UCI Hardness Tester NOVOTEST T-U3
Industrial inspection equipment
Overview
The NOVOTEST T-U3 UCI Hardness Tester is a portable instrument designed to measure the hardness of metal components using Ultrasonic Contact Impedance technology. It is suitable for inspection applications involving small parts, thin sections, complex geometries and surface-hardened materials where conventional dynamic hardness testing may not be appropriate. The UCI method uses a vibrating rod with a diamond indenter to evaluate hardness through changes in ultrasonic contact impedance. The T-U3 is available with different test forces, including 10 N, 50 N and 98 N, allowing buyers to select a suitable probe configuration for their inspection requirements. The instrument supports common hardness scales, including Vickers (HV), Brinell (HB) and Rockwell (HRC), with additional calibration options for specific materials and scales. The T-U3 is particularly relevant to Indian manufacturers, automotive component suppliers, precision engineering companies, heat treatment facilities and quality-control laboratories. It can be considered for hardness inspection of gears, shafts, thin-walled components, surface-hardened parts and other suitable metal products. Its portable design allows measurements to be taken at the production site, workshop or inspection location. The instrument offers measurement statistics, histogram and graph functions, as well as data storage and computer connectivity. These features can assist inspection teams in recording results and reviewing measurement sets. However, the appropriate test force, surface preparation and calibration procedure should be established according to the material and applicable testing requirements. Before purchasing the NOVOTEST T-U3 in India, buyers should confirm the required UCI test force, hardness range, component thickness, surface finish and calibration requirements. Probe selection is especially important for thin sections and small components. If your inspection process requires additional reference blocks, protective accessories or data-transfer options, include them in the enquiry.
Key Highlights
- Hardness measurement of any mass products with a thickness more than 1 mm – inaccessible to the dynamic (Leeb) hardness testers (small parts thin-walled structures pipes tanks steel sheets articles of complex shape hardness control of metal coatings etc.)
- Measuring the hardness of the surface hardened layer
- Small imprint after measuring (mirror surfaces of shafts necks blades gear teeth etc.)
- Wide range of hardness testing
- Various measurement modes
- Calibration of any scale in any range
- Convenience and ease for measurement
- Optimized number of buttons
- Large full color graphic display with bright back-lighting
- Calibrations stored in memory of probe
- Extended temperature range (frost down to – 40°C)
- Internal memory and communication with PC
- New intuitive menu with tips on the buttons
- Optional wireless mini printer
- Water resistant case
- Rubber protected bumper
- Has different operating modes:
- Graph – the mode of building of graph
- Histogram – the mode of building of histogram
- Statistics – the mode of statistic
- Smart – the mode of filtering of incorrect measurements
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Technical Specifications
| Measurement Method | UCI (Ultrasonic Contact Impedance) |
| Hardness Scales | HV, HB, HRC, HRA, HRB, HS |
| Measurement Range | 200-960 HV |
| Accuracy | ±3 HV |
| Test Force | 10 N (1 kgf) |
| Min. Thickness | 1 mm |
| Test Area | 0.5 mm diameter |
| Display | LCD with backlight |
| Memory | 500 measurements |
| Power Supply | Rechargeable battery |
| Weight | 280g |
| UCI probe types | 10N/1kgf/2.2 lbf/HV1, 50N/5kgf/11lbf/HV5, 98N/10kgf/22lbf/HV10 |
| Measuring range | Factory calibrations: – HRC: 20~70, – HB: 90~650, – HV: 100~750, – Tensile strength MPa: 370~1740 User calibrations for any scale and range (for example: 1-3000HV) |
| Measuring accuracy | HRC: 2HRC, HB: 10HB, HV: 15HV |
| Standard | ASTM A1038 |
| Indenter | Diamond indenter (UCI) |
| Measuring direction | Any direction 360° |
| Data storage | Limited only by the memory card |
| Hardness scale | HRC, HB, HV, MPa Additional custom scales for calibration |
| Materials | Pre-calibrated for steel, Additional custom materials for calibration |
| Data display | Load applied/contact (UCI), Single test result, Max, Min, Average of tests, Number of tests, Deviation, Var. coeff., Histogram, Signal and Smart Mode (Filter of incorrect measurements) |
| PC cable connection (USB MINI B (to device) – USB A (to PC)) | Online – NOVOTEST.INFO/USB-connect, Offline – NOVOTEST USB-Connect |
| Wireless connection with Android gadgets via NOVOTEST Lab App | T-U3 – No, T-U3 (Lab) – Yes |
| Language | English, German, French, Polish, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Russian, *additional languages available by request |
| Indication | Color LCD display (320×240) |
| Operating environment | Temperature:-20°C~40°C; Humidity: 30%~80%R.H. |
| Power supply | DC 4,5V (3 pcs batteries AA) |
| Batteries life | Approx. 10 hours |
| Instrument dimensions | 160x75x30mm |
| Net weight | Approx. 0.3kg (without probe) |
| Gross weight (package) | 1.7kg |
| Package dimensions | 33*27*10cm |
Applications
Small precision parts testing
Thin-walled components
Surface-hardened layers
Gear teeth hardness
Bearing races inspection
Tool and die verification
Jewelry and watch components
Medical device testing
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the NOVOTEST T-U3 particularly suitable for precision hardness measurements?▼
The NOVOTEST T-U3 utilizes Ultrasonic Contact Impedance (UCI) technology to deliver highly accurate hardness measurements on finished, thin-walled, and precision-engineered components where conventional rebound testing methods may not provide reliable results. This makes it especially valuable for quality-critical manufacturing environments.
Which components are ideally inspected using the NOVOTEST T-U3?▼
The T-U3 is particularly effective for measuring the hardness of gears, shafts, bearings, turbine blades, welds, moulds, dies, precision-machined components, aerospace parts, medical equipment, and finished industrial products requiring high measurement accuracy without damaging the test surface.
How does UCI technology improve quality control in manufacturing industries?▼
UCI hardness testing allows manufacturers to verify material properties immediately after machining, heat treatment, or welding. This enables early identification of production inconsistencies, supports process optimization, and ensures that finished components meet specified engineering and quality standards.
Why do quality assurance laboratories and inspection agencies prefer UCI hardness testing?▼
UCI technology offers excellent repeatability, minimal surface indentation, and reliable hardness evaluation on small or thin components that are difficult to inspect using traditional hardness testing methods. This makes it an ideal solution for precision engineering, research laboratories, and certified inspection organizations.
Why should manufacturers in India invest in the NOVOTEST T-U3 UCI Hardness Tester?▼
The NOVOTEST T-U3 provides manufacturers with an advanced non-destructive hardness testing solution that improves product consistency, strengthens quality assurance, supports regulatory compliance, reduces inspection turnaround time, and enhances confidence in the mechanical properties of critical engineering components.