TPG-AC7102/5 REV.

NA

Issued 2011-12
TRANSPORTATION
Revised NA
161 Thorn Hill Road & POWER
Warrendale, PA 15086-7527
GENERATION Superseding NA

AUDIT CRITERIA
AUDIT CRITERIA
For HARDNESS TESTING

1. SCOPE

This checklist supplements PRI TPG7102 checklist. This checklist applies to suppliers seeking
accreditation for Heat Treating.

2. GENERAL INFORMATION:

2.1 Company:

2.2 Company contact

2.3 Auditor

2.4 Initial Audit Reaccreditation Audit VCA Audit

2.5 Tests Audited:

Brinell Hardness (ASTM E10 or EN ISO 6506)

Rockwell Hardness (ASTM E18 or EN ISO 6508)

Vickers Hardness (ASTM E384 or EN ISO 6507) – Used for Macro Vickers only

Portable (ASTM E110)

2.6 Brief Equipment Description

PRI operating procedures provide that "This report is published by PRI to advance the state of technical, engineering, and quality
sciences. The use of this report is entirely voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent
infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user."

PRI invites your written comments and suggestions.

Copyright 2010 Performance Review Institute. All rights reserved.

t-frm-15 1-Sep-10
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3. WRITTEN PROCEDURES

3.1 Do written procedures cover the following testing variables:

a. Number of impressions for each test value reported? YES NO

b. In-process periodic verifications and recording? YES NO

3.2 Do written procedures cover operator options for hardness re- YES NO
testing? (Some operator discretion is permitted).

3.3 Are the sample sizes (or 100%) required by the specifications and YES NO
the acceptance range for hardness testing of each order of parts
listed on the job planning or on a controlled media traceable to the
individual part number?

4. PERSONNEL AND TRAINING

4.1 Verify personnel training for one testing discipline:

Function/Job Description: ______________________________________

Equipment operated: ______________________________________

4.2 Is training documented? YES NO

4.3 Do written procedures reference hardness training? YES NO

4.4 Does training include all geometries of parts tested in the facility? YES NO

5. FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

5.1 Is hardness equipment capable of performing the tests in accordance with YES NO
all applicable requirements?

5.2 Is the equipment designed such that no rocking or lateral movement YES NO
occurs while load is being applied or removed?

5.3 Does supplier have a preventive maintenance plan in place? YES NO

5.4 Is preventive maintenance plan followed? YES NO

5.5 Is performed preventive maintenance documented? YES NO

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6. CALIBRATION

6.1 Are calibration records available? YES NO

6.2 Do records show that calibration is traceable to national standards? (NIST, YES NO
UKAS, PTB, etc.)?

6.3 Is calibration performed in accordance with applicable requirements? YES NO

7. MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL

7.1 Is the traceability of the hardware to the purchase order always kept during YES NO
the hardness testing?

8. ALTERNATIVE METHODS NA

8.1 Are alternative methods used only when permitted by one of the following? YES NO
(Check all applicable items below).

Material specification.

Customer

Other, as described below:

___________________________________________________

9. HARDNESS CONVERSION NA

9.1 Are conversion charts used if alloy groups are not covered by ASTM E140 or EN YES NO NA
ISO 18265?

9.1.1 Are these charts approved by the customer? YES NO

9.2 When conversion is used, do the inspection records show the measured YES NO
values as well as the converted values (i.e. conversion from another
hardness scale or from tensile test)?

10. TEST REPORTS

10.1 Do test reports show the hardness number and appropriate scale per YES NO
customer requirements?

10.2 If conditions are other than normal operating conditions (ball YES NO NA
diameter/load/load time/etc.), are those conditions reported as required?

10.3 Are the actual hardness values recorded as required? YES NO

10.4 Is test temperature reported if ambient temperature was outside of 10° - YES NO NA
35°C (50° - 95°F) (unless it has been shown not to affect the measurement
result)?
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11. HARDNESS PERIODIC VERIFICATION

(The Auditor to check several standard test blocks)

11.1 Are standardized test blocks available for the scales/loads/and other key YES NO
variables that are used for production testing?

