Model 316 Digital Hardness Gauge for On-Site Steel Testing (HL, HRC, HB, HV)

Ptc-instruments Portable hardness gauge for steel — Portable hardness testing of metal parts

This product is most relevant to field inspectors, fabrication shops, foundries, and QA teams who need fast instrument-based checks outside a full laboratory setup. Good use cases include incoming inspection, maintenance work, shop-floor verification, and reporting on parts that are too large, too installed, or too numerous for slower bench methods.

Accurate Metal Hardness Testing Anywhere

PTC®'s Model 316 offers precise, portable measurement of metal hardness from 20 to 65 HRC on the Rockwell C scale. Its lightweight design makes it ideal for testing large components or hard-to-reach areas without relying on stationary bench testers.

Compact, User-Friendly Design

The Model 316 features a redesigned illumination system with an aircraft-grade aluminum flashlight and fiber optic light pipe, providing bright, focused light for easy reading. Its slim microscope design allows testing in confined spaces, perfect for machine shops, heat treaters, and quality control teams.

How It Works

The unit combines a calibrated handheld indenter and a direct-reading microscope. The tungsten carbide 1/16-inch ball tip makes a small indentation on the material. The 60X microscope then measures hardness directly from the impression, offering quick, reliable results.

Applications and Advantages

Model 316 is widely used by engineers, inspectors, and shop personnel for dies, punches, gears, cutting teeth, welds, hardened bars, rods, nuts, bolts, and rivets. Users praise its portability, accuracy, and ease of use. Compared to bench testers, it saves time and allows testing of items in situ without moving heavy components.

Included Accessories

The tester comes complete with a calibrated impact indenter, illuminated microscope, calibrated test block, conversion calculator, and carrying case. Certification to ASTM E18 is available for test blocks.

The Portable Hardness Tester for Steel is widely used by metal fabricators, weld inspectors, quality control technicians, and maintenance professionals to measure the surface hardness of steel and other metal components. Industry guidance on portable hardness testing methods explains that non-destructive hardness evaluation ensures material compliance and process quality without removing parts from assemblies.

Professionals value this tester for its fast, reliable readings that support in-process quality control and field inspections. Compared with destructive testing, portable hardness testers allow on-site surface evaluation, helping maintenance teams and fabrication facilities verify steel properties efficiently, as described in this industry article on portable hardness testers.

Certification in accordance with ASTM E18 is available.

For comprehensive materials testing

The Portable Hardness Tester DHT‑200, which delivers broad‑range hardness measurement with digital display and extensive conversion scales, and the Barcol HPE II Hardness Tester, ideal for assessing rigidity in reinforced plastics and aluminum alloys per ASTM and DIN standards. For surface characterization in quality control applications, the Portable Surface Roughness Tester TR200 Plus offers advanced roughness profiling with OLED readout and comprehensive parameter support.

Technical Q&A

What metals can the Model 316 test?

It measures the hardness of various steel and metal alloys within the 20–65 HRC range on the Rockwell C scale.

Is the tester suitable for field use?

Yes, its portable design and carrying case make it ideal for on-site testing of large or fixed components.

What comes included with the Model 316?

The kit includes a calibrated impact indenter, illuminated microscope, calibrated test block, conversion calculator, and carrying case.

Can I get certification for the test blocks?

Yes, certification in accordance with ASTM E18 can be provided for calibrated test blocks.

How precise is the measurement?

The 60X microscope and direct-reading reticle ensure accurate and reliable hardness measurements for industrial applications.

Application Q&A

Where is this kind of instrument commonly used?

It is commonly used in manufacturing, repair, asset integrity, and quality assurance where rapid screening or repeat verification is needed.

Who gets the most benefit?

Field inspectors, fabrication shops, foundries, and qa teams benefit most when they need portable, repeatable measurements close to the workpiece rather than sending every part to a separate lab.

Because it combines 316.29H Test Block (50 thru 65 HRC), 316.29L Test Block (40 thru 49 HRC), 316.29S Test Block (30 thru 39 HRC), this instrument is well suited to portable hardness testing of metal parts in field and shop-floor environments.