Proceq Equotip 550 Leeb Hardness Tester

Name: Proceq Equotip 550 Leeb Hardness Tester | Seven Star LLC
Brand: Proceq
SKU: Equotip 550 Leeb

A rugged touchscreen hardness tester for steel, castings and welded components

The Equotip 550 Leeb is Proceq’s portable hardness tester based on the Leeb rebound principle. An impact body with a hard metal ball indenter is shot against the sample and the ratio of rebound to impact velocity gives a Leeb value (HLx), which the instrument converts to Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell, Shore or tensile strength scales. The measurement range is 100 to 999 HLx with an accuracy of plus or minus 4 HLx, printed as 0.5 % at 850 HLx.

The 550 platform is a 7 inch capacitive touchscreen in an IP54 rugged housing with shock-absorbing casing, a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass screen and an 8 GB memory that holds more than one million measurements. Seven impact devices can be fitted: C, D, DC, DL, E, G and S, each with its own impact energy, indenter and application. This makes it a tool for plant inspectors who test forgings, pipe, pressure vessels and heavy castings where a stationary bench hardness tester cannot go.

Main features from the manufacturer

Leeb rebound hardness with probes C, D, DC, DL, E, G and S
7 inch color capacitive touchscreen, IP54, shock-absorbing casing
Automatic compensation for impact direction, except the DL probe
Measurement, verification and mapping wizards
Custom conversion curves (1-point, 2-point, polynomial) and built-in PDF creator
8 GB memory, more than one million measurements
Accredited calibration to ISO/IEC 17025 available

Technical specifications

Parameter	Specification
Principle	Leeb rebound hardness (HLx)
Native scale	HLx, with x = C, D, DC, DL, E, G, S
Conversion scales	HB, HV, HRA, HRB, HRC, HS, MPa (sigma 1, 2, 3)
Measurement range	100 to 999 HLx
Indenter	Tungsten carbide (D, DL, DC, G, C); polycrystalline diamond (E); silicon nitride (S)
Impact energy	90 Nmm (G); 11 Nmm (D, DC, DL, S, E); 3 Nmm (C)
Resolution	1 HLx, HV, HB; 0.1 HRC, HRB, HS; 1 N/mm2 (Rm)
Accuracy	+/- 4 HLx (0.5 % at 850 HLx)
Standard compliance	ASTM A956; DIN EN ISO 16859; GB/T 17394; JB/T 9378
Conversion standards	ASTM E140; ISO 18265; DL/T 1845 (Leeb D only); Proceq curves
Display	7 inch color capacitive touchscreen
Protection	IP54; Gorilla Glass screen; foldable screen cover
Memory	8 GB internal flash
Connectivity	Ethernet and USB-B (PC), USB-A, probe-specific slots
Battery	3.6 V Li-Ion, 14000 mAh; more than 10 h standard operation; power input 12 V +/- 25 % / 1.5 A
Dimensions / weight	250 x 162 x 62 mm / 1525 g with battery
Operating temperature	-10 to +50°C
Certification	CE, KC, FCC
Languages	13 including English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Japanese

Choosing the Leeb impact device

The test conditions below are taken from the operating instructions (2017 edition). They are the quickest check of whether a part is suitable for the D probe, the G probe or the fine-surface C probe.

Code position	Options
Surface, max roughness Rt	D, DC, DL, S, E: 10 um (Ra 2 um); G: 30 um (Ra 7 um); C: 2.5 um (Ra 0.4 um)
Minimum mass, compact shape	D etc. 5 kg; G 15 kg; C 1.5 kg
Minimum mass, on solid support	D etc. 2 kg; G 5 kg; C 0.5 kg
Minimum mass, coupled	D etc. 0.05 kg; G 0.5 kg; C 0.02 kg
Minimum thickness, uncoupled / coupled	D etc. 25 mm / 3 mm; G 70 mm / 10 mm; C 15 mm / 1 mm
Distance to edge / between indentations	D etc. 5 mm / 3 mm; G 8 mm / 4 mm; C 4 mm / 2 mm

Installation and operating notes

Run the verification wizard on the supplied test block before measuring. A daily performance check is also required by the hardness standards listed in the manual.

Light or thin parts must be coupled to a heavy support with a thin layer of coupling paste, pressed firmly against a level, flat and smooth surface. Clamping can strain the sample and change the reading.

For concave or convex surfaces fit the special support ring named in the ordering information, because the ball indenter otherwise does not leave the tube at the right point. Take several impacts per location and average them.

Hardness testing in oil, gas and fabrication

Typical jobs are checking heat-treated shafts and gear parts, verifying hardness of weld and heat-affected zones when the geometry allows, sorting material grades, and checking large castings and forgings in a workshop or on site. Leeb testing is quick, but it needs the surface preparation and sample mass in the table above.

The operating instructions are the 2017 edition, so compare the details with the current Proceq documentation before ordering a particular probe or software feature. This is a reminder to check the document edition.

Information to send with an RFQ for the Proceq Equotip 550 Leeb

To quote the right Equotip 550 Leeb configuration, send these details.

Probe type or types (C, D, DC, DL, E, G, S) and the materials to be tested
Part size, mass and surface condition
Need for accredited ISO/IEC 17025 calibration and test blocks
Combination with UCI or Portable Rockwell probes if required

Calibration and field notes

Check the impact device on a certified test block before each series of tests, as described in the manual, and record the results. On hot surfaces in summer, check the allowed sample temperature, and prepare the test surface to the roughness given in the manual.

Store the instrument in its case.

Frequently asked questions

What range does the Equotip 550 Leeb measure?

100 to 999 HLx, with conversion to HB, HV, HRA, HRB, HRC, HS and tensile strength scales.

Which probes can be connected?

Leeb impact devices C, D, DC, DL, E, G and S.

What is the accuracy?

Plus or minus 4 HLx, given as 0.5 % at 850 HLx.

What is the protection class?

IP54, with a shock-absorbing casing and Gorilla Glass screen protection.

Which standards does it comply with?

ASTM A956, DIN EN ISO 16859, GB/T 17394 and JB/T 9378.

Instruments for concrete and structure assessment

Proceq documentation describes uses such as estimating concrete strength with rebound hammers, mapping rebar cover, testing pile integrity, finding voids and delaminations with ultrasound, measuring concrete resistivity and checking coating adhesion. Many current instruments pair a sensor with an iPad or smartphone app, and the datasheets state ranges, accuracy and applicable standards such as EN 12504 and ASTM C1383.

Frequently Asked Questions