Equotip Portable Metal Hardness Tester

Overview
Features & Services

Equotip is a line of portable metal hardness testers made by Proceq (and others), using mainly the Leeb rebound hardness method (in many models), though there are variants that also support Portable Rockwell or UCI. The idea is to provide quick, on-site, non-destructive hardness measurements of metals, especially useful for large workpieces, assemblies, parts in place, or when moving the piece to a lab is impractical.

How it works (Leeb Rebound Principle):-

A small impact body (a test tip, often tungsten carbide, sometimes diamond or ceramic depending on probe) is propelled (spring-loaded) against the surface of the test object.
The impact body rebounds. The device measures the velocity before impact (v_i) and after rebound (v_r). The loss in velocity (i.e. energy loss due to plastic deformation) is related to the hardness: harder materials give a higher rebound (less energy lost).
The result is expressed in a “Leeb hardness value” (HL, or similar unit), which can often be converted to more traditional hardness scales (like Rockwell, Vickers, Brinell, etc.).

Features	Description
Portability	Compact, handheld or semi-handheld units with impact probes; usable in the field.
Versatility with scales	Can convert Leeb hardness to HV, HB, HRC, HRB, HRA, HS, etc.
Multiple probes / impact bodies	Different impact bodies/probes for different shapes, surface conditions, curvature, material hardness range.
Robustness	Rugged housings, sealed for dust/humidity (some IP rating like IP54 in certain models), designed for use outdoors or in harsher environments.
Large memory / data storage	Many units can store large numbers of test readings (hundreds to a million), along with date/time, material identifiers, etc.
User interface	Display screen (colour in some models), menu systems, interactive guides / prompts to assist correct usage, language support.
Connections and reporting	USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet (in some models) for downloading data, firmware updates; also apps or PC software to collect/track/readings.
Calibration and standards	Use of certified test blocks for verification; compliance with standards (ASTM, ISO, etc.)
Battery life / power	Models with rechargeable batteries or replaceable batteries; several hours of operation.
Accuracy / resolution	Usually ± some small error (e.g. ±4 HL for many Leeb units) and good resolution.