
Versitron Operation Manual
73
10.0
REFERENCE TABLES, ASTM E18
10.1
Rockwell Scale Reference Table
Scale
Symbol
Indenter
Major
Load
Dial
Figures,
kgf
Typical Application of Scales
B
1/16-in. (1.588mm) ball 100
Red
Copper alloys, soft steels, aluminum alloys, malleable iron, etc.
C
diamond 150
Black
Steel, hard cast irons, pearlitic malleable iron, titanium, deep
case hardened steel and other materials harder than B 100.
A
diamond
60
Black
Cemented carbides, thin steel, shallow case-hardened steel.
D
diamond 100
Black
Thin steel and medium case hardened steel, and pearlitic
malleable iron.
E
1/8-in. (3.175-mm) ball 100
Red
Cast iron, aluminum and magnesium alloys, bearing metals.
F
1/16-in. (1.588-mm) ball 60
Red
Annealed copper alloys, thin soft sheet metals.
G
1/16-in. (1.588-mm) ball 150
Red
Malleable irons, copper-nickel-zinc and cupro-nickel alloys.
H
1/8-in. (3.175-mm) ball 60
Red
Aluminum, zinc. lead.
K
1/8-in. (3.175-mm) ball 150
Red
L
¼-in. (6.350-mm) ball
60
Red
Bearing metals and other very soft or thin materials. Use
smallest ball and heaviest load that does not give anvil
effect.
M
¼-in. (6.350-mm) ball
100
Red
P
¼-in. (6.350-mm) ball
150
Red
R
½-in. (12.70-mm) ball
60
Red
S
½-in. (12.70-mm) ball
100
Red
V
½-in. (12.70-mm) ball
150
Red
10.2
Minimum Thickness
NOTE—For a given thickness, any hardness greater than that corresponding to that thickness can be tested. For a given hardness, material of any greater thickness than
that cor- responding to that hardness can be tested on the indicated scale.
*These approximate hardness numbers are for use in selecting a suitable scale and should not be used as hardness conversions. If necessary to convert test readings to
another scale, refer to the ASTM Standard Hardness Conversion Tables E 140 for Metals (Relationship Between Brinell Hardness, Vickers Hardness, Rockwell
Hardness, Rockwell Superfi- cial Hardness, and Knoop Hardness.)
Charts reprinted from ASTM Handbook