Shop Press Brinell test

[tonyfoale]

Problems found:
* My readings ended being a bit off expected numbers. Had a tough time taking precise measurements with a paquimeter. I Had read that there is a dedicated microscopes for this....maybe a good photo and convert pixel to mm....this will be my next try.
* Not know the shop press manometer error. Need a way to check it.

Can you borrow or rent a load cell with attached meter? You do a one off calibration of your press manometer with that. Maybe some reasonably accurate scales.

About the indentation measurement are you only trying to measure the diameter or the depth as well. The derivation of the formula, that you referenced, which includes the depth is purely from an rearrangement of the formula with only the diameter so there is no need to measure depth. You can get electronic microscopes based on small cameras very cheaply off the net. One of these would do a reasonable job of measuring the diameter.
If you calibrate your press it might be easier to get good results by getting some Rockwell indenters and doing Rockwell testing rather than Brinell. With Rockwell you measure penetration depth rather than indentation diameter. You can place a sensitive dial gauge twix the press and the work piece to measure penetration. This is likely to be easier.