E18 − 19

A3.6 Class A Diamond Indenters A3.7 Reference Diamond Indenters

A3.6.1 Class A indenters are intended to be used for the
standardization of Class B indenters in accordance with this
Annex; the standardization of Rockwell hardness test blocks as
described in Annex A4, and as a troubleshooting tool during
the indirect verification of Rockwell hardness testing machines
in accordance with Annex A1. They are verified for correct
geometry and performance in accordance with the schedule
specified in Table A3.2.
A3.6.1.1 The instrument(s) used to verify the geometrical
features shall be capable of measuring to the accuracies given
in Table A3.5.
A3.6.2 A Class A diamond indenter shall meet all of the
manufacture and geometric requirements for a Class B dia-
mond indenter given in A3.5.2 with the following additional
requirements. See also Note A3.1.
A3.6.2.1 The deviation from straightness of the generatric
line of the diamond cone adjacent to the blend shall not exceed
0.002 mm over a minimum length of 0.40 mm.
A3.6.2.2 The angle between the axis of the indenter and the
axis normal to the seating surface of the indenter shall not
exceed 0.5°.
A3.6.3 Class A diamond indenters have tighter performance
tolerances than Class B diamond indenters. The performance
of each Class A indenter shall be verified by comparison to the
performance of a Reference indenter.
A3.6.4 Perform the qualifying and verifying measurements
as described in A3.5.3 for a Class B diamond indenter, except
that the qualifying measurements shall be made using a
Reference diamond indenter on each test block from each
range defined in Table A3.8 for the type of indenter to be
verified.
A3.6.4.1 For acceptability, the difference of the average of
the three qualifying measurements and the average of the three
verifying measurements, H̄ Q 2H̄ V , shall be within the tolerance
specified for Class A diamond indenters in Table A3.8.
A3.7.1 Reference diamond indenters are intended for the
standardization of Class A diamond indenters. The reference
indenter shall have tighter performance tolerances than Class A
and Class B indenters and shall be verified for performance by
comparison to an indenter recognized as the national reference
indenter(s) of a national Rockwell hardness standardizing
laboratory (see Note A3.3).
NOTE A3.3—In the United States, the national Rockwell hardness
standardizing laboratory is the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST).
A3.7.2 Geometric Requirements of Reference Diamond In-
denters:
A3.7.2.1 Verification of the following geometric features of
a Reference diamond spheroconical indenter shall be made at
not less than eight approximately equally spaced full cross-
section profiles. For example, eight profiles would be spaced at
approximately 22.5 degree intervals.
A3.7.3 A Reference diamond indenter shall meet all of the
manufacture and geometric requirements for a Class A dia-
mond indenter given in A3.6.2. See also Note A3.1.
A3.7.4 Performance Verification of Reference Diamond In-
denters:
A3.7.4.1 The performance comparison shall be performed
by a national Rockwell hardness standardizing laboratory, and
shall meet the performance tolerances of Table A3.9.
A3.7.4.2 Perform the qualifying and verifying measure-
ments as described in A3.5.3 for a Class B indenter, except that
at least four qualifying measurements shall be made using a
national reference indenter (see A3.7.1) on each test block
from each range defined in Table A3.9 for the type of indenter
to be verified.
A3.7.4.3 For acceptability, the difference of the average of
the five qualifying measurements and the average of the five
verifying measurements, H̄ Q 2H̄ V , shall be within the tolerance
specified for Reference indenters in Table A3.9 for each test
block used in the verification.

TABLE A3.8 Test Blocks to be Used for Class A Diamond

Indenter Performance Verifications and the Maximum Tolerance
on the Performance Relative to the Reference Indenter
TABLE A3.9 Test Blocks to be Used for Reference Indenter
Class A Performance Verifications and the Maximum Tolerance on the
Tolerance
Performance Relative to a National Reference Indenter
Ranges of as Compared
Indenter Type Required Test to Reference
Blocks Reference Indenter
Indenter Tolerance as
Ranges of
H̄ Q 2H̄ V Compared
Indenter Type Required Test
to a National
Regular Scales Diamond 80 to 83 HRA ± 0.3 HRA Blocks
Reference
22 to 28 HRC ± 0.4 HRC
Indenter
42 to 50 HRC ± 0.4 HRC
60 to 65 HRC ± 0.3 HRC H̄ Q 2H̄ V
Superficial Scales Diamond 88 to 94 HR15N ± 0.3 HR15N Regular Scales Diamond 22 to 28 HRC ± 0.3 HRC
60 to 69 HR30N ± 0.3 HR30N 62 to 65 HRC ± 0.3 HRC
42 to 50 HR30N ± 0.4 HR45N Superficial Scales Diamond 88 to 94 HR15N ± 0.3 HR15N
22 to 29 HR45N ± 0.4 HR45N 40 to 48 HR45N ± 0.3 HR45N
Combination Regular and 22 to 28 HRC ± 0.4 HRC Combination Regular and 20 to 28 HRC ± 0.3 HRC
Superficial Scales Diamond 60 to 65 HRC ± 0.3 HRC Superficial Scales Diamond 62 to 65 HRC ± 0.3 HRC
88 to 94 HR15N ± 0.3 HR15N 88 to 94 HR15N ± 0.3 HR15N
60 to 69 HR30N ± 0.3 HR30N 40 to 48 HR45N ± 0.3 HR45N

Copyright ASTM International

Provided by IHS Markit under license with ASTM
23
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS