Proceq Equotip Piccolo 2, Equotip Bambino 2 Operating Instructions Manual

Operating Instructions

Portable Metal Hardness Tester

Piccolink Software (only for Piccolo 2)

Made in Switzerland

... more than 50 years of know-how you can measure!

Made in Switzerland

U.S. Patent No. 8,074,496

© 2016 by Proceq SA 2

Table of Contents

Equotip Piccolo 2
Equotip Bambino 2

1. Safety and Liability

1.1. Safety and Usage Precautions 4

1.2. Liability and Warranty 4

1.3. Safety Instructions 4

1.4. Labelling 4

2. Tutorial 5

2.1. Principle 5

2.2. Sample Preparations 5

2.3. Testing Procedure 5

2.4. Testing light Samples 6

2.5. Testing curved Surfaces 6

3. Overview 7

3.1. Application Examples 7

3.2. Product Version and Accessories 7

3.3. Device Overview 8

3.4. Function Keys 8

3.5. Basic Settings 9

3.6. Programming Advanced Settings 10

4. Getting Started 11

4.1. Power on/off 11

4.2. Auto Shutdown 11

4.3. Charging the Battery 11

4.4. Performance Check 12

5. Settings 13

5.1. Hardness Scales 13

5.2. Material Groups 13

5.3. Compensation of non-vertical Impact Direction 15

5.4. Tensile Strength (Equotip Piccolo 2 only) 15

5.5. Custom Conversion Curves (Equotip Piccolo 2 only) 15

6. Advanced Settings 16

6.1. Using the DL Accessory Kit 16

6.2. Shore Conversion Standard 16

6.3. Lock Settings (Equotip Piccolo 2 only) 17

6.4. Fixed Number of Impacts (Equotip Piccolo 2 only) 17

6.5. Impact Counters (Equotip Piccolo 2 only) 17

7. Data Evaluation 18

7.1. Statistics 18

7.2. PC Application Software Piccolink (Equotip Piccolo 2 only) 18

8. Technical Specifications 19

8.1. General 19

8.2. Standards and Guidelines applied 19

© 2016 by Proceq SA 3

9. Part Numbers and Accessories 20

10. Maintenance and Support 21

10.1. Regular Device Checks 21

10.2. Firmware Update 21

10.3. Cleaning 21

10.4. Storage 21

10.5. Updating the Equotip Piccolo 2 / Bambino 2 Device Firmware 21

11. Troubleshooting 22

11.1. Battery 22

11.2. Empty Display 22

11.3. Reset 22

11.4. Incorrect Measurements or failed Performance Check 23

11.5. Error Messages 23

Piccolink Software (only for Piccolo 2) 24

1. Safety and Liability 24

1.1. Safety and Usage Precautions 24

1.2. Liability and the “Software License Agreement” 24

2. Installing the Piccolink Software 24

2.1. Installing Piccolink 24

2.2. Installing the USB Driver 25

2.3. Establishing Connection between Device and Computer 25

3. Using the Piccolink Software 26

3.1. Application Examples 26

3.2. Launching Piccolink 26

3.3. Editing Data 27

3.4. Deleting Data 27

3.5. Exporting Data 27

3.6. Remote Control 27

3.7. Lock device 28

3.8. Exit Software and Connection 28

4. Device Settings 29

4.1. Impact Counters 29

4.2. Fixed Number of Impacts 29

4.3. Custom Conversion Curves 29

4.4. Shore Conversion Standard 30

4.5. Impact body D / DL 30

5. Troubleshooting 31

5.1. Uninstall default Drivers to install supplied USB Drivers 31

5.2. Disconnection of the Data Connection 31

5.3. Support 31

5.4. System Requirements 31

© 2016 by Proceq SA 4

Equotip Piccolo 2
Equotip Bambino 2

1. Safety and Liability

1.1. Safety and Usage Precautions

This manual contains important information on the safety, use and maintenance of the Equotip Pic­colo 2 / Bambino 2. Read through the manual carefully before the first use of the instrument. Keep
the manual in a safe place for future reference.

1.2. Liability and Warranty

Proceq’s “General Terms and Conditions of Sale and Delivery” apply in all cases. Warranty and li­ability claims arising from personal injury and damage to property cannot be upheld if they are due to
one or more of the following causes:

• Failure to use the instrument in accordance with its designated use as described in this manual.

• Incorrect performance check for operation and maintenance of the instrument and its compo­nents.

