Hardness tester.

Marc, the only Rc tester I know anything about is the HR150A clone like sold by Grizzly. I've got manual and have written up a calibration procedure for the HR150A clone that works pretty good and has helped other folks calibrate their tester. I'll be happy to share it with you if you think there is enough similar stuff to help any. This might get you to the PDF file: https://imgur.com/a/BXbKF

If it doesn't work and you think it might help, send me a msg and I can email to you direct.
Ken H>
 
After watching some YouTube vids on indicators, pretty sure this thing need cleaning. I popped the back off just to peak an just watched a guy clean one just like it. I'm by no means going to attempt, but find somewhere to send it. Pretty sure it's just gunked up and sticky. All the other parts of the tester look good this thing is indicator is just dirty. Don't think it should be too hard to find a place that does this.
 
KnuckleDownKnives said:
After watching some YouTube vids on indicators, pretty sure this thing need cleaning. I popped the back off just to peak an just watched a guy clean one just like it. I'm by no means going to attempt, but find somewhere to send it. Pretty sure it's just gunked up and sticky. All the other parts of the tester look good this thing is indicator is just dirty. Don't think it should be too hard to find a place that does this.
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I have taken a couple test indicators to a local Jewelry store that does watch repair the repair guy cleaned and adjusted made sure movement was free was like $25 each much less than replacement.
 
Busto said:
I have taken a couple test indicators to a local Jewelry store that does watch repair the repair guy cleaned and adjusted made sure movement was free was like $25 each much less than replacement.
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Waiting on a quote from Fastenal. There is one right by my office and they send it to their corporate office that has an A2LA Accredited Calibration Lab. Pretty sure it shouldn't be too much, and at this point I don't mind making the investment unless it's unrealistic. if it is, I'll find something else.
 
KnuckleDownKnives said:
Waiting on a quote from Fastenal. There is one right by my office and they send it to their corporate office that has an A2LA Accredited Calibration Lab. Pretty sure it shouldn't be too much, and at this point I don't mind making the investment unless it's unrealistic. if it is, I'll find something else.
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So that would be sending the whole unit for clean and cal if it's reasonable that's the way to go for sure.

Working at NASA we had in house cal labs and set cal dates for all instruments. Cal Techs also did repair as needed it was handy since there was so much Data collection it all had to be verified on the ground and in flight. Hope it's reasonable Good Luck and Good Score!!!
 
Busto said:
So that would be sending the whole unit for clean and cal if it's reasonable that's the way to go for sure.

Working at NASA we had in house cal labs and set cal dates for all instruments. Cal Techs also did repair as needed it was handy since there was so much Data collection it all had to be verified on the ground and in flight. Hope it's reasonable Good Luck and Good Score!!!
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I could send the whole unit it, but at this point I'm just going to have the indicator done. There is pretty much no other adjustments on it except the zeroing dial. This one from what I can tell is a pretty simple machine. I'm cleaning everything up this week while i wait on sending out the indicator. I'm gonna get a new indenter and a nice certified test block and then go from there. If I can keep it at or under $300 for everything I'll be 100% satisfied.

I do need to move some stuff around in the shop so I have a good place to put it. It wasn't exactly a purchase I was expecting but def one I was wanting. I guess it was finally my turn to be at the right place at the right time. :D:D:D
 
Well worth the expense of cleaning and adjusting the indicator and blowing out the internals and I would suggest that you find something to cover it with while it's sitting idle. They make covers but just a towel will keep shop crud off and would be a candidate for the clean area at the back of your shop.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Do a Google search for a metrology lab in your area. The one in my area will come out and calibrate your machine. If you ask me, sending a Rockwell machine in for testing is a waste of time and money. The shipping cost will kill you, and things bounce around too much during shipping. It may leave their shop calibrated, but it won't be after a few hundred mile ride in a trailer, and getting moved around with fork lifts.
 
