The hardness of metal stampings is tested using a Rockwell hardness tester. Small stampings with complex shapes, where the test surface is too small to be tested on a standard benchtop Rockwell hardness tester, are particularly problematic.
Metal stamping processing includes blanking, bending, drawing, forming, and CNC machining finishing. The materials used for stamping are primarily hot-rolled or cold-rolled (mainly cold-rolled) metal sheets and strips, such as carbon steel, alloy steel, spring steel, galvanized steel, tinplate, stainless steel, copper and copper alloys, aluminum and aluminum alloys, etc.
The PHP series portable surface Rockwell hardness tester is well-suited for testing the hardness of these stampings. Alloy stampings are among the most commonly used parts in metal processing and machinery manufacturing. Stamping is a processing method that uses dies to separate or form metal sheets and strips. Its applications are very wide-ranging.
The main purpose of hardness testing on metal stamping materials is to determine whether the annealing degree of the purchased metal sheet is suitable for the subsequent stamping process. Different types of stamping processes require sheets with different hardness levels. Aluminum alloy sheets used for stamping can be tested with a Webster hardness tester. When the material thickness is greater than 13mm, a Barcol hardness tester can be used instead. Pure aluminum sheets or low-hardness aluminum alloy sheets should use a Barcol hardness tester.