• Failure to adhere to the sections of the manual dealing with the performance check, operation
and maintenance of the instrument and its components.

• Unauthorized structural modifications to the instrument and its components.

• Serious damage resulting from the effects of foreign bodies, accidents, vandalism and force
majeure.

All information contained in this documentation is presented in good faith and believed to be correct.
Proceq SA makes no warranties and excludes all liability as to the completeness and/or accuracy of
the information.

1.3. Safety Instructions

The instrument is not allowed to be operated by children or anyone under the influence of alcohol,
drugs or pharmaceutical preparations. Anyone who is not familiar with this manual must be super­vised when using the instrument.

1.4. Labelling

The following icons are used in conjunction with all important safety notes used in this manual.

Danger: This symbol indicates a risk of serious or fatal injury in the event that certain
rules of behaviour are disregarded

i

Note:

This symbol indicates important information.

© 2016 by Proceq SA 5

2. Tutorial

2.1. Principle

During measurement with Piccolo 2 / Bambino 2, an impact body with a hard metal ball indenter is
launched by spring energy against the sample to be measured, and then rebounds. Before and after
the impact, a permanent magnet inside the impact body passes through a coil in which a voltage
signal V is induced by the forwards and backwards movement. This induction signal behaves pro­portionally to the velocities. The ratio of the rebound velocity v

r

to the impact velocity vi multiplied by
1000 yields the hardness value HL (Leeb hardness). HL is a direct measure of the hardness. While
HLD refers to testing with the D device version (impact body 27 mm long, flat support ring), HLDL
refers to testing with the slim front section of the DL Accessory Kit (impact body 82 mm long, support
ring with slim long front section).

2.2. Sample Preparations

Keep the sample free of vibrations during the test. Light and thin parts must be specially fastened
(see “Testing light samples”). Ensure that the surface of the work piece is clean, smooth and dry. If
required, use appropriate cleaning agents for cleaning, such as acetone or isopropanol (no water!).

• Minimum sample weight
With a compact shape 5 kg (11 lbs)
On a solid base 2 kg (4.5 lbs)
Coupled to solid base 0.1 kg (0.25 lbs)

• Minimum sample thickness
Uncoupled 25 mm (1 inch)
Coupled 3 mm (1/8 inch)
Layer thickness 0.8 mm (1/32 inch)

• Sample surface condition
Roughness class ISO N7
Maximum roughness depth Rt 10 μm
Average roughness depth Ra 2 μm

• Maximum sample hardness 890 HLD (~ 950 HLDL, ~ 955 HV, ~ 68 HRC)

2.3. Testing Procedure

• Select a hardness unit (see section “Settings”).

• Select automatic compensation for impact directions other than vertical

down ( ), when testing in HLD / HLDL.

• Press  to select the averaging mode AVE ( ).

• Conduct testing impacts by cycling through the “1. load – 2. position – 3, trigger” mechanism.

1. The impact device – when not in contact with the test piece – is held firmly with one hand and
the charging tube is depressed with the other hand until contact is felt. The charging tube is
allowed to slowly return to the starting position. Alternatively, this loading movement can be
performed in position after an impact (before the device is moved to a new position), or on any
other location that shall not be tested later on.

2. Position the support ring on the test piece. Take particular care to wholly seat the ring on the
test piece, but not coinciding with a previous test indentation.

3. To trigger an impact, push the actuation tube in the direction of the housing. After approx. 1
mm (0.04 inch), the impact body is released.

• After the last impact of a series, press the key  repeatedly to display the hardness average and,

in case of the Equotip Piccolo 2, further statistics of the measurement.

© 2016 by Proceq SA 6

i

Note:

If possible, follow the standard practice of rebound hardness testing as described
in the national standards DIN 50156-1 (metallic materials) or ASTM A956 (steel, cast
steel and cast iron only). If not possible, the user is recommended to carry out at least
3 to 5 impacts at intervals of 3 to 5 mm (0.12 to 0.20 inch) at each measuring location
and to use the average of the individual values.

i

Note:

Do not carry out an impact in an area that has already been deformed by another
impact. Also, do not load the device when it is already positioned in the new test
location, since the material under the device may be affected through prior stress.

