INTERNATIONAL ISO

STANDARD 6508-2

Fourth edition
2023-12

Metallic materials — Rockwell

hardness test —
Part 2:
Verification and calibration of testing
machines and indenters
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Matériaux métalliques — Essai de dureté Rockwell —
Partie 2: Vérification et étalonnage des machines d'essai et des
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pénétrateurs

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ISO 6508-2:2023
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Reference number
ISO 6508-2:2023(E)

© ISO 2023
ISO 6508-2:2023(E)

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ISO 6508-2:2023
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© ISO 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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 ISO 6508-2:2023(E)

Contents Page

Foreword......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... iv
1 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Normative references...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Terms and definitions..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
4 General conditions.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
5 Direct verification of the testing machine................................................................................................................................. 2
5.1 General............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
5.2 Calibration and verification of the test force................................................................................................................ 2
5.3 Calibration and verification of the depth-measuring system........................................................................ 3
5.4 Calibration and verification of the testing cycle........................................................................................................ 4
5.5 Calibration and verification of the machine hysteresis...................................................................................... 4
6 Indirect verification of the testing machine........................................................................................................................... 4
6.1 General............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
6.2 Procedure..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
6.3 Repeatability............................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
6.4 Bias..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
6.5 Uncertainty of measurement...................................................................................................................................................... 7
7 Calibration and verification of Rockwell hardness indenters............................................................................. 7
7.1
7.2
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General............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Diamond indenter................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
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7.2.1 General......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
7.2.2 Direct calibration and verification of the diamond indenter....................................................... 7

7.3 Document Preview

7.2.3 Indirect verification of diamond indenters................................................................................................. 8
Ball indenter.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
7.3.1 Direct calibration and verification of the ball indenter................................................................. 10
7.3.2 Indirect verification of the ball holder assembly................................................................................. 10
7.4
ISO 6508-2:2023
Marking....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
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8 Intervals between direct and indirect calibrations and verifications..................................................... 11
9 Verification report...........................................................................................................................................................................................12
Annex A (normative) Repeatability of testing machines............................................................................................................ 13
Annex B (informative) Uncertainty of measurement of the calibration results of the
hardness testing machine........................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Bibliography.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 23

© ISO 2023 – All rights reserved  iii

ISO 6508-2:2023(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use
of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed
patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received
notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are
cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all
such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement. iTeh Standards
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For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html. Document Preview
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 164, Mechanical testing of metals,
Subcommittee SC 3, Hardness testing, in collaboration
ISO 6508-2:2023
with the European Committee for Standardization
(CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 459, ECISS - European Committee for Iron and Steel Standardization,
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in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 6508-2:2015), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— removed all statements of requirements, permissions, and recommendations from the Scope of the
document (Clause 1);
— addition of Clause 3, Terms and definitions;
— modification of the requirements for the calibration and verification of the force and depth
measuring systems (Clause 4);
— added a requirement for the hardness of the indenter ball holder (Clause 6);
— changed the layout of Table 8 (Clause 6);
— modified the requirements for direct and indirect calibration and verification (Clause 7);
— modified the information related to the determination of uncertainty of measurement (Annex B).
A list of all parts in the ISO 6508 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv  © ISO 2023 – All rights reserved


 INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 6508-2:2023(E)

Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test —

Part 2:
Verification and calibration of testing machines and
indenters

1 Scope
This document specifies two separate methods of verification of testing machines (direct and indirect)
for determining Rockwell hardness in accordance with ISO 6508-1, together with a method for verifying
Rockwell hardness indenters.
The direct verification method is used to determine whether the main parameters associated with
the machine function, such as applied force, depth measurement, and testing cycle timing, fall within
specified tolerances. The indirect verification method uses a number of calibrated reference hardness
blocks to determine how well the machine can measure a material of known hardness.
This document is applicable to stationary and portable hardness testing machines.
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Attention is drawn to the fact that the use of tungsten carbide composite for ball indenters is considered
to be the standard type of Rockwell indenter ball.
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2 Normative references
Document Preview
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition ofISO
the 6508-2:2023
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
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ISO 376, Metallic materials — Calibration of force-proving instruments used for the verification of uniaxial
testing machines
ISO 6507-1, Metallic materials — Vickers hardness test — Part 1: Test method
ISO 6508-1, Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test — Part 1: Test method
ISO 6508-3, Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test — Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks

3 Terms and definitions

No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://​w ww​.iso​.org/​obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://​w ww​.electropedia​.org/​

4 General conditions
Before a Rockwell hardness testing machine is verified, the machine shall be checked to ensure that it is
properly set up and operating in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

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ISO 6508-2:2023(E)

Especially, it should be checked that the test force can be applied and removed without shock, vibration,
or overload and in such a manner that the readings are not influenced.

