The MIC 10 operates according to the Ultrasonic Contact Impedance (UCI) method of hardness testing, and is standardized according to ASTM A 1038. The basic operating principle is that hardness is measured by detecting the frequency shift of a longitudinal oscillating rod fused to a Vickers diamond indenter. The diagonals of the indentation are not optically measured as with traditional Vickers tests, so there is no need for cumbersome optical evaluation with a microscope. Instead, the indentation area is electronically detected by measuring the frequency shift. The shift is proportional to the size of the indentation. This method enables quick and easy measurement: position probe, press to apply the test load, and read off the hardness value. MIC probes use a Vickers diamond indenter that gives you the precision to position it on a tiny point. Indentations produced by the MIC-10 are much smaller than equivalent Rockwell indentations, making this one of the least destructive portable hardness testers available. These attributes make the MIC-10 well suited to these typical applications: - Heat affected zone (HAZ) of welds - Hardness progression curves - Fine-grained materials - Heat-treated materials - Thin layers and coatings - Surface hardened parts - Thin wall pipe - Small parts Not recommended for testing coarse grained materials. One-year warranty on parts and labor. Probe kits sold separately. Made in Germany. InTech NDE offers this product for sale within western Canada only.