Erichsen TBE-430P Scratch Hardness Tester

Purpose and Application

The motor-driven Scratch Hardness Tester 430 P-Smart is a universal testing instrument designed for carrying out a wide range of tests on varnished and plastic surfaces to determine their resistance to scratches and cuts.

Single cuts, parallel cuts and - by turning the specimen by 90° - cross-cuts can be applied to test panels of various thicknesses.

The Scratch Hardness Tester 430 P-Smart is particularly provided for adhesion tests using the cross hatch cut method (in accordance with all mostly required standards) and for specific plastics tests according with Opel (scratch resistance and writing effect). For these as well as for further tests numerous setting possibilites on the basic instrument and a large variety of test tools are available.

Using the Scratch Hardness Tester 430 P-Smart, series testing can be conducted with much greater ease. The results of testing are reproducible and well-defined.

Design and Function

The Scratch Hardness Tester 430 PSmart is a benchtop instrument of sound mechanical construction which provides reliable, well-defined cuts, even under extreme test conditions. By default, the machine is equipped with a protective cover. The device is operated via touch panel (automatic menu navigation).

The test procedure is carried out automatically and all parameters (cutting speed, cutting stroke, crosscut pattern) can be set using the keyboard. Each motion sequence (transport of test panel, cut positioning and any required pressure adjustment) is driven by a separate step motor.

During the test the specimen is conveyed linearly and at a constant speed under the test tip which has been set at the required pressure load (max.40 N). A transmission guide ensures that the test tip is lowered onto the test panel as defined. The scope of supply includes two control plates for different cross-cut patterns which can be easily interchanged.

With Model 430 P-Smart parallel cross hatch cuts with graduated test forces are possible. After carrying out the first cross hatch cut the instrument can be stopped and the test force (up to 50 N) can be ad-justed individually before starting the next test track.Theoretically, 80 test tracks with a distance of 0.5 mm of different test forces are possible within the pre-selected cross hatch cut programme.

The Scratch Hardness Tester 430 PSmart is power-driven and obtainable in four versions - with manual or with motor-driven force regulation and with manual or motor-driven test
panel turn. On the manual version it is a simple matter to adjust the test force to the exact
pressure. The instrument with motor-driven force regulation provides the additional benefit of conducting a trial run with gradually increasing force. In this way, the force required to achieve a through cut can be automatically ascertained in the course of a "trial cut".

A 6-piece weight set is available as an optional accessory for conducting special tests in the lower pressure range and enables cuts with test forces in the range (1 - 15) N - graduated in 1-N steps.

Special Features

• 2 cutting speeds and 2 cutting lengths which can be combined as required
• 9 preset cross-cuts in compliance with the most commonly used standards
• 1 freely programmable cross-cut pattern for special applications
• Setting for cut distance with step motor precision
• "Stop"-option within the cross hatch cutting mode, for individually changing the test force for the next scratch track of the concerning current cross-cut pattern
• Visual display upon cutting through insulating layers to metal substrate
• Rapid clamping device for test panels, with wide clamping range.