5 Direct verification of the testing machine

5.1 General

5.1.1 Direct verification involves calibration and verification of the following:

a) test forces;
b) depth-measuring system;
c) testing cycle;
d) machine hysteresis test.

5.1.2 Direct verification should be carried out at a temperature of (23 ± 5) °C. If the verification is
made outside of this temperature range, this shall be reported in the verification report.

5.1.3 The instruments used for calibration shall be traceable to national standards.

5.1.4 An indirect verification according to Clause 6 shall be performed following a successful direct
verification. iTeh Standards
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5.2 Calibration and verification of the test force

Document
5.2.1 Each preliminary test force, Preview
F , (see 5.2.4) and each
0 total test force, F, used (see 5.2.5) shall be
measured, and, whenever applicable, this shall be done at not less than three positions of the plunger
spaced throughout its range of movement during testing. For testing machine designs where the force
ISO 6508-2:2023
is not influenced by the position of the plunger, e.g. controlled loading systems with closed-loop control,
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the test force can be calibrated in one position. The preliminary test force shall be held for at least 2 s.

5.2.2 Three readings shall be taken for each force at each position of the plunger. Immediately before
each reading is taken, the plunger shall be moved in the same direction as during testing.

5.2.3 The forces shall be measured by one of the following two methods:

— by means of a force-proving device according to ISO 376 class 1 or better and calibrated for
reversibility;
— by balancing against a force, accurate to ±0,2 %, applied by means of calibrated masses or by another
method having the same accuracy.
Evidence should be available to demonstrate that the output of the force-proving device does not vary
by more than 0,2 % in the period 1 s to 30 s following a stepped change in force.

5.2.4 A relative error value, expressed as a percentage, shall be calculated for each measured force by
the general Formula (1):

Fi , j − FRS
∆Frel ,i , j = 100 × (1)
FRS
where ∆Frel ,i , j is the relative error of each force measurement value, Fi,j, (whether it is a preliminary
force value, F0, or the total force value, F) with respect to the reference force value, FRS, to be measured.

2  © ISO 2023 – All rights reserved


 ISO 6508-2:2023(E)

The indices i and j of the force measurement value, Fi,j indicate the j-th force measurement at the i-th
plunger height position.

5.2.5 The maximum permissible relative error on each measurement of the preliminary test force, F0,
(before application and after removal of the additional test force, F1) as calculated by Formula (1) shall
be ±2,0 %. The range of all force measurements (highest value minus lowest value) at each measurement
position shall be ≤ 1,5 % of F0.

5.2.6 The maximum permissible relative error on each measurement of the total test force, F, as
calculated by Formula (1), shall be ±1,0 %. The range of the force measurements (highest value minus
lowest value) shall be ≤ 0,75 % of F.

5.3 Calibration and verification of the depth-measuring system

5.3.1 The depth-measuring system shall be calibrated by making known incremental movements of
the indenter or the indenter holder.

5.3.2 The instrument or gauge blocks used to verify the depth-measuring system shall have a
maximum expanded uncertainty of 0,000 3 mm when calculated with a 95 % confidence level.
NOTE The use of gauge blocks to verify the depth measuring system may not be appropriate for all types of
Rockwell hardness machines.

iTeh Standards
5.3.3 Calibrate the testing machine’s depth measurement system at not less than four evenly spaced
intervals covering the full range of the normal working depth for the required scales to be calibrated in
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the testing machine. Three cycles of depth readings shall be taken over the evenly spaced intervals of
the depth measuring system.
NOTE Document
The maximum depth required for each scalePreview
is different, ranging from 0,25 mm for Rockwell regular
scale B to 0,04 mm for Rockwell superficial scale 15N.
ISO 6508-2:2023
5.3.4 Some testing machines have a long-stroke depth measuring system where the location of the
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working range of the depth measuring system varies to suit the sample. This type of testing machine
shall be able to electronically verify that the depth measuring device is continuous over the full range.
These types of testers shall be verified using the following steps:

a) at the approximate top, midpoint and bottom of the total stroke of the measuring device, verify the
depth measurement system at no less than four evenly spaced intervals of approximately 0,05 mm
at each of the three locations;
b) operate the actuator over its full range of travel to monitor whether the displacement measurement
is continuous. The displacement indication shall be continuously indicated over the full range.

