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INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 6508-3

Third edition
2015-03-01

Metallic materials — Rockwell

hardness test —
Part 3:
Calibration of reference blocks
Matériaux métalliques — Essai de dureté Rockwell —
Partie 3: Étalonnage des blocs de référence

Reference number
ISO 6508-3:2015(E)

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ISO 6508-3:2015(E)


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ISO 6508-3:2015(E)


Contents Page

Foreword......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... iv
1 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Normative references....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Manufacture of reference blocks.......................................................................................................................................................... 1
4 Calibration machine and calibration indenter...................................................................................................................... 2
4.1 General............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
4.2 Calibration machine............................................................................................................................................................................ 2
4.3 Calibration diamond indenter.................................................................................................................................................... 2
4.4 Calibration ball indenter.................................................................................................................................................................. 4
5 Calibration procedure...................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
6 Number of indentations................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
7 Uniformity of hardness................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
8 Marking........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
9 Calibration certificate...................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
10 Validity............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Annex A (normative) Uniformity of reference blocks......................................................................................................................... 8
Annex B (informative) Uncertainty of the mean hardness value of hardness-reference blocks.........10
Annex C (normative) Requirements for reference diamond indenters.........................................................................16
Bibliography.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17

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ISO 6508-3:2015(E)


Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of any
patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on
the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 164, Mechanical testing of metals, Subcommittee
SC 3, Hardness testing.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 6508-3:2005), which has been
technically revised.
ISO 6508 consists of the following parts, under the general title Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test:
— Part 1: Test method
— Part 2: Verification and calibration of testing machines and indenters
— Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 6508-3:2015(E)

Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test —

Part 3:
Calibration of reference blocks

1 Scope
This part of ISO 6508 specifies a method for the calibration of reference blocks to be used for the indirect
and daily verification of Rockwell hardness testing machines, as specified in ISO 6508-2:2015.
Attention is drawn to the fact that the use of hard metal for ball indenters is considered to be the
standard type of Rockwell indenter ball. Steel indenter balls can be used only when complying with
ISO 6508-1:2015, Annex A.

2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 376, Metallic materials — Calibration of force-proving instruments used for the verification of uniaxial
testing machines
ISO 6508-1:2015, Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test — Part 1: Test method
ISO 6508-2:2015, Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test — Part 2: Verification and calibration of
testing machines and indenters

3 Manufacture of reference blocks

3.1 The block shall be specially manufactured for use as a hardness-reference block.
NOTE Attention is drawn to the need to use a manufacturing process, which will give the necessary
homogeneity, stability of structure, and uniformity of surface hardness.

3.2 Each hardness reference block shall be of a thickness not less than 6 mm. To minimize the effect of
hardness change with increasing number of indents, thicker blocks should be used.

3.3 The reference blocks shall be free of magnetism. It is recommended that the manufacturer ensure
that the blocks, if made of steel, have been demagnetized at the end of the manufacturing process (before
calibration).

3.4 The deviation from surface flatness of the top and bottom surfaces shall be ≤0,01 mm. The bottom
of the blocks shall not be convex. The deviation from parallelism of the top and bottom surfaces shall
be ≤0,02 mm per 50 mm.

3.5 The test surface and lower surface shall be free from damage, such as notches, scratches, oxide
layers, etc., which can interfere with the measurement of the indentations. The surface roughness, Ra,
shall not exceed 0,000 3 mm for the test surface and 0,000 8 mm for the bottom surface. Sampling length
is l = 0,8 mm (see ISO 4287:1997, 3.1.9).

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3.6 To verify that no material is subsequently removed from the reference block, the thickness at the
time of calibration shall be marked on it, to the nearest 0,1 mm, or an identifying mark shall be made on
the test surface [see 8.1 e)].

4 Calibration machine and calibration indenter

4.1 General

4.1.1 Calibrations and verifications of Rockwell calibration machines and calibration indenters shall be
carried out at a temperature of (23 ± 5) °C.

4.1.2 The instruments used for calibration shall be traceable to national standards.

4.2 Calibration machine

4.2.1 In addition to fulfilling the general conditions specified in ISO  6508-2:2015, Clause  3, the
calibration machine shall also meet the requirements given in 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.2.5, and 4.2.6.

4.2.2 The machine shall be directly verified in intervals not exceeding 12 months. Direct verification
involves calibration and verification of the following:

a) test force;
b) measuring system;
c) testing cycle; if this is not possible, at least the force versus time behaviour.

4.2.3 The test force shall be measured by means of an elastic proving device (according to ISO 376) class
0,5 or better and calibrated for reversibility, or by another method having the same or better accuracy.

Evidence should be available to demonstrate that the output of the force-proving device does not vary
by more than 0,1 % in a period of 1 s to 30 s, following a stepped change in force.

4.2.4 Each test force shall be measured and shall agree with the nominal preliminary test force, F0, to
within ±0,2 % and the nominal total test force, F, to within ±0,1 %.

4.2.5 The measuring system shall have a resolution of  ±0,000  1  mm and a maximum expanded
uncertainty of 0,000 2 mm, when calculated with a confidence level of 95 % over its working range.

4.2.6 The testing cycle shall be timed with an uncertainty less than  ±0,5  s and shall conform to the
testing cycle of Clause 5.

4.3 Calibration diamond indenter

4.3.1 The geometric shape and performance of calibration diamond indenters shall be calibrated as
defined below. Direct verification of the geometric shape shall be made before first use and at a frequency
of no greater than five years. Verification of the indenter performance, as specified in 4.3.3, shall be made
before first use and at a frequency of no greater than 12 months.

