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TIV

Through Indenter Viewing

The TIV (Through Indenter Viewing) method is based on hardness testing according to Vickers; makes it possible to “see through” the Vickers diamond by means of special optics. The hardness is measured under load; as soon as the test load is reached, the image of the indentation is transferred and evaluated directly, automatically, and quickly.

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Features

Through Indenter Viewing method

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The TIV hardness tester can be used irrespective of the material – without any additional calibration. You can use the same instrument to measure the hardness of all sorts of materials without any reference specimens and without any laborious settings: from steel and nonferrous metals through plastics, carbide metals, glass, and ceramics up to different coatings.

The static application of the test load reduces the vibration of the test object and therefore the influence of the test material’s elastic properties on the test result. Yet another benefit: you can use the TIV to measure even very thin test objects, such as coils or sheet metal and metal foils, on which stationary or mobile hardness testers have previously failed, without any problem. Consequently, hardness testing becomes independent not only of the material but also of the mass and geometry of the test object. This means that the TIV opens up new application fields for mobile hardness testing.

Direct, Automatic & Fast Measurement and Evaluation

As the first portable instrument ever, the TIV does not determine the size of the indentation of the Vickers diamond, and consequently the hardness of the material, indirectly but directly: ”Through Indenter Viewing” means that you can see the indentation of the Vickers diamond "grow" on the surface of the test object at the same time as the test load is applied – this is ensured by special optics and a CCD camera. As soon as the test load is reached, the indentation is automatically evaluated and transferred, which means that the diagonals are directly determined, without making a detour via a measuring microscope. Your benefits: the measurement is not only faster but also excludes subjective errors in the determination of diagonal lengths. Plus: by representation on the display, the TIV is the only hardness tester to enable direct control and immediate evaluation of the measurement quality. In addition, the image of the indentation enables direct recognition of the diamond's condition.

Unique Technology

The color LCD of the TIV hardness tester does not only show you the image of the diamond’s indentation but also the directly displayed reading in the selected hardness scale. The graphic user interface shown on the display is adapted to the known Windows standard. In this way, you will swiftly have a good grasp of how the instrument should be operated, irrespective of if you want to configure, measure, evaluate, or store. The special extra: You do not need a mouse to select functions because the instrument has a touch screen capability using a pen. However, as an alternative, conventional pushbuttons are also available for most of the functions.

Key Features & Benefits

  • Hardness Testing according to Vickers under test load
  • Through Indenter Viewing by means of special optics and a CCD camera
  • Direct checking and assessment of the quality of measurement by observing the growing indentation on the color display
  • Fully automatic evaluation of the Vickers indentation and determination of the diagonals without detour (via microscope)
  • Independent of test direction and test object's material
  • Measurement range from approximately 30HV to more than 1000HV (depending on probe)
  • Clearly arranged data memory for convenient and structured saving of the test results. Test series can be recalled and edited.

Easy Operation

Three main menus make it easier for you to access the most important instrument functions – and you’ll always reach your destination by just a few ”screen clicks”. Do you want to see your test series as a curve, histogram, or statistics? A click is all it takes. The conversion is just as easy for you by selecting another hardness scale. In the menu ”Data”, you can store your results plus image of the indentation in an easy and straightforward way.

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Mobile Practice

You can operate the TIV both with a main connection and with standard cells, or by means of our rechargeable battery pack which allows charging inside the instrument. After a certain period of time, the display goes off, and it can be re-activated by simply touching the touch screen. An automatic switch-off function is triggered after any variable period of time – all data and settings are of course maintained.

Applications

  • Heat treat shops - easy and fast determination of surface hardness
  • Aerospace - on-site hardness testing on thin-walled components and on different alloys without any additional calibration
  • Manufacturers of coils - reliable mobile hardness testing on sheet material
  • Testing companies - on-site measurement by means of a universal, portable unit
  • Research institutes, labs, and training companies - “view through the diamond”, observation of the indentation process and measurement control

Specifications

Test method ”Through Indenter Viewing”: optical hardness testing method according to Vickers under test load; with an optical system including CCD camera for the automatic or manual determination of diagonal lengths through the diamond; optical control of the diamond indentation by means of display image.
Materials Tested Hand-held probe TIV 105; test load 5 kgf (50 N),
Hand-held probe TIV 101; test load 1 kgf (10 N),
~220 mm L x 52 mm Ø (8.7” L x 2.0” Ø)
Materials Tested Static load application enables hardness testing on the most different materials without any additional calibration (e.g.: steel, nonferrous metals, carbide metals, ceramics, glass, plastics)
Range of measurement Dependent on the probe;
for TIV 105: approx. 100 HV – 1000 HV,
for TIV 101: approx. 30 HV – 500 HV
Display 1/4 VGA color TFT display, 5.7” visible range; 115.2 mm x 76.8 mm ( 4.5” x 3.0”), 240 x 320 pixels, backlight
Dialog Languages English, German, Frenchs, others
Conversion scales and resolution HV (1.0); HB (1.0); HS (1.0/0.5/0.1);
HRC (1.0/0.5/0.1); HRB (1.0/0.5/0.1);
N/mm² (5.0)
Conversion Automatically according to DIN 50150,
ASTM E140
Evaluation Representation of test data as a curve, histogram, or in tabular form;
Calculation of statistical data (e.g.: average, standard deviation, range)
Automatic instrument switchoff After a freely selectable period of time with automatic storage of test data and instrument settings
Keyboard Membrane keypad with an integrated touch screen
Power Line adapter (100V – 240V), NiMH battery pack MIC 20-BAT, 4.5 Ah (internal charging), or 6 commercially available C-cells (NiCad or NiMH)
Operating time With battery pack MIC 20-BAT approx. 1,000 measurements in continuous operation
Battery charge indicator Low-Batt indicator, instrument switchoff with
undervoltage
Operating system WinCE
Interfaces RS-232 bidirectional, Ethernet 10 Mbits
Housing Injection-molded plastics
Temperature ranges Operation: -0° C to +50° C ( 32° F to 122° F)
Storage: -20° C to +70° C (-4° F to 158° F)
Weight ~1.4 kg ( 3.1 lb) including MIC 20-BAT
Size 78 mm H x 215 mm W x 180 mm Ø (3.1” H x 8.5” W x 7.1” Ø
Test attachments Test attachment for standard applications andmeasurements using a support
Other accessories Carrying case, diamond cleansing cloth, hardness reference blocks with certificate, battery-driven grinding set for surface treatment, printer cable, different test supports and probe attachments, application software UltraDAT

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