PCE-1000N Barcol Hardness Tester User Manual
- June 6, 2024
- PCE
Table of Contents
1000N Barcol Hardness Tester
User Manual
User manuals in various languages
www.pce-instruments.com
Safety notes
Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for
the first time.
The device may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE
Instruments personnel. Damage or injuries caused by non-observance of the
manual are excluded from our liability and not covered by our warranty.
- The device must only be used as described in this instruction manual. If used otherwise, this can cause dangerous situations for the user and damage to the meter.
- The instrument may only be used if the environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity, …) are within the ranges stated in the technical specifications. Do not expose the device to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, extreme humidity, or moisture.
- Do not expose the device to shocks or strong vibrations.
- The case should only be opened by qualified PCE Instruments personnel.
- Never use the instrument when your hands are wet.
- You must not make any technical changes to the device.
- The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Use only pH-neutral cleaner, no abrasives or solvents.
- The device must only be used with accessories from PCE Instruments or equivalent.
- Before each use, inspect the case for visible damage. If any damage is visible, do not use the device.
- Do not use the instrument in explosive atmospheres.
- The measurement range as stated in the specifications must not be exceeded under any circumstances.
- Non-observance of the safety notes can cause damage to the device and injuries to the user.
We do not assume liability for printing errors or any other mistakes in this manual.
We expressly point to our general guarantee terms which can be found in our general terms of business.
If you have any questions please contact PCE Instruments. The contact details can be found at the end of this manual.
Specifications
Technical Specifications:
Parameters| Barcol Hardness (Heba) Brinell Hardness (HB) Vickers Hardness (HV)
Webster Hardness (HW)
Rockwell Hardness (HRB/HRE/HRF/HRH)
---|---
Measurement range| 0-100 HBA, equivalent to a Brinell hardness of 25-150HB
Resolution| 0.1 HBA
Measurement error| 81-88 HBa±1 HBa 42-48 Hba±2 HBA
Repeatability error| 81-88 HBa±1.5 HBa 42-48 HBa±2.5 HBA
Operating conditions – temperature
– humidity| 0~50°C <50%RH
Power supply| 2 x 1.5 V AAA batteries
Dimensions| 170 x 63 x 82 mm
Weight| 390g (without batteries)
Delivery Contents:
1 x Barcol hardness tester PCE-1000N
2 x spare pins
2 x calibration plates
1 x Phillips screwdriver
1 x slot screwdriver
1 x small slot screwdriver
1 x wrench
1 x carrying case
1 x instruction manual
System description
Device
The PCE-1000N is a digital indentation hardness tester for measuring the hardness of aluminum. It comes with many different features, such as a digital display, good stability, a maximum, and average value function. It is mainly used in the aluminum processing industry for testing aluminum castings and forgings. It can also be used for softer metals, such as copper or lead, as well as for fiber-reinforced plastics. The device meets the following standards: ASTM B648-00, ASTM HD2583-07, and GB / T 3854-2005.
Features:
- The device is portable due to its small dimensions and can be operated with one hand only.
- The device has a wide measuring range and can measure hard aluminum alloys as well as soft pure aluminum and other softer metals, such as copper and lead. The effective measuring range is equivalent to a Brinell hardness of 25~150HB.
- The max hold function shows the maximum value during the measurement.
- The PCE-1000N can be used for measuring not only Barcol hardness but also Brinell hardness (HB), Vickers hardness (HV), Webster hardness (HW), and Rockwell hardness (HRB/HRE/HRF/HRH).
- With its average function, the device can calculate an average value of up to 29 readings.