J. Hoffman said:
Do a Google search for a metrology lab in your area. The one in my area will come out and calibrate your machine. If you ask me, sending a Rockwell machine in for testing is a waste of time and money. The shipping cost will kill you, and things bounce around too much during shipping. It may leave their shop calibrated, but it won't be after a few hundred mile ride in a trailer, and getting moved around with fork lifts.
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Thank you for that info. There is actually a place a couple hrs from me that does come to the site for calibration. I'll need to get the indicator cleaned first which they also do. So waiting to hear beck from both places now on the indicator clean and calibration.
 
Get a welding or shop cart from HF and put the tester on it.A cart with drawers will store your testing logbook, test plates, and other supplies. When not in use, roll it out of the way to a corner. The same goes for forges and some other infrequent use tools.

Drop a BBQ cover over it when not in use. The "egg" type covers work well. Also, a bandsaw cover is good. They give them away free with blades from some blade supplier.
 
More good news. Got the blade tested in my OP and thanks to Kevin Cashen's HT page I followed, it tested right at 61 HRC. Other good news today, got a quote back from the Metrology lab thanks J. Hoffman J. Hoffman they quoted me $65 to completely overhaul, ultra sonic clean, install new crystals, lube and calibrate the indicator (which appears to be a Mercer and he said was prob made by Starrett).

On a side note, I think was kind of funny. The QC guy at the shop I had do the testing he initially was testing the handle area while I was distracted talking to the owner and when I looked over and saw he was testing that spot, I told him to hold up it's going to be real low there, as I only bring half the handle area up to full austenitizing temp. He replied well "it tested 56 that's not low". I said back to him yeah, I'm hoping for 61 to 62 and pointed to the area at the ricasso where the front of the scales will cover and to test it there. He didn't think it was going to be that high. He tested 3 times and hit 61 all of them. The owner and I then got into a short discussion on my HT process while the QC guy broke out some sort of small book and looked up O1 HT, he asked me what I heated and tempered at and was surprised. Guess they aren't used to working with O1 and trying to get these numbers out of it.

So after doubting myself and following good instructions I feel very happy about the progress I've made, and all the effort I've put into building my equipment. This was some real proof that it's working like I hoped it would. Accurate heating, accurate quenching, and accurate tempering.....
 
Congrats on a HT well done. Is Metrology lab to go thru the whole hardness tester? OR - just the display dial?
 
Ken H> said:
Congrats on a HT well done. Is Metrology lab to go thru the whole hardness tester? OR - just the display dial?
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Thanks Ken.

They can go through the whole thing, but the indicator needs to be done regardless, so getting it done first. Then the tech college machine shop is going to lend me their certified test blocks and i'm going to test it and see what it's doing. If it needs calibrated from there, I'll go from there. It's about $400 for them to do the whole thing, so hoping with the new life put into the indicator I'll be good. We'll see....
 
Sent it to the Metrology lab here in SC and just received a quote to go through the indicator $64.00. This includes complete disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, new crystals, polishing the spindle, verifying all gears and springs are good/replaced, lubing everything, reassembly and calibration. Should be getting shipped back to me tomorrow.
 
good deal. never did say how O1 turned out or what thickness was. O1 knife tested because after HT, 18 mins at 1475-1500 and quench in 125* canola oil would be ok is it was 3/8" or more at spine. I do 1/16" or less for 8 minutes, 3/32" for about 11 minutes. as long as you kept it under 1500 you should have ok results. i recommend a 350F temper, as you get the best hardness and toughness
 
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scott.livesey said:
good deal. never did say how O1 turned out or what thickness was. O1 knife tested because after HT, 18 mins at 1475-1500 and quench in 125* canola oil would be ok is it was 3/8" or more at spine. I do 1/16" or less for 8 minutes, 3/32" for about 11 minutes. as long as you kept it under 1500 you should have ok results. i recommend a 350F temper, as you get the best hardness and toughness
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Comment #33. It came out at 61. It's 3/16".
 
Got the indicator back from the metrology lab, and they did a great job on reviving it. Movement is spectacular now and not all gummed up. Waiting to hear beck from the instructor at the tech collage to borrow their certified test blocks to see where it's at. I did a test on an O1 blank I have heat treated in the exact fashion as the one that tested at 61 and the one that tested at 61 and it's showing 3 points low when testing both of these.
 
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