5.3.5 Calculate the difference, ΔLi,j, between each depth measurement value, Li,j and the reference
value of the calibration device, LRS, in accordance with the general Formula (2):

∆Li , j = Li , j − LRS (2)

The indices i and j of the depth measurement value, Li,j indicate the j-th depth measurement at the i-th
interval of the depth measuring system.
The depth-measuring system shall correctly indicate within ±0,001 mm for the scales A to K and
within ±0,000 5 mm for scales N and T, i.e. within ±0,5 of a scale unit, over each range.

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ISO 6508-2:2023(E)

5.4 Calibration and verification of the testing cycle

5.4.1 The testing cycle is to be calibrated by the testing machine manufacturer at the time of
manufacture and when the testing machine undergoes repair which may have affected the testing
cycle. Calibration of the complete testing cycle is not required as part of the direct verification at other
times, see Table 10.

5.4.2 The testing cycle shall conform to the testing cycle specified in ISO 6508-1.

5.4.3 For testing machines that automatically control the testing cycle, the measurement uncertainty
(k = 2) of the timing instrument used to verify the testing cycle shall not exceed 0,2 s. It is recommended
that the measured times for the testing cycle, plus or minus the measurement uncertainty (k = 2) of the
calibration measurements, not exceed the timing limits specified in ISO 6508-1.

5.4.4 For testing machines that require the user to manually control the testing cycle, the testing
machine shall be verified to be capable of achieving the specified testing cycle.

5.5 Calibration and verification of the machine hysteresis

5.5.1 The machine shall be checked to ensure that the readings are not affected by a hysteresial
flexure of testing machine components (e.g. frame, specimen holder, etc.) during a test. The influence
of any hysteresis behaviour shall be checked by making repeated hardness tests using a spherical
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indenter of at least 10 mm diameter, bearing directly against the specimen holder or through a spacer
such that no permanent deformation occurs. A parallel block placed between the indenter holder and
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the specimen holder may be used instead of a blunt indenter. The material of the blunt indenter and of
the spacer or parallel block shall have a hardness of at least 60 HRC.

5.5.2 Perform repeated RockwellDocument Preview

tests using the setup specified in 5.5.1. The tests shall be conducted
using the Rockwell scale with the highest test force that is used during normal testing. Repeat the
hysteresis verification procedure for a maximum
ISOof6508-2:2023
10 measurements and average the last three tests.
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5.5.3 The average of the last three tests shall indicate a hardness number of (130 ± 1,0) Rockwell
units when the regular Rockwell ball scales B, E, F, G, H, and K are used, or within (100 ± 1,0) Rockwell
units when any other Rockwell scale is used.

6 Indirect verification of the testing machine

6.1 General

6.1.1 Indirect verification involves the calibration and verification of the testing machine by
performing tests on reference blocks.

6.1.2 Indirect verification should be carried out at a temperature of (23 ± 5) °C by means of reference
blocks calibrated in accordance with ISO 6508-3. If the verification is made outside of this temperature
range, this shall be reported in the verification report.

6.2 Procedure

6.2.1 For the indirect verification of a testing machine, the following procedures shall be applied.

The testing machine shall be verified for each scale for which it will be used. For each scale to be
verified, reference blocks from each of the hardness ranges given in Table 1 shall be used. The hardness

4  © ISO 2023 – All rights reserved


 ISO 6508-2:2023(E)

values of the blocks shall be chosen to approximate the limits of the intended use. It is recommended to
perform the same test cycle used when the reference blocks were calibrated.
Only the calibrated surfaces of the test blocks are to be used for testing.

6.2.2 On each reference block, a minimum of five indentations, made in accordance with ISO 6508-1,
shall be uniformly distributed over the test surface and each hardness number observed to a resolution
of no greater than 0,2 HR of a scale unit. Before making these indentations, at least two preliminary
indentations shall be made to ensure that the machine is working freely and that the reference block, the
indenter, and the specimen holder are seating correctly. The results of these preliminary indentations
shall be ignored.