4.3.2 The diamond indenter shall be measured on at least eight unique axial section planes equidistant
from each other (e.g. the eight cross-sections will be spaced approximately 22,5° apart at 0°, 22,5°, 45°,
67,5°, 90°, 112,5°, 135°, 157,5°), and shall meet the following requirements:

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a) The cone angle shall be measured adjacent to the blend. The diamond cone shall have a mean included
angle of (120 ± 0,1)°. In each measured axial section, the included angle shall be (120 ± 0,17)°.
b) The mean deviation from straightness of the generatrix of the diamond cone adjacent to the blend
shall not exceed 0,000  5  mm over a minimum length of 0,4  mm. In each measured section, the
deviation shall not exceed 0,000 7 mm.
c) The radius of the spherical tip of the diamond shall be measured adjacent to the blend. The tip shall
have a mean radius of (0,200 ± 0,005) mm. In each measured section, the radius shall be within
(0,200 ± 0,007) mm and local deviations from a true radius shall not exceed 0,002 mm.
NOTE The tip of the diamond indenter is usually not truly spherical, but often varies in radius across
its surface. Depending on the crystallographic orientation of the diamond stone with respect to the indenter
axis, diamond tends to preferentially polish away more easily or with more difficulty at the tip, producing an
increasingly flat or sharp surface in the central indenter axis region. The sphericity of the diamond tip can be
better evaluated by measuring multiple measurement windows of varying width. The measurement window
would be bounded by widths measured along a line normal to the indenter axis. For example, the following
window sizes can be evaluated:

— between ±80 µm from the indenter axis;

— between ±60 µm from the indenter axis;

— between ±40 µm from the indenter axis.

d) The surfaces of the cone and the spherical tip shall blend in a smooth tangential manner. The
location where the spherical tip and the cone of the diamond blend together will vary depending on
the values of the tip radius and cone angle. Ideally for a perfect indenter geometry, the blend point
is located at 100 µm from the indenter axis measured along a line normal to the indenter axis. To
avoid including the blend area in the measurement of the tip radius and cone angle, the portion of
the diamond surface between 90 µm and 110 µm should be ignored.
e) The inclination of the axis of the diamond cone to the axis of the indenter holder (normal to the
seating surface) shall be within 0,3°.

4.3.3 Calibration diamond indenters shall be performance verified by performing comparison tests with
reference diamond indenter(s) that meet the requirements of Annex C. Calibration diamond indenters
can be verified for use on either regular or superficial Rockwell diamond scales or both. The test blocks
used for the comparison testing shall meet the requirements of Clause 3 and be calibrated at the hardness
levels given in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, or Table 4, depending on the scales for which the indenter is
verified. The testing shall be carried out in accordance with ISO 6508-1:2015.
NOTE The alternate hardness levels given in Table 2 are provided to accommodate indenters calibrated to other
International Standards. It is believed that calibrations conducted to Table 1 or Table 2 will yield equivalent results.

For each block, the mean hardness value of three indentations made using the calibration diamond
indenter to be verified shall not differ from the mean hardness value of three indentations obtained
with a reference diamond indenter by more than ±0,4 Rockwell units. The indentations made with the
calibration diamond indenter to be verified and with the reference diamond indenter should be adjacent.

Table 1 — Hardness levels for indenters to be used for calibrating Rockwell regular and
superficial scale test blocks (A, C, D, and N)

Scale Nominal hardness Ranges

HRC 23 20 to 26
HRC 55 52 to 58
HR45N 43 40 to 46
HR15N 91 88 to 94

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Table 2 — Alternate hardness levels for indenters to be used for calibrating Rockwell regular
and superficial scale test blocks (A, C, D, and N)

Scale Nominal hardness Ranges

HRC 25 22 to 28
HRC 63 60 to 65
HR30N 64 60 to 69
HR15N 91 88 to 94

Table 3 — Hardness levels for indenters to be used for calibrating Rockwell regular scale test
blocks only (A, C, and D)

Scale Nominal hardness Ranges

HRC 25 22 to 28
HRC 45 42 to 50
HRC 63 60 to 65
HRA 81 78 to 84

Table 4 — Hardness levels for indenters to be used for calibrating Rockwell superficial scale
test blocks only (N)

Scale Nominal hardness Ranges

HR15N 91 88 to 94
HR30N 64 60 to 69
HR30N 46 42 to 50
HR45N 25 22 to 29

4.4 Calibration ball indenter

4.4.1 The calibration tungsten carbide composite ball shall be replaced at a frequency no greater
than 12 months.

4.4.2 Calibration tungsten carbide composite balls shall meet the requirements of ISO 6508-2:2015,
with the exception of the following tolerances for the ball diameter:

— ±0,002 mm for the ball of diameter 1,587 5 mm;

— ±0,003 mm for the ball of diameter 3,175 mm.

5 Calibration procedure

5.1 The reference blocks shall be calibrated in a calibration machine as described in Clause 4, at a
temperature of (23 ± 5) °C, using the general procedure described in ISO 6508-1:2015.

During calibration, the thermal drift should not exceed 1 °C.

5.2 The velocity of the indenter, when it comes into contact with the surface, shall not exceed 1 mm/s.

The velocity of the indenter, when it comes into contact with the surface, should not exceed 0,3 mm/s
for undamped systems.

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