With its standard load spring and standard pressure pins, the PCE-1000N can be used for a variety of different materials, such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, fiber-reinforced plastics (glass, steel), other reinforced plastics, non-reinforced hard plastic, and other materials. The typical hardness range is 25 – 135 HBW (500kg, 10mm). The following chart shows typical Barcol hardness values of different aluminum alloys:
| Alloy and heat treatment | 1100-0 | 3003-0 | 3003H14 | 2024-0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcol Hardness | 35 | 42 | 56 | 60 |
| Alloy and heat treatment | 5052-0 | 5052H14 | 6061T6 | 2024T3 |
| Barcol hardness | 62 | 62 | 80 | 85 |
Structure and function Keys
The PCE-1000N measures the indentation hardness by pressing a specific
pressure pin with a specific pressure into the surface of the sample. The
hardness is calculated via the indentation depth. The device uses the
following formula:
HBa=100-h/0.0076
HBA Barcol hardness value
H indentation depth (mm)
0.0076 indentation depth at 1 Barcol
| 2-1 housing screws | 2-10 lever |
|---|---|
| 2-2 high-end calibration button | 2-11 supporting feet |
| 2-3 low-end calibration button | 2-12 lower spindle connecting screw |
| 2-4 spring tube | 2-13 shield ring |
| 2-5 lower spindle spring | 2-14 display |
| 2-6 pressure pin | 2-15 average/minus button |
| 2-7 main spindle adjusting screw | 2-16 hardness scale |
| 2-8 upper spindle | 2-17 power/menu button |
| 2-9 upper spindle spring | 2-18 max/plus button |
Display
| 2-19 average indicator | 2-22 number of recorded measurements |
|---|---|
| 2-20 statistical number indicator | 2-23 maximum indicator |
| 2-21 battery indicator | 2-24 measurement reading |
Getting started
Power supply
When the low battery indication is displayed, you need to replace the batteries. Open the battery cover and take out the batteries. Insert two new AAA batteries and close the cover of the battery compartment. Mind the correct polarity.
Preparation
-
To power on the tester, just press the Power / Menu key. There are 2 methods to power off the tester: automatic power-off and manual power-off.
Press and hold the Power / Menu key for about 3 seconds to power off the device.
After 10 minutes of idling time, the tester shuts down automatically. -
To check the tester’s accuracy, place the supplied hardness blocks on a hard, flat surface and take a measurement. The reading should be in the indicated range of two hardness blocks. If it is out of the range, a calibration according to chapter 6 is needed.
-
The sample surface should be smooth, clean, and without any mechanical damage.
The sample surface can be slightly polished to eliminate scratches or coatings. -
The specimen thickness should be not less than 1.5 mm and there should not be any obvious deformation on the supporting surface after testing.
-
The size of the sample should ensure that the minimum distance between the pin tip and any edge is not less than 3 mm.
-
Make sure that there are no previous test indentations in a radius of 3 mm around the current test position.
-
In order to ensure the accuracy of the measurement, the pin must be perpendicular to the surface of the sample.
-
Test samples should be placed stably. Small samples should be placed on a solid surface. (e. g., steel, glass, etc.).
-
During the measurement, the sample should not be tilted. The sample should also be protected against slipping and deformation.
Operation
Measurement
Place the device on the sample and push it down on the surface with enough pressure. Read out the hardness value from the display.
Further functions
Max hold function
Press the Maximum / Plus key. The ‘MAX’ indication appears in the upper right
corner of the display. The maximum value since the activation of the function
is shown on the display. To exit the max hold function, just press the Power /
Menu Key. The ‘MAX’ indication disappears.
Average function
Press the Average / Minus key. The statistical measurement number indication
‘N’ and the ‘MAX’ indication appear on the display. Additionally, a ‘0’
appears on the left side of the display and ‘0.0’ appears on the right side.
The left value is the number of measurements taken. The right value is the
reading of the last measurement.
Take measurements until the number of measurements taken reaches the set value
of the statistical measurement number ‘N’. Now the device calculates the
average value of the measurements taken. The result is shown on the right side
of the display. In addition, an ‘AVE’ indication appears and the device emits
an acoustic signal.
Setting the statistical measurement number ‘N’
To set the statistical measurement number, press and hold the Power / Menu key
for about 6 seconds until the ‘ ’ indication appears on the display. Press the
Maximum / Plus key or Average / Minus key to adjust the measurement number.
The statistical measurement number can be set between 1~29. Press the Power /
Menu Key to return the standard measurement mode.
