| Scale Symbol |
Indenter Type
Ball dimensions indicate diameter |
Preliminary Force
N (kgf) |
Total Force
N (kgf) |
Typical Application |
| A |
Spheroconical Diamond |
98.07 (10) |
588.4 (60) |
Cemented carbides, thin steel and shallow case hardened steel |
| B |
Ball 1/16″ (1.588mm) |
98.07 (10) |
980.7 (100) |
Copper alloys, soft steels, alum. Alloys, malleable iron, etc. |
| C |
Spheroconical Diamond |
98.07 (10) |
1471 (150) |
Steel, hard cast irons,pearltic malleable iron, titanium, deep case hardened steel & other material harder than HRB 100 |
| D |
Spheroconical Diamond |
98.07 (10) |
980.7 (100 |
Thin steel and medium case hardened steel and pearlitic malleable iron |
| E |
Ball – 1/8″ (3.175mm) |
98.07 (10) |
980.7 (100 |
Cast iron, aluminum&magnesium alloys and bearing metals |
| F |
Ball – 1/16″ (1.588mm) |
98.07 (10) |
588.4 (60) |
Annealed copper alloys, and thin soft sheet metals |
| G |
Ball – 1/16″ (1.588mm) |
98.07 (10) |
1471 (150) |
Malleable irons, copper-nckel-zinc and cupronickel alloys |
| H |
Ball – 1/8″ (3.175mm) |
98.07 (10) |
588.4 (60) |
Aluminum, zinc and lead |
| K |
Ball – 1/8″ (3.175mm) |
98.07 (10) |
1471 (150) |
Bearing metals and other very soft or thin materials. Use smallest ball and heaviest load that does not give anvil effect |
| L |
Ball – 1/4″ (6.350mm) |
98.07 (10) |
588.4 (60) |
| M |
Ball – 1/4″ (6.350mm) |
98.07 (10) |
980.7 (100) |
| P |
Ball – 1/4″ (6.350mm) |
98.07 (10) |
1471 (150) |
| R |
Ball – 1/2″ (12.70mm) |
98.07 (10) |
588.4 (60) |
| S |
Ball – 1/2″ (12.70mm) |
98.07 (10) |
980.7 (100) |
| V |
Ball – 1/2″ (12.70mm) |
98.07 (10) |
1471 (150) |
