Automatic system to measure hardness or microhardness using a load cell and image analysis.

摘要

The stepper motor (1) controlled by the personal computer (PC) moves upwards the microscope table (2) pushing the sample (3) against the penetrator (4) placed in the load cell (5), the PC is measuring in real time the force exercised by the table (2). The load cell (5) reaches the load (weight) predefined, the stepper motor (1) maintains this force. The indentation created (with a known weight) is now presented by the automatic motorised table (6) below the microscope objective. The personal computer commands the Frame Grabber to collect through the video camera (7) the indentation image and then calculates the area. The personal computer calculates the hardness values as a function of the load (weight) applied and the total area of the indentation. <IMAGE>