Mitutoyo America Corp. (Aurora, IL) recently introduced a new series of Rockwell hardness testers, which it brought to the Advanced Design & Manufacturing (ADM) Expo in Cleveland last week. The HR-530 series features an electronic control that supports Rockwell, Rockwell Superficial, Rockwell testing of plastics (A & B) and Light Force Brinell hardness testing. Two models are currently available: The HR-530 for specimens sized a maximum of 250 mm in height and 150 mm in depth and the HR-530L for specimens measuring up to 395 mm high and 150 mm deep.

Among the features are inside-ring hardness testing, which is achieved without having to cut the ring, and a color touch screen that displays the results of statistical calculations and graphic functions that can be stored as text data.

The touch screen functions include direct hardness scale selection with automatic setting of the initial test and loading forces and the ability to test curved surfaces, including round bars and spheres, as easily as flat surfaces.

At ADM Cleveland, Chase Heikkila of Mitutoyo America demoed the HR-530 for PlasticsToday. Check out the video below.