Overview
ISO 6507-3:2018 - "Metallic materials - Vickers hardness test - Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks" specifies a calibrated method for producing and certifying hardness reference blocks used for the indirect verification of Vickers hardness testing machines (as per ISO 6507-2). The standard applies only to indentations with diagonals ≥ 0.020 mm and defines manufacturing, dimensional, surface and calibration requirements to ensure traceable, repeatable hardness reference values.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability: Calibration method for reference blocks used in indirect verification of Vickers testers; applicable for indentation diagonals ≥ 0.020 mm.
- Reference block manufacture:
- Minimum thickness: ≥ 5 mm
- Maximum test surface area: ≤ 40 cm²
- Magnetism: blocks should be demagnetized (if steel)
- Flatness ≤ 0.005 mm; parallelism error ≤ 0.010 mm in 50 mm
- Surface roughness Ra ≤ 0.05 µm; no scratches interfering with indentations
- Block thickness or identifying mark recorded to detect regrind
- Calibration machine requirements:
- Direct verification at intervals ≤ 12 months
- Verification of test force, indenter, diagonal measuring system and testing cycle
- Test-force verification tolerances: typically ±0.2% (normal hardness), ±0.3% (low-force), ±0.5% (microhardness) using ISO 376 traceable proving devices
- Indenter specifications:
- Square-based diamond pyramid with face flatness ~ 0.0003 mm
- Pyramid angle 136° ± 0.1°; axis misalignment