KEVOS® MAKEOS · Materials
Vickers Hardness Test Check (Hardness, Validity, Specification)
What Vickers hardness do these indentation diagonals give, was the test valid for the thickness, spacing and edge distance, and is the result within specification?
Evaluation of a Vickers hardness test from two indentation diagonals: mean diagonal, hardness HV and indentation depth, the least specimen or layer thickness of 1.5 diagonals (as the Vickers–Knoop hardness tool), the difference between the diagonals, and checks of thickness, edge distance and spacing as multiples of the diagonal (your rules), diagonal difference and the specification range.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Test force | kgf | Test force in kilograms-force (HV10 = 10 kgf). |
| Diagonal 1 | mm | First diagonal of the indentation. |
| Diagonal 2 | mm | Second diagonal, at right angles. |
| Specimen or layer thickness | mm | Thickness of the specimen or of the hardened layer tested. |
| Indentation centre to edge | mm | Distance from the indentation centre to the nearest edge. |
| Indentation centre to the next | mm | Distance to the centre of the nearest other indentation. |
| Your rules and specification | ||
| Least edge distance ÷ diagonal | Least edge distance as a multiple of the mean diagonal (from your test standard). | |
| Least spacing ÷ diagonal | Least spacing as a multiple of the mean diagonal (from your test standard). | |
| Largest difference between diagonals | % | Largest difference between the two diagonals you accept (a larger difference suggests a tilted surface). |
| Specification minimum | HV | Lowest hardness the specification allows. |
| Specification maximum | HV | Highest hardness the specification allows. |
Method and formulas
- Mean diagonal d = (d₁ + d₂) ÷ 2; HV = 1.8544 F ÷ d²; depth ≈ d ÷ 7; least thickness = 1.5 d (as the Vickers–Knoop hardness tool).
- Validity: edge ≥ k × d; spacing ≥ k × d; diagonal difference = |d₁ − d₂| ÷ d.
- Specification: HV within the limits.
- Example: d = 0.301 mm gives 204.68 HV10; the test meets the validity rules.
Limitations
- Diagonal measurement accuracy dominates at low loads.
- Rules for thickness, spacing and edge distance differ between standards and materials.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Check a Vickers result before reporting it
- Check whether a thin case or coating can be tested
- Screen heat-treated parts for hardness
Who it is for
- Test laboratory technicians
- Quality inspectors
- Materials engineers
What you get
- Mean diagonal, hardness and depth
- Validity checks
- Specification check
Interpreting the result
- If the layer is too thin for the load, use a lower force so the indentation stays within the layer.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1406–1412. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
- ISO 6507-1 Metallic materials — Vickers hardness test — Part 1: Test method
WORKOS tools are screening and decision-support utilities. Verify important financial, engineering, safety, legal or operational decisions using appropriate professional standards and your organisation’s approved data.
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