Table 1 — Hardness ranges for different scales

Rockwell hardness Hardness range of reference Rockwell hardness Hardness range of reference
scale block scale block
A 20 to 40 HRA K 40 to 60 HRKW
45 to 75 HRA 65 to 80 HRKW
80 to 95 HRA 85 to 100 HRKW
B 10 to 50 HRBW 15N 70 to 77 HR15N
60 to 80 HRBW 78 to 88 HR15N
85 to 100 HRBW 89 to 94 HR15N
C 10 to 30 HRC 30N 42 to 54 HR30N
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35 to 55 HRC
60 to 70 HRC
55 to 73 HR30N
74 to 86 HR30N
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40 to 47 HRD
55 to 63 HRD
45N 20 to 31 HR45N
32 to 61 HR45N

E
Document
70 to 77 HRD
70 to 77 HREW
Preview
15T
63 to 77 HR45N
67 to 80 HR15TW
84 to 90 HREW 81 to 87 HR15TW
ISO 6508-2:2023
93 to 100 HREW 88 to 93 HR15TW
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F 60 to 75 HRFW 30T 29 to 56 HR30TW
80 to 90 HRFW 57 to 69 HR30TW
94 to 100 HRFW 70 to 82 HR30TW
G 30 to 50 HRGW 45T 10 to 33 HR45TW
55 to 75 HRGW 34 to 54 HR45TW
80 to 94 HRGW 55 to 72 HR45TW
H 80 to 94 HRHW
96 to 100 HRHW

6.3 Repeatability

6.3.1 For each reference block, let H1, H2, H3, H4,…..Hn be the values of the measured hardness
arranged in increasing order of magnitude.

The repeatability range, r, of the testing machine in Rockwell units, under the particular verification
conditions, is determined by Formula (3):
r = H n − H1 (3)

© ISO 2023 – All rights reserved  5


ISO 6508-2:2023(E)

The mean hardness value of all indentations H is defined according to Formula (4):
H1 + H2 + H3 + H 4 + ... + H n
H= (4)
n
where

H1, H2, H3, H4,….. Hn are the hardness values corresponding to all the indentations;

n is the total number of indentations.

6.3.2 The repeatability range of the testing machine being verified shall be considered satisfactory if
it satisfies the conditions given in Table 2. Permissible repeatability is presented graphically in Annex A,
Figures A.1 and A.2.

Table 2 — Permissible repeatability range and bias of the testing machine

Permissible bias Permissible repeatability
Rockwell hardness Hardness range of Rockwell units range of the testing machinea
scale the reference block
b r
A 20 to 75 HRA ±2 HRA ≤ 0,02 (100 − H ) or

B
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> 75 to 95 HRA
10 to 45 HRBW ±4 HRBW
±1,5 HRA

≤ 0,04 (130 − H )
     0,8 HRA Rockwell unitsb

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> 45 to 80 HRBW
> 80 to 100 HRBW
±3 HRBW
±2 HRBW
     HRBW Rockwell units

C
Document±1,5Preview
10 to 70 HRC HRC ≤ 0,02 (100 − H ) or
     0,8 HRC Rockwell units b

D 40 to 70 HRD ±2 HRD
≤ 0,02 (100 − H ) or
> 70 to 77 HRD
ISO 6508-2:2023
±1,5 HRD      0,8 HRD Rockwell unitsb
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E 70 to 90 HREW ±2,5 HREW ≤ 0,04 (130 − H )
> 90 to 100 HREW ±2 HREW      HREW Rockwell units
F 60 to 90 HRFW ±3 HRFW ≤ 0,04 (130 − H )
> 90 to 100 HRFW ±2 HRFW      HRFW Rockwell units
G 30 to 50 HRGW ±6 HRGW ≤ 0,04 (130 − H )
> 50 to 75 HRGW ±4,5 HRGW      HRGW Rockwell units
> 75 to 94 HRGW ±3 HRGW
H 80 to 100 HRHW ±2 HRHW ≤ 0,04 (130 − H )
     HRHW Rockwell units
K 40 to 60 HRKW ±4 HRKW ≤ 0,04 (130 − H )
> 60 to 80 HRKW ±3 HRKW      HRKW Rockwell units
> 80 to 100 HRKW ±2 HRKW
15N, 30N, 45N All ranges ±2 HRN ≤ 0,04 (100 − H ) or
     1,2 HRN Rockwell units b
15T, 30T, 45T All ranges ±3 HRTW ≤ 0,06 (100 − H ) or
     2,4 HRTW Rockwell unitsb
a H is the mean hardness value.
b The one with a greater value becomes the permissible repeatability range of the testing machine.
NOTE The requirements for permissible repeatability range, r, and/or permissible bias, b, might be different in
ASTM E 18.

6  © ISO 2023 – All rights reserved