2.4. Testing light Samples

In case samples are lighter than 2 kg or sample sections have unfavourable mass distribution, sam­ples can go into vibration as the impact body hits the test point. This results in unwanted energy
absorption and thereby distorts the test result. Therefore, samples below 5 kg should always be sup­ported by solid worktops. If the mass falls below 2 kg but still exceeds 0.1 kg, “coupling” the sample
to a larger mass can help to prevent vibrations, where a rigid connection between the sample and a
solid support is ensured.

The following requirements must be met for coupling:

• The contact surface of the sample and the surface of the solid support must be level, flat and
ground smooth.

• The sample must be at least 3 mm (0.12 inch) thick.

Follow the coupling procedure:

• Apply a thin layer of coupling paste to the contact surface of the sample.

• Press the sample firmly against the support.

• Rub the sample against the support in a circular motion.

Do the impact as usual, where the impact must be carried out vertically to the coupled surface.

2.5. Testing curved Surfaces

The device only works properly when the impact body is precisely at the end of the tube at the mo­ment of impact. When concave or convex surfaces are tested, the impact body either does not en­tirely leave the test tube or comes out too far. Replace the standard support ring by a specially suited
ring to do the testing (see “Accessories” or contact your local Proceq representative).

© 2016 by Proceq SA 7

3. Overview

The Equotip Piccolo 2 / Bambino 2 is used for testing the hardness typically of metallic surfaces.
The tester measures the Leeb hardness HLD (HLDL with DL Accessory Kit), employing the rebound
method. As a result of its compact design, measurements can be carried out quickly, on the spot and
in any position and direction. Conversions of the determined HLD or HLDL hardness to different hard­ness scales are provided to Brinell (HB), Vickers (HV), Rockwell (HRB, HRC) and Shore (HS).

3.1. Application Examples

• Hardness tests on already assembled machines or steel and cast constructions.

• Testing of metallic workpieces when the test indentation should be as small as possible.

• Quality control measurements for quick determination of a particular heat treatment condition.

• Fast testing of numerous measuring points to examine the change of hardness over large areas.

• Automated testing (Piccolo 2 only)

Caution:

Other applications could be dangerous. The manufacturer is not liable for damage
caused by improper use or incorrect operation.

3.2. Product Version and Accessories

Equotip Bambino 2

• Instrument with the basic functions

In addition, Equotip Piccolo 2 offers:

• Additional Piccolink PC Software for documented testing incl. statistics

• Testing of special materials using customer-specific hardness conversions

• Conversion to tensile strength for steel (Rm)

• Extended statistics function

• Lock device function to prevent unwanted changes of settings

• Fixed number of impacts where the number of tests per test series can be configured

• (Real-time) Transfer of data to PC or notebook via the USB interface needed in serial production

Equotip Piccolo 2 / Bambino 2 with Equotip DL Accessory Kit only:

• Testing in confined spaces and on recessed surfaces

i

Note:

The Equotip Piccolo 2 has a dark, the Bambino 2 has a light grey housing bottom.

© 2016 by Proceq SA 8

3.3. Device Overview

3.4. Function Keys

Key Functions

 «CANC»

• Deletes the last impact.

• Navigates to the previous menu option.

 «FEED»

• Starts / Terminates measurement series.

• Navigates to the next menu option.

 «MENU»

• Navigates to the next menu level.

• Confirms selection in resp. menu level.

 «CANC» &  «MENU» for at least 2 seconds • Enter advanced settings menu

© 2016 by Proceq SA 9

3.5. Basic Settings

Use key to cancel current reading

*

with impact body DL:

Applies to Piccolo 2 only

Confirm by pressing

key

Menu key gets you

to next lower level

HLD / HLDL uncorrected

HLD / HLDL corrected for impact direction

Material Select Level

Class Select Level

Impact Level

Scroll to proper conversion using

keys

Material group

Tensile

strength

Custom

curve

When entering conversion level

by mistake, just trigger next

impact. Old selection remains.

Conversion Level

Display

Selection Level

Hardness Leeb

without with

correction of direction

Scroll to proper conversion using keys

*

Use key to start / end

measurement series

Hardness scale HLD (D front section)

Hardness scale HLDL (DL front section)

...

...

...

© 2016 by Proceq SA 10

3.6. Programming Advanced Settings

Press simultaneously for at least 2 seconds

Scroll using

keys

Scroll using

keys

Return to previous view

Confirm by pressing

key

Impact body

Conversion standard Lock / unlock

Impact number fixed

Applies to Piccolo 2 only

Confirm by pressing

key