11.1.1 Do standardized test blocks appear to be in a condition suggesting

acceptable verification, including:

11.1.1.1 Surfaces not re-polished? YES NO

11.1.1.2 Indentations only on the allowable test surface? YES NO

11.1.1.3 Number of indentations appears to be relatively the same or more than YES NO
those reported for periodic verifications?

11.2 Are the standardized test blocks being used appropriate for the materials YES NO
being tested?

11.3 Is each standardized test block marked with the scale, the mean hardness YES NO
value, the standard supplier identification and the block serial number?

11.4 Is hardness tester periodically verified against standardized test block(s) at

the following minimum frequencies:

11.4.1 Daily, prior to the start of acceptance testing? YES NO

11.4.2 After the load/indenters (all methods) are changed? YES NO

11.4.2.1 Does the log book record when load/indenters are changed? YES NO

11.5 Is hardness tester verified against standardized test block(s) representing YES NO
the indenter, load and time used for production testing?

11.6 Are hardness tester periodic verifications recorded, complete, and the YES NO
standardized test block identified?

11.7 Is there evidence that indentations that are spaced too closely are YES NO
disregarded?

11.8 Do written procedures define the action to take if periodic verifications YES NO
result in an out-of-tolerance condition, including direction to retest all tests
performed since the last correct periodic verification unless the suspect
population can be further restricted?
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12. BRINELL HARDNESS TESTING (ASTM E10 or EN ISO 6506) NA

12.1 Brinell Equipment Operating Characteristics

12.1.1 Does the measuring scope permit direct measurement of the indentation YES NO
diameter as required by scope type (ASTM E10 Table 2) or permitting
estimation of the indentation diameter to ±0.5% (EN ISO 6506-2 paragraph
4.4.1)?

Note: ASTM E10 Table 2 –applies only to Type A devices. This

requirement does not apply to Type B devices. It is a fixed requirement for
1mm ball only.

12.2 Brinell Equipment Daily Verifications

12.2.1 If testing to ASTM E10, are daily verifications performed on each range to YES NO NA
be used that day?

12.2.2 If testing to ASTM E10, are at least two hardness tests performed on each YES NO NA
of the daily verification standardized test blocks?

12.2.3 Is the center of indentation no closer than 2 ½ times its diameter to the YES NO
edge of the specimen or the edge of another indentation?

12.2.4 If the machine fails the verification test, is the appropriate action taken to YES NO NA
adjust and verify the hardness equipment?

Note: Requirement is to check the two (or more) readings against the
standard value and the maximum permitted error. If the difference is
outside that limit, then the repeatability is calculated. If the calculated error
and the repeatability are within the requirements, the machine is OK to
use.
Option for repeat test exists with different ball or indenter.
If it fails again, the machine must be tested by the indirect verification
method.
If it fails daily verification, the measuring device must also be checked
against the reference indentations on the standardized test block.

12.3 Specimens for Brinell Testing

12.3.1 Is the thickness of the specimen such that no bulge or other markings YES NO
show the effects of the test force on the side opposite the indentation?
(As a general rule, the thickness of the specimen should be at least 10
times the depth of the indentation).

12.3.1.1 If testing to EN ISO 6506-1, is the thickness of the specimen at least 8 YES NO NA
times the depth of the indentation?

12.3.2 If testing to ASTM E10, is the specimen radius of curvature greater than YES NO NA
2.5x the indenter diameter (25mm for a 10mm indenter, etc.)?
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12.4 Brinell Test Cycle (For One Indentation)

12.4.1 Is the major load applied steadily, without a jerk? YES NO

12.4.2 Is the load applied for a time of 10 to 15 seconds, unless otherwise YES NO
required by the product?

12.4.2.1 If other than 10 to 15 seconds is used, is the time reported? YES NO NA

12.5 Brinell Hardness Readings

12.5.1 For each indentation, are two diameters at 90° (perpendicular) measured YES NO
and the mean used to calculate hardness?

