Portable hardness testers
Bench hardness testers
Automatic systems

Brinell hardness testers

I Brinell hardness testers allow employing heavy loads in quite simple and rugged structures
The indentation diameter is read with an optical system (eyepiece or microscope).
Testing is possible even if positioning of the piece is not perfect, because the Brinell test is not sensitive to deflection of the test piece.
It is possible to derive the tensile strength value simply by multiplying the Brinell hardness number by a certain factor, changing according to the test material.
In spite of the heavy load, an accurate surface preparation is needed to obtain reliable results.
For this reason, the Brinell test cannot be considered a quick test and it is not suitable for testing of high volumes.
To overcome this problem, Ernst has designed a series of Brinell hardness testers operating according to Rockwell method, but using Brinell penetrators and loads.
In this case, the difference of penetration between preload and load gives the indentation measure.
Test results are directly shown on the display or on the dial indicator in Rockwell numbers that will be converted in Brinell numbers using the proper table.
This method is more convenient in the case of high volume testing, as it allows avoiding the optical reading and the surface preparation required by the classic Brinell hardness testers.
To increase the accuracy in the case of high volume testing, the range of Ernst Brinell hardness testers give the operator the possibility to introduce a new and temporary calibration of the Brinell scale, based on Brinell test blocks, where the indentation has been made by classic Brinell testers.


Brinell hardness testers Bench hardness testers Automatic systems

ERNST is a company with over 50 years’ experience in the research, design and production of high quality Brinell hardness testers.
Active in the international market with an extensive range of Brinell hardness testers, it gathers information and requests from a demanding and diversified market, in order to continue to be at the forefront of the production of machines for controlling, measuring and testing materials.
ERNST patents are the story and the future of the company, a company that is constantly researching new technological solutions to the still unsolved problems in metal hardness testing.
The range of ERNST Brinell hardness testers includes:

- light and heavy load Brinell  hardness testers, suitable for testing large specimens, irregular shapes, and awkward test points that bench testers cannot reach
- bench hardness testers for Brinell and Brinell testing with direct reading in many other hardness scales
- automatic hardness testers for high volume testing and completely in-line testing operations.

All ERNST Brinell hardness testers operate according to a variant of the Brinell method that permits accurate and reliable results also in the presence of deflection of the test part.
The series ESATEST Brinell hardness testers is based on a new testing method based on the measurement of the electrical resistivity and patented by ERNST. This method allows determining in a rapid way the material hardness in awkward test points, such as interiors, irregular shapes, gear evolvents.
The experience and the specialisation, the possibility to offer customized solutions, the extensive range of Brinell hardness testers make ERNST a worldwide leader in the production of testing instruments.

Some of our hardness testers:

DYNATEST SC Heavy load portable Brinell hardness tester Testing load more than 100 k p (98 N) Digital readout in Brinell and Brinell hardness scales (Vickers and other scales on request) Print functions in 5 languages, statistics, 1000 tests can be stored, RS232 output, backlit display. Performances comparable to a bench tester.

HANDY ESATEST Brinell hardness tester Digital readout in Vickers hardness scale (other scales on request) A new concept of Brinell hardness tester for testing of odd shaped parts and difficult test points. Possibility of testing flat and cylindrical surfaces, gear evolvents, etc.

COMPUTEST SC Light load Brinell hardness tester (5 kp). Digital readout in Brinell, Brinell and Vickers hardness scales (other scales on request). Optional bench stand for testing of small parts. Magnetic support and other equipment available. Print functions in 5 languages statistics, 1000 tests can be stored, RS232 output, backlit display.

STE Ernst Calibrated Pins Tester Brinell hardness tester for Brinell testing. Testing load 1580 kp Precise – easy to use – reading of one impression only

NR3 Digital hardness tester, based on the Brinell test principle with instantaneous readout in Brinell and Brinell scales (other scales on request). Suitable for testing of small parts and plastic materials.

AT130 Semi-automatic bench hardness tester, based on Brinell test principle with instantaneous readout in Brinell and Brinell scales (other scales on request). Overhanging parts can be clamped without any extra support. Four different stands are available for testing large parts. Testing is not influenced by flexions or bending of the work piece.

AT200 Semi-automatic bench hardness tester, digital readout in Brinell hardness scale and in equivalent Brinell, Vickers and other hardness scales. Sequential application of preload and load. Storing of 4000 hardness values in 64 different files, printing of the test certificate in 5 languages, display of statistics and histogram. Large LCD backlit display, 107x57mm Clamping of overhanging parts without any extra support. Four different stands are available for testing large and irregular parts.

ESATEST MTR A new concept of Brinell hardness tester for testing of odd shaped parts and difficult test points, as grooves, holes, involutes, etc. Digital readout in Vickers hardness scale (other scales on request). Motorized test load application. With one test only, it is possible to display the hardness value at different loads from 9.8 to 98 n (1-10 kp) and to notice any anomaly or non-homogeneity of the material. The 16bit microprocessor system allows handling of more than 4000 hardness values.

TWIN Automatic hardness tester motorized. Digital readout in Brinell and superficial Brinell scales and in equivalent Brinell, Vickers and other scales. Indenter’s stroke 45mm Max measurable height 420mm Automatic load change Large memory, up to 4000 values can be stored in 64 different files Printing of test certificate in 5 languages, display of statistics and histogram, Centronics and PC output. Unaffected by any deflection of the test piece. Possibility of testing very large and irregular specimens.

AT300 DR-TM AT300 DR-TM is a motorized hardness tester, particularly suitable for high volume testing (approx 1000 pcs/hour), custom in line applications for a completely automatic test process and test part selection. The possibility to motorize also the test head motion permits a considerable reducing of the test time. A very versatile stand permits testing of large parts. The basement of the stand contains a convenient accessory drawer.

BRE-AUT Automatic Brinell hardness tester Test time reduced by 85% in comparison with the traditional Brinell testers. Adapted for completely automatic in-line operation. The 16-bit microprocessor of the electronic console has been designed to guarantee full documentation of the test process, providing a wide range of functions such as: adjustable tolerances, calibration, serialization of readings and lot number, print, statistics, graph, etc. The test certificate can be printed in different languages.

ERNST Härteprüfer SA Via Cantonale CH-6814 Lamone Switzerland Email info@ernstsa.com Web www.ernstsa.com
Phone +41-91-9662181 Fax +41-91-9669735