The UCI hardness tester PCE-3000 can be used to quickly check the hardness of components even when installed. The device impresses with its large measuring range, easy handling, robust design and temperature resistance down to -20°C / -4°F. In addition to the hardness in Rockwell, Brinell and Vickers, the UCI hardness tester can also be used to determine the tensile strength of steels up to 1740 MPa. The UCI hardness tester has a manual test probe with a test force of 50 N / 11.2 lbs as standard; this probe can be used for measurements from all directions in space without a correction factor.

Another advantage of the hardness tester is its NDT property. There is a Vickers diamond at the probe tip, which is excited in the ultrasonic frequency range. If the diamond touches the specimen surface during the hardness test, the vibration is dampened. The resulting frequency shift is directly related to the surface hardness of the test piece. Due to the low test forces, the penetration depths of the diamond are very small, which is why only an almost invisible impression remains.

The UCI hardness tester is therefore used for checking small, thin-walled components, for surface-hardened test specimens or for nitrided components. The hardness tester has also proven itself in the measurement of weld seams and control of components with complex geometry.