Use the method of calculating the average of several measurements to figure out the measurement value. The softer the sample is, the more measurements should be included. The suggested number of measurements can be seen in the following tables:
Suggested number of measurements for aluminum alloys (According to ASTM
B648-2000)
| Barcol hardness value | Min. number of measurements |
|---|---|
| 50 | 6 |
| 60 | 5 |
| 70 | 4 |
| 80 | 3 |
Suggested number of measurements for reinforced and non-reinforced plastic (According to GB/T3854-2005)
Non-reinforced plastic
(hard plastic)| Min. number of measurements| Reinforced plastic (glass,
steel)| Min. number of measurements
---|---|---|---
20| 9| 30| 29
30| 8| 40| 22
40| 7| 50| 16
50| 6| 60| 10
60| 5| 70| 5
70| 4| |
80| 3| |
Calibration
Calibration of the PCE-1000N
The calibration considers the high-end value. You can also calibrate the
displayed value. The device comes factory calibrated (without documentation).
If the reading is out of the indicated range when checking the accuracy or
after replacing the pressure pin, you need to re-calibrate the device.
NOTE: It is necessary to loosen the main spindle adjusting screw before performing a high-end calibration.
High-end calibration
Use a small screwdriver to loosen the main spindle adjusting screw in a
counter-clockwise direction until the end. Place the tester on a solid flat
surface, such as a glass plate. Push the tester so that the pin draws back
completely into the pin tube: ‘100.0’ should be shown on the display. If the
reading deviates, press and hold the power/menu key for approx.. 9 s until
‘CAL’ is displayed. Release the key. The meter automatically calibrates to
100.0. The high-end calibration is now completed.
Display value calibration
Use a small screwdriver to adjust the main spindle adjusting screw. The
display value decreases when turning it clockwise and increases when turning
it counter-clockwise. Adjust the screw until the measured value is in the
indicated range of the 2 standard blocks.
Troubleshooting
With the frequent use of the tester, the pressure pin will be worn out
slightly. When this happens, the measurement value will deviate. So it is
necessary to check the wear of the
pressure pin on a regular basis. If you do not get two readings that lie
within the indicated range of the two calibration blocks when performing a
display calibration, this means that the pressure pin is worn out and needs to
be replaced. After that, the device needs to be calibrated again.
Pin replacement
Loosen the screws on both sides of the handle with a small screwdriver (a
total of 12). Take off the case and take out the spring tube. Loosen the lower
spindle connecting screw with a spanner and take out the lower spindle. Now
you can remove the used pin and replace it with a new one, then reinstall the
lower spindle and lock it with the spanner. Put on the spring tube, remount
the case and lock it with the screws. See the following picture for reference.
After replacing the pressure pin, you need to calibrate the device again
When the tester is used over a longer period of time, especially when measuring soft aluminum alloy materials, some material might remain on the pin which might affect the accuracy of the device. To eliminate this error, make sure to check and clean the top of the measuring pin on a regular basis.
Further information
Approximate conversion curve
Hardness conversion
NOTE: Due to the properties of soft metal materials, a consistent
conversion between different hardness systems is not possible. Therefore, the
following conversion table is for reference only. It is recommended to
determine the actual hardness values by taking measurements.
