What’s a scleroscope?

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A rebound hammer is used for hardness testing of metals with carbon and graphite components. The scleroscope is a device that drops a weighted hammer onto the material and calculates the hardness based on the bounce height. Special training is required for accurate use. The device is used in research and development and quality control to confirm material consistency. The tester follows a set protocol for repeatable results. The use of a scleroscope is an example of non-destructive testing. A different hammer may be used for soft or brittle metals.

A rebound hammer is a material testing device available for use in hardness testing of metals with carbon and graphite components, such as steel. There are a number of hardness testing options when evaluating materials, and this can be chosen if testers feel it is most appropriate or if a test specifically calls for a scleroscope. Special training is required to use the device accurately and effectively. It is important that material testing takes place in a controlled environment to obtain reliable and repeatable results.

The scleroscope consists of a glass tube with graduated marks. The operator drops a weighted hammer through the pipe and onto the material of interest. As the hammer bounces, the operator can take note of the bounce height and use this to calculate the hardness of the material. The more elastic the material, the greater the rebound and the lower the hardness. The scleroscope may come with a graph to convert readings for ease of use.

This device was developed in the early 20th century to meet the needs of materials testing in industrial environments. Steel and other metals must be reliable and consistent for best results in mass production. Companies can use a scleroscope in research and development to determine the hardness of experimental metals. The device can also be used in quality control to confirm that material batches are consistent and meet standards for their intended uses.

In a materials testing environment, the tester can repeat the test to confirm the accuracy of the results, and also follows a set protocol with each test. The protocol is designed to make the test repeatable, with results reproducible by anyone who knows how to operate the equipment. You can also combine other hardness tests for multiple readings and a broad spectrum of material hardness information.

The use of a scleroscope is an example of non-destructive testing. The tester can evaluate the properties of the material without destroying it in the process, although some metals can dent or break during testing. If a metal is known to be particularly soft or brittle, the technician may select a different hammer with a lighter, larger head to reduce the risk of damaging the metal. The results should be weighted to reflect the non-standard hammer design, using a different hardness graph to convert the rebound information into a hardness measure.




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