The Indentation Plastometer is a macro-mechanical test machine that measures full stress-strain curves and metal strength parameters from a simple indentation test. The machine combines the ease and simplicity of testing, with the best attributes of tensile testing, which is the acquisition of full stress-strain curves and material strength characteristics. The machine works by pushing a hard spherical indenter into a test piece under pre-programmed testing protocols, followed by measurement of the residual indent shape using an integrated profilometer. The measured shape data is then analyzed in a proprietary software package that converts the residual profile shape into a stress-strain curve in a matter of minutes.