(Note: Automated test machines may convert from indentation depth or

from an assessment of the projected indentation area into the material
surface).

13. ROCKWELL HARDNESS TESTING (ASTM E 18 or ISO 6508) NA

13.1 Rockwell Equipment Operating Characteristics

13.1.1 Is the equipment protected from environment induced vibrations during YES NO
tests?

13.2 Rockwell Equipment Periodic Verifications and Calibrations

13.2.1 If testing to ASTM E18, do indirect verification and/or calibration test YES NO NA
reports include evidence of “As found” condition, indenters verified with the
test machine and final calibration results?

13.2.2 Is the center to center spacing between indentations on the standardized YES NO
test block kept at a minimum distance as defined by the applicable
specification?

13.2.3 Are at least two preliminary indentations (results ignored) made to ensure YES NO
smooth operation and seating of indenter/anvil when the indenter/anvil is
changed?

13.2.4 If testing to ASTM E18, are at least two measurements distributed YES NO NA
uniformly over the test surface performed on each of the daily verification
standardized test blocks?

13.2.4.1 If testing to EN ISO 6508, is at least one measurement performed on each YES NO NA
of the daily verification standardized test blocks? (EN ISO 6508-1 Appendix
E)

13.2.5 If testing to ASTM E18, are procedures and methods for determination of YES NO NA
error and repeatability (as applicable) for all verifications and/or calibrations
in accordance with the requirements?
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13.2.6 If testing to ASTM E18, does the operator check prior to verification the YES NO NA
anvil/fixture to ensure the absence of damage or foreign material?

13.3 Manual Control NA

13.3.1 Is the Preliminary Force applied for the maximum time defined by the YES NO
applicable specification?

13.3.2 Is the standard Dwell time for total force application 2 to 6 seconds for YES NO
materials that do not exhibit excessive time dependant plasticity?

13.3.3 If times are greater than what is stated above, are those times specified in YES NO NA
the product specification?

13.3.4 For materials that exhibit excessive time dependant plasticity, as defined YES NO NA
by the material specification, is the actual Dwell time for total force
application recorded?

14. VICKERS HARDNESS TESTING (ASTM E384 or EN ISO 6507) - Used NA

for Macro Vickers only

14.1 Vickers Equipment Operating Characteristics

14.1.1 Is the equipment protected from environment induced vibrations during YES NO
tests? (ASTM E384 paragraph 6.1.1, EN ISO 6507-1 paragraph 7.5)
14.2 Vickers Equipment Periodic Verifications

14.2.1 If testing to ASTM E384, is the zero reading of the measuring apparatus YES NO NA
correctly adjusted before making the verification?

14.2.2 If testing to ASTM E384, does the operator check prior to verification that YES NO NA
the stage and test block are clean?

14.2.2 Are the correct number of hardness readings per applicable specification YES NO
taken on a standardized hardness test block on the scale and at the
hardness level at which the machine is being used performed as part of
daily routine check?

14.2.3 Does the center to center spacing between indentations and the center to YES NO
edge spacing on standardized test block meet the distance criteria as
defined by the applicable specification?

14.3 Specimens for Vickers Testing

14.3.1 Is the surface of specimen sufficiently smooth enough to permit the reading YES NO
of the indentation diagonals as required?
14.3.2
Are corrections for radii of curvature (spheres, cylinders) made in YES NO NA
accordance with ASTM E384 or EN ISO 6507?
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14.4 Vickers Test Cycle for One Indentation

14.4.1 Is the applied test load as required? YES NO

14.4.1.1 Is the applied test load reported? YES NO

14.4.2 Is the test load applied without shock or vibration? YES NO

14.4.3 Is the load applied for a time of 10 to 15 seconds, unless otherwise YES NO NA
required by the product specification?

14.4.4 If other than 10 to 15 seconds is used, is the time reported? YES NO NA

14.5 Vickers Hardness Readings

14.5.1 For each indentation, are two Diagonals at 90° (perpendicular) measured YES NO
and the mean used to calculate hardness?