E18 − 19

stating the Rockwell hardness scales that are covered by the A4.5.3 The standardization procedure involves making
accreditation, and the standards to which the test block hardness measurements on the test block surface using the
standardizations are traceable. forces and type of indenter that are appropriate for the hardness
scale.
A4.3 Manufacture A4.5.3.1 Make at least five measurements distributed uni-
A4.3.1 The attention of the manufacturer of test blocks is formly over the test surface.
drawn to the need to use material and a manufacturing process A4.5.4 Determine the nonuniformity range HR of the mea-
which will give the necessary homogeneity, stability of surements as:
structure, and uniformity of surface hardness. For quality
control purposes, test blocks should be examined for homoge- H R 5 H max 2 H min (A4.1)
neity and uniformity of surface hardness in accordance with a where:
statistically acceptable sampling procedure. Hmax = highest hardness value, and
A4.3.2 The test blocks, if of steel, shall be demagnetized at Hmin = lowest hardness value.
the end of the manufacturing process. A4.5.4.1 The nonuniformity range HR of the standardizing
A4.3.3 To assure that material is not removed from the test measurements provides an indication of the non-uniformity of
surface after standardization, an identifying mark shall be the test block hardness. For acceptability, the nonuniformity
made on the test surface. The mark shall be such that it can not range HR shall be within the tolerances of Table A4.2.
be removed by any method other than removal of test block A4.5.5 The standardized value of the test block is defined as
material. the average of the standardization measurements H̄.
A4.3.4 The standardized test block shall meet the physical A4.5.6 In some cases, a more accurate standardized value
requirements of Table A4.1. for the test block may be obtained by correcting the measured
A4.4 General Requirements average hardness value by a performance offset value for the
standardizing machine. The offset value may be based on the
A4.4.1 The standardizing laboratory environment, the stan- error E values measured during the last indirect verification of
dardizing machine, and the standardizing test cycle shall the standardizing machine. For example, an appropriate offset
satisfy the requirements of Annex A2. correction curve for each standardizing machine may be
A4.4.2 All instruments used to make measurements re- calculated for a specific Rockwell scale by fitting a linear line
quired by this Annex shall have been calibrated traceable to to the error values measured during the indirect verification.
national standards where a system of traceability exists, except The laboratory should be cautioned that the validity of calcu-
as noted otherwise. lating a correction curve in this way is dependent on the
linearity of the fit of the offset data across the entire scale.
A4.5 Standardization Procedure
A4.5.1 A test block is standardized by calibrating the
average hardness of the test surface to a specific Rockwell
hardness standard. Only one surface of the test block shall be TABLE A4.2 Maximum Nonuniformity for Standardized
calibrated. When possible, the test blocks should be calibrated Test Blocks
traceable to national Rockwell standards (see Note A4.1). The Max.
Rockwell standard to which the test blocks are traceable shall Nonuniformity
Nominal Hardness of Range,
be stated in the certification. Standardized Test Block HR
NOTE A4.1—In the United States, the national Rockwell hardness (HR
standardizing laboratory is the National Institute of Standards and units)
Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD 20899. HRA $20 and <80 1.0
NOTE A4.2—Primary standardized test blocks are available as Standard $80 and <92 0.5
Reference Material from NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. HRBW $0 and <45 1.5
$45 and <100 1.0
A4.5.2 Class A ball indenters and Class A or Reference HRC $20 and <60 1.0
diamond indenters as described in Annex A3 (see Note 3) shall $60 and <70 0.5
be used for the standardization of test blocks. HRD $40 and <60 1.0
$60 and <87 0.5
HREW, HRFW, HRGW, HRHW, 1.0
TABLE A4.1 Physical Requirements of Standardized Test Blocks HRKW, HRLW, HRMW, HRPW,
HRRW, HRSW, HRVW
Test Block Parameter Tolerance HR15N $69 and <90 1.0
Thickness $6.0 mm (0.236 in.) $90 and <97 0.7
#16.0 mm (0.630 in.) HR30N $41 and <77 1.0
Test surface area #2600 mm2 (4 in.2) $77 and <92 0.7
Deviation from surface flatness #0.005 mm (0.0002 in.) HR45N $19 and <66 1.0
(test & bottom) $66 and <87 0.7
Deviation from surface parallelism #0.0002 mm per mm HR15TW, HR30TW, HR45TW 1.0
(test & bottom) (0.0002 in. per in.) HR15WW, HR30WW, HR45WW, 1.0
Mean surface roughness Ra # 0.003 mm (12 µin.) HR15XW, HR30XW, HR45XW,
(test & bottom) center line average HR15YW, HR30YW, HR45YW

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