TIME fully automatic online Rockwell hardness tester: a precision guard of industrial quality control.

In the field of high-end manufacturing, material hardness, as a core indicator for measuring mechanical properties, directly affects the reliability and life of products. Traditional hardness testing methods have pain points such as low efficiency, large human errors, and difficulty in integrating automated production lines.

The series of fully automatic online Rockwell hardness testers launched by TIME. have redefined the hardness testing standards of modern industry through three major technological breakthroughs: AC servo closed-loop control, robot integration compatibility, and intelligent data management. These devices play a key role in aerospace, automobile manufacturing, new material research and development, and other fields, providing important technical support for the high-quality development of China’s manufacturing industry.

Technical principles and core advantages

TIME fully automatic online Rockwell hardness tester is based on the Rockwell hardness measurement principle (Rockwell hardness test method), and calculates the hardness value by measuring the difference in indentation depth of the indenter under the initial test force and the total test force. However, unlike the traditional weight loading or open-loop step control system, Times Peak has achieved a qualitative leap in technology realization:

• Closed-loop control system: The series of products adopts a precise AC servo closed-loop control system combined with a high-precision force sensor to achieve digital precision control of the test force. Compared with the traditional open-loop step control or weight loading method, this technology completely eliminates the impact and vibration phenomena during the test process, avoids the risk of overload, and makes the test accuracy fully meet the latest international and domestic standards such as ISO 6508, ASTM E-18 and GB/T230.2.
• Special indenter design: The “convex nose structure” indenter system represented by the TH300/TH320 series breaks through the space limitations of traditional hardness testers. This innovative design enables the equipment to accurately measure the hardness characteristics of the inner surface of annular and tubular parts and narrow spaces such as grooves. According to the specific technical parameters, this series can measure cylindrical workpieces with a minimum outer diameter of 3mm and inner ring surface workpieces with a minimum inner diameter of 23mm, greatly expanding the industrial application scenarios.
• Adaptive testing capability: High-end models such as the H1110 series have test curve adaptation and segmented rate control functions, which can optimize the test process for different material characteristics. Operators can set parameters such as the speed of the indenter approaching the sample, the initial test force loading time, the initial test force holding time, and the main test force loading time in segments, realizing the testing flexibility of “one machine for multiple uses”.

In addition to the core testing technology, TIME fully automatic Rockwell hardness tester adopts a modular design in mechanical structure, providing a variety of options from single-column to high-rigidity portal frames. Taking the H1110 series as an example, its host stiffness ranges from 20kN/mm to 300kN/mm, which can adapt to different testing needs-from conventional metal testing to the detection of high-strength alloys for aerospace. The maximum stroke of the indenter of 450mm and the effective span of 550mm (customizable) enable the equipment to easily cope with the hardness testing tasks of large workpieces such as gas cylinders, engine casings, and long shaft ends.

Application scenarios and industry solutions

With its technical advantages and flexible configuration characteristics, the Times fully automatic online Rockwell hardness tester has demonstrated strong applicability in multiple industrial fields and solved many traditional testing problems:

• Automobile manufacturing field: In the hardness testing of key components such as engines and gearboxes, the THRT-150J model achieves multi-point continuous testing through its XYZ fully automatic control platform (size 250×160mm, stroke 100×100mm), and completes the hardness scanning of complex paths with one click. The platform can be directly integrated into the production line to efficiently test materials such as surface hardened steel, carburized layer, and bearing steel to ensure the consistency and reliability of batch products.
• Aerospace field: Faced with the testing challenges of large or special-shaped components (such as aircraft landing gear and engine housing), the portal frame structure of the H1110 series shows excellent adaptability. Its frame stiffness of up to 300kN/mm and the indenter stroke of 450mm, combined with the robot integration interface, enable the equipment to be directly deployed next to the production line to achieve online unattended testing of key materials such as aviation aluminum alloys and titanium alloys.
• New material research and development field: The open “stress-strain raw data” output function of the Times hardness tester provides a valuable data source for material research in universities and metallurgical research institutes. Researchers can not only obtain hardness values, but also deeply analyze the constitutive relationship of materials during stress, and promote the development of new alloys, composite materials and coating technologies.

In terms of special workpiece detection, the Times hardness tester shows unique technical value. The TH320 series solves the hardness detection problem of traditional “dead corners” such as the inner wall of the pipe, the inner diameter surface of the annular part, and the bottom of the groove through its horizontal “convex nose” pressure head design. This design makes it possible to evaluate the full surface hardness of workpieces such as oil pipelines, hydraulic cylinders, and bearing rings, filling the technical gap in the industry.

