TOP-HARDT

Trinity Operating Procedures - TOPs

TOP-HARDT: Hardness Testing

Rev: 02/02/2026

Scope: This procedure covers the Hardness Daily Validation checking of product hardness (Brinell or Rockwell) both by heat treaters and in our own plant.

Procedure:

Preparing for Hardness Testing

STEP	WHO	WHEN	INFO TO USE	WHAT TO DO
1	Post Forge Leadman; QC Inspector	Preparing to for the Hardness Tester Daily Validation.	Hardness Tester Daily Vertification Log	Perform the daily verification test at the start of the shift prior to testing any parts. If tester fails contact Post Forge Supervisor and/or QA Manager immediately; DO NOT OPERATE MACHINE
2	Post Forge Leadman; QC Inspector	Completing daily validation testing.	Hardness Tester Daily Vertification Log	Fill out Hardness Tester Daily Verification Log per special operating procedures in the form prior to the machine being used; Validate that the form is saved prior to proceeding with checking parts.
3	Post Forge Leadman; QC Inspector	Error when completing daily validation testing.	Hardness Tester Daily Vertification Log	If an error occurs when trying to save Hardness Tester Daily Verification Log, Immediately document the hardness readings on the back up log at the machine. Once readings are documented, notify Post Forge Supervisor and/or QA Manager of the issue. Back up log is to be scanned in or updated by the Post Forge Supervisor and/or QA Manager before testing for the day may begin.
4	Post Forge Leadman; QC Inspector	Completing daily validation testing.	Hardness Tester Daily Vertification Log	If tester passes and daily hardness verification data has been properly saved, conduct hardness inspection per instructions.
5	QC Inspector	2nd shift or beginning hardness after start of shift.	Hardness Tester Daily Vertification Log	Validate that the Hardness Validation has been completed prior to beginning to check parts. If not, stop the process and validate the tool. If it passes make sure it is documented in the Hardness Tester Daily Log. If not, pull in the Post Forge Supervisor and/or the QA Manager.

Procedure:

Preparing for Hardness Testing for heat Treat Validation, Production Testing or Random Testing

STEP WHO WHEN INFO TO USE WHAT TO DO

1 Post Forge Leadman; QC Inspector Random testing is performed or requested by QA Manager
Router
Random testing per QA Instructions.

1a Post Forge Leadman; QC Inspector Validate all prior steps for job complete on Router; Post Forge Supervisor's instructions to do a random hardness test

Router; QC Print
Use QC Print to determine where to take test; if test is not on QC Print, contact the Forging Engineer.

2 Heat Treat supplier
Receipt of parts and Heat Treat Purchase Order
Heat Treat Purchase Order

After parts are Heat Treated perform validation hardness testing according to instructions on Heat Treat Purchase Order; record results.

2a Heat Treat supplier

If parts cannot be brought within specification
Heat Treat Purchase Order; own testing Contact QA Manager for waiver; if achieve waiver, return parts with certifications notes as to waiver.

2b QA Manager or Post Forge Supervisor Upon receiving call from Heat Treater seeking waiver Heat Treater conversation; Router with customer specifications; possibly conversation with customer

Evaluate Heat Treater's request for waiver; if waiver is within customer requirements (or if customer provides waiver), give Heat Treater written waiver (letter or email), place copy of waiver in Customer PO File and document waiver in Job Order information.

3a Shipping Leadman; Shipping Clerk Return of parts and paperwork

Heat Treater's certifications Review Heat Treater's certification and verify hardness information.

3b Shipping Leadman; Shipping Clerk A hardness problem Heat Treat Purchase Order;
Heat Treater's certifications; Traveler Inform QA Manager of hardness problem.

3c Shipping Leadman; Shipping Clerk After Heat Treat results received Heat Treater's certifications Send Heat Treater;s certification to QA Assistant.

4 QA Assistant Heat Treater's certifications

Heat Treater's certifications
Enter heat treat results in M2M; scan into Parts Certs Directory

NOTE: Trinity Forge has three different types of hardness testers:

Brinell tester w/10mm tungsten ball: Indention is made into prepared surface of sample and measured with one of two Brinell scopes available per ASTM E10.
Rockwell tester: Capable of testing on B & C scale with 1/64" ball and 130 degree diamond cone penetrators respectively per ASTM E18.
Portable impact tester: Capable of conversion to Rc, Rb, and Brinell scales per ASTM E110.

Revision history:

Release Date	Description of Change	Owner	Approver
12/06/2017	Updated to comply with revised Quality Manual and new TOPs format.	Tim Ellis	Todd Sheppard
02/18/2022	Updated to comply with changes needed.	Dustin Jump	Todd Sheppard
02/02/2026	Updated daily hardness verification process	Dustin Jump	John Fairbanks

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