 63 |
| HRB | 98 | |
| HRA | 60, 63, 65, 68, 70, 73, 76, 79, 81, 83 | |
| HR45N | 18, 25, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 69 | |
| HR30N | 40, 44, 49, 55, 60, 63, 67, 72, 76, 79 | |
| HR15N | 68, 71, 74, 77, 80, 82, 85, 87, 90, 91 | |
| HR30T | 80, 82 | |
| HR15T | 91, 92, 93 |
Note on ASTM E18: According to Table A4.1, the permissible test surface of a hardness reference block is limited to 2,600 mm². Where our blocks are larger, the usable surface for ASTM is limited to 2,600 mm².
Brinell hardness reference blocks
DIN EN ISO 6506-3ASTM E10 Optional: multiple calibration, grid lines
| Dimensions | Method | Hardness values |
|---|---|---|
| 60x60x16 mm | HBW 2,5/187,5 | 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600 |
| HBW 2,5/62,5 | 200, 250 | |
| 100x100x16 mm | HBW 10/3000 | 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600 |
| HBW 10/1500 | 200, 250, 300 | |
| HBW 10/1000 | 200, 250 | |
| HBW 5/750 | 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600 | |
| HBW 5/250 | 200, 250 | |
| HBW 2,5/187,5 | 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600 | |
| HBW 2,5/62,5 | 200, 250 | |
| 100x150x16 mm | HBW 10/3000 | 150, 200, 250 |
| HBW 10/1000 | 150, 200 | |
| HBW 5/750 | 150, 200, 250 | |
| HBW 5/250 | 150, 200 | |
| ∅115x16 mm | HBW 10/3000 | 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600 |
| HBW 10/1500 | 200, 250, 300 | |
| HBW 10/1000 | 200, 250 | |
| HBW 5/750 | 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600 | |
| HBW 5/250 | 200, 250 | |
| HBW 2,5/187,5 | 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600 | |
| HBW 2,5/62,5 | 200, 250 | |
| ∅125x16 mm | HBW 10/3000 | 150 |
| HBW 10/1500 | 150 | |
| HBW 10/1000 | 150 | |
| HBW 5/750 | 150 | |
| HBW 5/250 | 150 | |
| HBW 2,5/187,5 | 150 | |
| HBW 2,5/62,5 | 150 | |
| HBW 1/30 | 150 | |
| HBW 1/10 | 150 |
Note on ASTM E10: According to Table A4.1, the permissible test surface is limited to 150 cm² (ball indenters Ø 5 mm and Ø 10 mm) or 40 cm² (Ø 1 mm and Ø 2.5 mm). For calibrations with Ø 1 mm and Ø 2.5 mm, the ASTM usable area is therefore marked as a square with 63 mm sides. The remaining area is valid to DIN EN ISO.
Vickers hardness reference blocks
DIN EN ISO 6507-3ASTM E92 Optional: multiple calibration, grid lines
| Dimensions | Method | Hardness values |
|---|---|---|
| ∅40x10 mm polished test surface | HV 0,1 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 |
| HV 0,2 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 0,3 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 0,5 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| ∅65x10 mm polished test surface | HV 1 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 |
| HV 2 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 3 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 5 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 10 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 20 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 30 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 40 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 50 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 60 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 100 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 125 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 | |
| HV 150 | 200, 300, 400, 550, 620, 700, 780 |
Leeb hardness reference blocks
Proceq-calibrated
| Dimensions | Method |
|---|---|
| ∅90x56 mm | <500 HLD / <225 HV / <220 HB |
| ~775 HLD / ~630 HV / ~56 HRC | |
| ~600 HLD / ~335 HV / ~325 HB / ~35 HRC | |
| ∅120x70 mm | ~570 HLG / ~340 HB |
| <450 HLG / <200 HB |
Diamond indenters
We supply diamond indenters for all common methods. Their geometry is defined by the relevant standard:
| Method | Indenter geometry |
|---|---|
| Rockwell | Cone 120° with radius r = 0.200 mm |
| Vickers | Pyramid, 148°7′ edge angle / 136° face angle |
| Knoop | Rhomboid with 130° and 172°30′ edge angles |
| Berkovich | Three-sided pyramid (tetrahedron) |
Aluminium test blocks
Aluminium hardness reference blocks for testing light metals, supplied with a DAkkS calibration certificate to DIN EN ISO.
Brinell (aluminium)
| Dimensions | Method | Hardness values |
|---|---|---|
| 60x60x16 mm | HBW 1/10 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HBW 1/30 | 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HBW 1/5 | 80 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HBW 2,5/187,5 | 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HBW 2,5/62,5 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 150x100x16 mm | HBW 10/1000 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 150x100x16 mm | HBW 10/3000 | 110, 130, 170 |
| 150x100x16 mm | HBW 10/500 | 80 |
| 150x100x16 mm | HBW 5/125 | 80 |
| 150x100x16 mm | HBW 5/250 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 150x100x16 mm | HBW 5/750 | 110, 130, 170 |
Rockwell (aluminium)
| Dimensions | Method | Hardness values |
|---|---|---|
| 60x60x16 mm | HR15T | 70, 80, 82, 87 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HR30T | 37, 57, 62, 72 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HR45T | 36, 43, 57 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HRA | 31, 40, 44, 53 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HRB | 40, 66, 72, 89 |
Vickers (aluminium)
| Dimensions | Method | Hardness values |
|---|---|---|
| 60x60x16 mm | HV1 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HV2 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HV3 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HV5 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HV10 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HV20 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HV30 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HV50 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |
| 60x60x16 mm | HV100 | 80, 110, 130, 170 |