Precision Shore Hardness Testing for Elastomers, Plastics, and Metals
Accurate hardness measurement is a cornerstone of material quality control, directly influencing product durability, safety, and performance. From rubber seals and thermoplastic elastomers to rigid plastics and metallic components, the ability to quantify resistance to indentation is essential for both production monitoring and research. Mikrosize offers a family of Shore hardness testers that combine mechanical robustness with intelligent digital features, delivering repeatable, standards-compliant results in laboratory and on-site environments alike.
Versatile Scales for a Broad Material Spectrum
The Mikrosize Shore hardness testers support multiple indenter types—including A, C, D, B, OO, and DO—covering the entire hardness range from soft rubbers to rigid engineering plastics. This flexibility allows a single instrument to handle diverse applications: measuring the compliance of automotive gaskets, the resilience of silicone overmoulds, the stiffness of PVC profiles, or the surface hardness of epoxy composite panels. For specialised needs, the D-scale variant provides reliable data on acrylics, hard PVC, bakelite, and glass-reinforced plastics, while the A-scale remains the industry standard for rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, and soft polymers. All models comply with GB/T 531, ISO 7619, ASTM D2240, and ISO 48-9, ensuring that measurements are traceable and internationally accepted.
Digital Sensing and Intelligent Signal Processing
Unlike conventional analog-based durometers, the advanced Mikrosize models employ a digital displacement sensor that converts indentation depth directly into electronic signals. This approach eliminates the non-linearity and drift associated with potentiometric or LVDT sensors, significantly improving resolution and long-term repeatability. The signal chain incorporates adaptive filtering and temperature compensation, minimising environmental influences on measurement stability. The onboard microcontroller processes raw data in real time, applying user-selectable averaging (0 to 9 readings) and Grubbs-based gross-error rejection to suppress outliers caused by operator technique or surface irregularities. The result is a hardness value that truly represents the bulk material property, with a measurement accuracy of ≤ ±1 H and resolution down to 0.1 H.
Versatile Test Modes and Data Management
To accommodate different testing protocols, the instrument offers three principal modes: Average Mode (for multi-point statistical evaluation), Maximum Mode (capturing peak hardness during initial penetration), and Timer Mode (recording hardness after a defined dwell time, adjustable up to 30 seconds to meet GB/T 531.1 requirements). Users can set the number of test points per batch, define upper and lower tolerance limits with audible and visual alarms, and enable automatic rejection of out-of-specification readings. The built-in memory stores up to 500 measurement sets, each with a unique workpiece number (0-99) for easy traceability. Data can be uploaded to a PC via USB, where companion software allows export to Excel and CSV formats, facilitating statistical process control and long-term trend analysis.
Mechanical Design for Consistent Indentation
The indenter tip is fabricated from wear-resistant alloy steel, maintaining its geometry over thousands of cycles to guarantee consistent indentation geometry. The pressure foot features a flat, polished working surface that ensures perpendicular contact with the specimen, eliminating angular errors common in handheld operation. For applications requiring the highest repeatability, an optional test platform can be attached via the top adapter, converting the portable unit into a bench-top system with controlled descent speed and constant force application. This configuration is particularly advantageous for thin or soft materials where operator-induced variability would otherwise dominate the measurement uncertainty.
Application-Driven Performance Characteristics
The combination of mechanical precision and digital intelligence makes these testers suitable for a wide array of industrial sectors. In rubber manufacturing, they verify the consistency of seals, hoses, and vibration dampers. In plastics processing, they monitor the hardness of injection-moulded parts and extruded profiles. In leather and textile industries, they assess the firmness of coated fabrics and composite laminates. Materials research laboratories rely on them to characterise new polymer blends and elastomeric formulations during development. Furthermore, the ability to connect to a constant-load stand enables high-precision testing of small or irregularly shaped specimens, expanding the instrument’s utility beyond routine pass/fail checks into quantitative material characterisation.
Technical Summary: Precision, Stability, and Adaptability
The Mikrosize Shore hardness tester series delivers a balanced combination of digital measurement precision, mechanical ruggedness, and operational flexibility. Its digital displacement sensor provides superior linearity and noise immunity, while the advanced signal processing ensures reliable data even in challenging production environments. The multiple test modes, statistical outlier rejection, and adjustable dwell time allow the instrument to conform to a wide range of national and international testing standards. The optional test platform further enhances repeatability by standardising the indentation force and speed, making the system equally adept at rapid on-line inspection and detailed laboratory analysis. By integrating these technical attributes into a portable, battery-operated form factor, Mikrosize offers a hardness testing solution that meets the exacting demands of modern material science and industrial quality assurance without compromising ease of use or field readiness.
