USA, FL, November 8, 2024 – Qualitest is proud to introduce the Automatic Durometer and Hardness tester for O-Rings and Rubber / Elastomer Samples or Laser Revolution Hardness Check-Drive to North America in collaboration with Gibitre Instruments. Designed for high-precision hardness testing, this latest innovation uses a laser-centering system to streamline sample positioning, reducing manual intervention and delivering consistent results across diverse rubber and O-ring samples.
Supporting Shore and IRHD standards, it provides automatic sample alignment with a rotating holder, ensuring faster, more reliable tests. The integrated software offers seamless SQL database storage, barcode scanning, and Industry 4.0 compatibility for a complete quality control solution.
Precision Laser Centering for Consistent Accuracy
A key innovation of the Laser Revolution Hardness Check-Drive is its Class 2 laser-centering system that provides sample alignment at a precise 0.002 mm resolution. Combined with a sample positioning disk capable of setting test piece positions within 0.005 mm, this system ensures extremely accurate and repeatable hardness measurements.
For products like O-rings, where precise positioning can be challenging due to their small diameter and rounded shape, the laser-centering system provides unparalleled accuracy and reliability. This advanced alignment capability minimizes the need for manual adjustments and reduces human error, supporting consistent, reliable quality control results across applications.
Versatility Across Hardness Scales: Meeting Diverse Industry Needs
The Laser Revolution Hardness Check-Drive is built for precision and adaptability, supporting a wide range of hardness scales—such as Shore, IRHD, and VLRH. This flexibility allows companies to use the same device for various materials, from soft rubber to hard elastomers, eliminating the need for separate testing equipment.
A quick-coupling system enables seamless switching between Shore A, Shore D, and IRHD Micro scales, saving time while maintaining alignment and accuracy. The advanced laser centering system, which operates with extreme precision, positions samples automatically without human intervention, enabling consistent measurements even on small, challenging parts, like O-rings or components between 1 and 12 mm in size.
With its ability to test multiple hardness scales, the Check-Drive fulfills requirements for compliance with industry standards such as: ISO 48-2, ISO 48-3, ISO 48-4, ISO 868, ASTM D2240, ASTM D1414, and ASTM D1415.
It’s ideal for applications like mold approval, statistical control of finished parts, and testing of hard-to-center components, providing reliable data in industries where precision and standard compliance are paramount.
Automation and Efficiency for High-Throughput Environments
The Check-Drive’s rotating sample holder and automated serial testing capabilities transform it into a productivity powerhouse for laboratories and production floors with high testing volumes.
With minimal setup, operators can initiate serial tests across multiple samples, optimizing throughput without sacrificing accuracy. The rotating holder aligns samples efficiently, allowing companies to run consecutive tests without operator intervention, further enhancing productivity.
Ideal for industries like automotive and aerospace, the Check-Drive performs multi-point hardness testing with minimal setup, supporting all Shore and IRHD units. This automation is particularly valuable for product approval, quality control, and process capability analysis, reducing operator intervention while ensuring consistent, reliable results and maximizing operational efficiency.
Seamless Integration with Industry 4.0 for Real-Time Data and Traceability
Our latest innovation Check-Drive is designed for integration within Industry 4.0 environments, connecting easily with company management systems and enabling real-time data analysis, remote monitoring, and automated reporting. The hardness software, included with the Check-Drive, stores all test results in an SQL database, allowing for centralized data access and providing a complete audit trail of testing activities.
Operators can track test results, run statistical analyses, and use barcode scanning for quick sample identification. The software’s capacity to produce automated test reports and real-time alerts enhances traceability, a key feature for industries like automotive and medical manufacturing, where compliance and quality documentation are essential.
Furthermore, the SQL database functionality enables compatibility with cloud-based services, facilitating data access across teams and streamlining communication between departments. With these capabilities, the Check-Drive not only meets the needs of modern material testing labs but also prepares them for future technological advancements.
Long-Term Reliability and Minimal Maintenance with Ruby Indenter
The Check-Drive is built to withstand frequent use in demanding environments. Equipped with a Ruby ball indenter, Gibitre’s Check-Drive offers superior wear resistance, contributing to its sustained accuracy over time. Gibitre, the only manufacturer utilizing a ruby indenter for this purpose, ensures that the ball remains spherical and maintains a smooth surface finish, significantly reducing wear from repeated testing.
The ruby indenter’s resilience minimizes the frequency of recalibrations and reduces maintenance requirements, making the Check-Drive an economical choice for labs and manufacturing plants seeking a long-term, reliable solution.
Additionally, the optional ACCREDIA Calibration Certificate provides assurance of traceability and accuracy, meeting ISO 17025 standards and further enhancing the instrument’s reliability for companies that must adhere to stringent testing requirements.
A Step Forward for North American Quality Control
The Laser Revolution Hardness Check-Drive is now available to North American manufacturers, offering cutting-edge solutions for O-ring and rubber hardness testing. With advanced laser positioning, automated high-volume testing, and multi-scale capability, this innovative instrument meets the important needs of industries prioritizing quality and efficiency.
With this introduction, Qualitest and Gibitre aim to provide companies to meet modern manufacturing challenges and maintain a competitive edge through enhanced testing efficiency and product quality.
For more information about the Laser Revolution Hardness Check-Drive or to explore our extensive range of Durometer—Shore IRHD Hardness Tester ranges, please visit our main site or contact the QualiSales team.