Specific model comparison and technical parameters

TIME fully automatic online Rockwell hardness tester includes four series of products, each with its own characteristics to meet the needs of different industrial scenarios:

H1110 series: high-rigidity large workpiece solution
As the flagship product line of Times Peak, the H1110 series is designed for heavy-duty industry and automated production lines, and provides four model configurations:

• Frame structure difference: The basic H1110 adopts a single-column frame (rigidity 20kN/mm), while the H1110C is upgraded to a door structure (rigidity 300kN/mm), which can withstand a larger test load.
• Test space advantage: The entire series provides a 450mm indenter stroke, the H1110C has an effective span of 550mm (customizable), and the workbench is 460mm high, which can easily accommodate large workpieces.
• Automation integration capability: The standard configuration includes a fully automatic cycle test system, which supports integration with robots to achieve unattended testing. The indenter moving speed is freely adjustable within the range of 0.005~500mm/min, greatly improving batch testing efficiency.

THRT-150J: A professional tool for end quenching test
For the end quenching test (Jominy Test) needs in the field of metal heat treatment, THRT-150J provides a professional solution:

• Three-dimensional automatic control: The equipment integrates an XYZ fully automatic platform, combined with an electric lifting screw system, to complete the entire process of sample positioning-testing-resetting with one click.
• Comprehensive scale support: Supports all Rockwell and surface Rockwell scales (including 30 scales from HRA to HR45Y), meeting a wide range of testing needs from aluminum alloys to cemented carbides.
• Intelligent data analysis: The external PC system provides powerful statistical functions, which can calculate extreme values, average values, standard deviations, and generate customized reports containing test parameters, results and charts.

TH300 and TH320 series: multi-functional conventional testing platform
These two benchtop hardness testers are known for their multi-functional and special structural testing capabilities, making them ideal for laboratories and routine testing:

• Convex nose structure breakthrough: The unique indenter design enables TH300/TH320 to measure the inner surface of ring parts (minimum inner diameter 23mm) and small diameter cylinders (minimum outer diameter 3mm), solving the detection blind spots that traditional equipment cannot reach.
• Wide scale coverage: As the integrator of all Rockwell hardness testers, TH320 supports 30 hardness scales including 15N-45Y surface Rockwell scales, and can convert HB, HV, HLD, HK and tensile strength Rm values.
• Surface adaptive technology: Built-in intelligent surface correction algorithm can automatically compensate for the measurement results of cylindrical and spherical surfaces to ensure the accuracy of the test data of curved workpieces.

Intelligence and data management

The innovation of the software system and data management of the Times fully automatic online Rockwell hardness tester has upgraded it from a simple test device to a core component of a digital quality management system:

• Test software platform: The dedicated software equipped with the H1110 series integrates core functions such as sample selection, curve drawing, data display, processing and analysis into a unified interface. Its unique advantage lies in the “real-time curve monitoring” function, which can dynamically display the force value and indentation depth changes at different time points, providing an intuitive basis for material property analysis.
• Hierarchical authority and security guarantee: The system implements three-level authority management (ordinary operator, manager, and senior operator) to ensure the security of equipment operation and data management. Multiple protection mechanisms include: electronic protection exceeding 2%-5% of the range, kN-level overload protection with settable thresholds, mechanical limit and manual emergency stop functions, which fully guarantee the safety of equipment and personnel.
• Data interconnection and management: The series of equipment supports multiple data output methods:
• Report customization: Excel and FastReport templated reports are provided, and users can freely edit and print test reports that meet corporate standards.
• Network transmission: THRT-150J and other models allow network transmission of test results and reports, support multi-computer data calls, and provide data interfaces for the factory’s MES system and quality big data platform.
• Statistical process control (SPC): The built-in statistical module can automatically calculate the average, standard deviation, maximum, and minimum values, and supports upper and lower limit settings and out-of-tolerance warning functions to achieve real-time monitoring of production quality.

Particularly noteworthy is the equipment’s deep support for material research. The H1110 series enables researchers to obtain complete force-displacement curves during loading through an open stress-strain raw data interface. This function goes beyond the limitation of traditional hardness testers that only provide final hardness values, and provides basic data for analyzing constitutive relationships such as elastic-plastic behavior and yield characteristics of materials, which is of great value in material research in university laboratories and research institutes.

TIME fully automatic online Rockwell hardness tester series has achieved a leap from traditional testing equipment to intelligent testing systems through mechatronics innovation. Its technical value is not only reflected in its high-precision and high-efficiency hardness testing capabilities, but also in solving the three core challenges faced by modern manufacturing: the detection of large/special-shaped workpieces, the need for automated production line integration, and the need for networked management of quality data. With the in-depth promotion of the “Made in China 2025” strategy, Times Peak continues to improve its product matrix – from the H1110 series specializing in large workpieces to the THRT-150J that solves end quenching detection, and then to the TH300/TH320 multi-function platform that breaks through space limitations, providing a complete hardness testing solution for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry.

In the future, with the deep integration of artificial intelligence and industrial Internet of Things technology, Times hardness testers are expected to make breakthroughs in predictive quality control and self-optimization of process parameters. Through data exchange with production equipment, a closed-loop quality control system of “detection-analysis-process adjustment” is formed. Times Peak will continue to lead the innovative development of China’s industrial testing technology and provide solid technical support for high-end equipment manufacturing.