Barcol
OU2800S| Brinell
10mm
500kg| Vickers
5kg| Webster
W-20| Rockwell
---|---|---|---|---
B| E| F| H
35| | 21| | | | | 32
36| | 22| | | | | 35
37| | 23| | | | | 37
38| | 24| | | | | 40
39| | 25| | | | | 42
40| 25| 26| | | | | 45
41| 25| 27| | | | | 47
42| 26| 28| | | | | 49
43| 27| 29| | | | | 51
44| 27| 30| | | | | 54
45| 28| 30| | | | | 56
46| 29| 31| | | | | 58
47| 30| 32| | | 23| | 60
48| 30| 33| 0.7| | 26| | 62
49| 31| 34| 1.| | 28| | 64
50| 32| 35| 2.| | 31| | 66
51| 33| 36| 3.| | 34| | 68
52| 34| 38| 3.| | 36| | 70
53| 35| 39| 4.| | 39| 30| 72
54| 37| 40| 4.| | 41| 34| 73
55| 38| 41| 5.| | 44| 37| 75
56| 39| 43| 5.| | 46| 40| 77
57| 40| 44| 6.| | 48| 43| 78
58| 42| 45| 6.| | 50| 46| 80
59| 43| 47| 7.| | 53| 48| 82
60| 45| 49| 7.| | 55| 51| 83
61| 46| 50| 8.| | 57| 54| 85
62| 48| 52| 8.| | 59| 56| 86
63| 50| 54| 9.| | 61| 59| 88
64| 51| 56| 9.| | 63| 61| 89
65| 53| 58| 10.| | 65| 63| 90
66| 55| 60| 10.| | 67| 66| 92
67| 57| 62| 11.| | 69| 68| 93
68| 60| 65| 11.0| | 71| 70| 94
69| 62| 67| 11.| | 73| 72| 95
70| 64| 70| 12.| 17| 75| 74| 97
71| 67| 72| 12.| 23| 76| 75| 98
72| 69| 75| 13.| 28| 78| 77| 99
73| 72| 78| 13.| 33| 80| 79| 100
74| 75| 81| 13.| 38| 81| 80| 101
75| 78| 85| 14.| 42| 83| 82| 102
76| 80| 88| 14.0| 47| 84| 83| 103
77| 84| 92| 14.| 51| 86| 85| 104
78| 87| 95| 15.| 55| 87| 86| 105
79| 90| 99| 15.0| 59| 89| 88| 106
80| 94| 103| 15.| 63| 90| 89| 106
81| 97| 108| 16.| 66| 91| 90| 107
82| 101| 112| 16.| 70| 92| 91| 108
83| 105| 117| 16.| 73| 94| 92| 109
84| 109| 121| 16.| 76| 95| 93| 109
85| 113| 126| 17.| 79| 96| 94| 110
86| 117| 131| 17.| 81| 97| 95| 111
87| 121| 137| 17.| 84| 98| 96| 111
88| 126| 142| 17.| 86| 99| 97| 112
89| 130| | 18.| 88| 100| 98| 112
90| 135| | 18.| 90| 101| 98| 113
91| 140| | 18.0| | 102| 99| 114
92| 145| | 18.| | 103| 100|
93| | | 18.| | 103| 100|
94| | | 19.| | 104| 101|
95| | | 19.| | 105| 102|
96| | | 19.| | 106| 102|
97| | | 19.0| | 106| 103|
98| | | 19.| | 107| |
99| | | 19.| | 107| |
100| | | 19.| | | |
Warranty
You can read our warranty terms in our General Business Terms which you can find here: https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/terms.
Disposal
For the disposal of batteries in the EU, the 2006/66/EC directive of the
European Parliament applies. Due to the contained pollutants, batteries must
not be disposed of as household waste.
They must be given to collection points designed for that purpose.
In order to comply with the EU directive 2012/19/EU, we take our devices back. We either re-use them or give them to a recycling company that disposes of the devices in line with the law.
For countries outside the EU, batteries, and devices should be disposed of in accordance with your local waste regulations.
If you have any questions, please contact PCE Instruments.
United States of America
PCE Americas Inc.
711 Commerce Way suite 8
Jupiter / Palm Beach
33458 FL
USA
Tel: +1 561-320-9162
Fax: +1 561-320-9176
info@pce-americas.com
www.pce-instruments.com/us
United Kingdom
PCE Instruments UK Ltd
Units 12/13 Southpoint Business Park
Ensign Way, Southampton
Hampshire
United Kingdom, SO31 4RF
Tel: +44 (0) 2380 98703 0
Fax: +44 (0) 2380 98703 9
info@industrial-needs.com
www.pce-instruments.com/english
References
- France.fr : Explore France and its wonders - Explore France
- iberica.es
- instruments.cn - The domain is available for purchase
- Computer Instruments | Home
- Discover Italy: Official Tourism Website - Italia.it
- N.E.E.D.S., (Nutritional Ecological Environmental Delivery System) specializes in providing products, information, and education
- PCE（北京）科技有é™å…¬å¸
- Improtek LTDA Distribuidor oficial de PCE Instruments | PCE Instruments
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