Integrated Vickers Hardness Testing with MicroVision Suite

Move beyond visual inspection and obtain quantitative material data directly from your microscope. Our software provides a streamlined, semi-automated solution for performing the Vickers test, turning your imaging setup into a powerful HV hardness tester.

What is the Vickers Hardness Test?

The Vickers hardness test is a widely used method for measuring the hardness of a wide range of materials, from soft metals to hard ceramics. The principle is simple: a diamond indenter with a specific pyramidal shape is pressed into the material’s surface with a known force.

After the force is removed, the operator measures the two diagonals (d1 and d2) of the resulting indentation. The Vickers hardness value (HV) is then calculated based on the applied force and the surface area of the indentation. A smaller indentation signifies a harder material.

This method is highly regarded for its accuracy and its ability to test both very soft and very hard materials using a single scale.

The Challenge: Manual Measurement and Calculation

Traditionally, performing a Vickers test involves several manual steps that can be time-consuming and prone to error:

  1. Visual Measurement: Using an eyepiece reticle to measure the two diagonals of the tiny indentation.
  2. Recording Data: Manually writing down the diagonal lengths.
  3. Manual Calculation: Using a formula or lookup tables to calculate the final Vickers hardness HV value.
  4. Transcription: Transferring the final value into a lab report.

Each step introduces a potential for human error, affecting the consistency and reliability of your results.

MicroVision Suite: Your Digital HV Hardness Tester

Our software revolutionizes the Vickers hardness testing process by integrating it directly into your digital workflow. We eliminate the manual calculations and reduce the potential for measurement errors.

Here’s how our streamlined process works:

  • Step 1: Select Your Test Force
    Based on your physical testing equipment, simply choose the appropriate force scale from our pre-configured menu. As seen in our software’s code, we support a wide range of standard forces, including HV 0.5, HV 1, HV 5, HV 10, and more.
  • Step 2: Calibrate Your Magnification
    Ensure your current microscope magnification is calibrated within the software. This crucial step guarantees that all on-screen pixel measurements are accurately converted to real-world units (e.g., micrometers).
  • Step 3: Draw the Diagonals
    Using your mouse, simply click and drag to draw the two diagonals (d1 and d2) directly over the captured image of the indentation.
  • Step 4: Get Instant Results
    The moment you draw the second diagonal, our software instantly performs the calculation. It automatically averages the diagonal lengths, applies the standard Vickers formula with the selected force, and displays the final HV hardness value directly on your screen.

Key Advantages of Our Vickers Test Tool

  • Eliminates Calculation Errors: The software handles the complex formula (HV = 0.1891 * F / d²), ensuring every calculation is perfect.
  • Improved Repeatability: On-screen drawing with mouse precision is more consistent than manual measurement through an eyepiece, leading to more reliable results.
  • Permanent Visual Record: The calculated Vickers hardness value can be saved as an annotation directly onto the image, creating a complete and easily shareable record of the test.

Upgrade Your Material Analysis

Stop wasting time with manual measurements and complex formulas. Transform your microscope into a modern HV hardness tester with MicroVision Suite. Purchase your license today and bring accuracy, speed, and efficiency to your Vickers hardness testing.