For many measurement points, screening, welds, HAZ, grids and repeatable campaigns.
When local material data must be available quickly, reproducibly and with clear point logic.
i3D® PRO as the automated platform for local material data, stress-strain curves and structured measurement campaigns.
System design
i3D® PRO
i3D® PRO – front view.i3D® PRO – side view.i3D® PRO – measuring head up.
What matters directly in the setup
i3D® PRO is the platform for teams that want to turn many measurement points into a reliable,
repeatable testing workflow. Motorised XY positioning, an overview camera, clear point logic and optional 3D
measurement reduce manual work and keep larger programmes stable.
The system is therefore especially strong for materials screening, welds and heat-affected zones, structured component
analysis and campaigns where local material data are needed for QA, development or FEM-oriented models.
Technical key data
Item
Description
Test method
Indentation-based method according to DIN SPEC 4864 for local yield strength RIp0.2, tensile strength RIm and local stress-strain curves.
Standard mode
Around 72 seconds per point in the automated standard workflow.
Superspeed
Optional mode for clearly shorter measurement times in throughput-oriented campaigns.
Positioning
Motorised XY stage for grids, lines, arrays and repeatable point sequences.
Documentation
Overview camera for visual point placement and traceable testing programmes.
3D module
Optical 3D measurement optional for residual-indent and topography information.
Software
Inverse FEM evaluation directly in the workflow for local material-model input.
Key functions in detail
Automated positioning, camera and optional 3D measurement for structured campaigns.
Strong for alloy development, parameter studies and structured screening campaigns with clear point logic.
WELD ZONES
Capture welds and HAZ systematically
Grids, lines and repeatable point sequences help make critical transitions visible at the weld and in the heat-affected zone.
FEM
Build local data for models
When stress-strain curves from defined zones have to flow back into development and simulation.
When teams search for i3D® PRO
Typical search patterns behind i3D® PRO are not just "buy a testing system", but tasks such as
measure local stress-strain curves, accelerate materials screening,
evaluate weld zones locally or derive FEM material input from real component zones.
That is exactly where PRO fits: many points, clean point logic and automated campaigns instead of isolated lab-only checks.
In parameter studies, alloy development and additive manufacturing the system helps bring local properties into development
and QA decisions much earlier. Internal multi-sample screening logic shows that very large programmes can be handled within
hours, where classic tensile-test workflows would otherwise take days or weeks.
Why this matters in practice
Alternative to slow tensile-test series for many variants, small samples and local zones
Spatially resolved evaluation of welds, heat-affected zones, material transitions and additive components
Faster feedback for material development, process windows and QA instead of only late global averages
Local material data for FE models when hardness conversion or global tensile values are not enough
Which questions i3D® PRO answers
TENSILE TESTING
Local alternative for small samples
When classic tensile specimens are too large, too expensive or not representative for critical zones, PRO brings properties closer to the real question.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Many points instead of coarse single values
Grids, lines and defined measurement sequences help make scatter and critical zones visible instead of only documenting global averages.
SIMULATION
Material data from real zones
Stress-strain curves from relevant component zones are often more useful than generic data sheets or pure hardness conversion.
What DIN SPEC 4864 and ASTM E3499 mean in the PRO context
DIN SPEC 4864 closes the gap between classic hardness testing and tensile testing: a local, automatable test logic with
much stronger material insight than pure hardness conversion. ASTM E3499 describes the same international logic as
indentation plastometry for deriving plastic stress-strain behaviour through inverse FEM.
For i3D® PRO this means the system targets tensile-like comparative properties,
especially yield strength, tensile strength and the plastic curve. It is strong for local material characterisation,
screening and mapping across real parts. At the same time the ASTM E3499 limit remains important:
fracture elongation and fracture behaviour are not determined. Classical tensile testing remains necessary for those questions.
Which search tasks i3D® PRO actually covers
i3D® PRO fits when teams are looking for a local materials testing system,
for materials characterisation in the lab or for a system that can provide
local yield strength and tensile strength. At its core, the system uses an
instrumented indentation test under DIN SPEC 4864 / ASTM E3499 to derive local material properties
and local stress-strain curves through inverse FEM.
This is why PRO becomes a practical alternative to tensile testing for small samples, a strong platform
for materials screening with local properties and a useful route whenever a
local stress-strain curve on the real part or material properties from instrumented indentation
have to become available economically.
Clusters where PRO is particularly strong
Welds / HAZ / zones: local strength across welds, HAZ material characterisation and yield strength mapping along weld seams
Additive manufacturing / screening: quality assurance for additively manufactured metal parts, local mechanical properties on LPBF parts and structured variant comparison
FEM / material models: local stress-strain data for FE simulation, material data from indentation for FEM and property derivation from critical zones
i3D® Software
Inverse FEM evaluation for local material properties and stress-strain curves.
From the residual indent directly to usable properties
The software combines measurement, geometry capture and inverse FEM evaluation in one workflow.
This turns the residual indent into local yield strength, local tensile strength and stress-strain curves without
a method break – useful for screening, documented serial evaluation and FEM-oriented material data.
Eco is the more compact lab entry system for first in-house routines. PRO is the stronger campaign platform when many
points, grids, lines, weld zones and structured screening logic have to run with clear point logic.
When is local material characterisation more useful than classic tensile testing?
When small samples, real parts, local zones or many variants must be evaluated, local indentation is often more
economical and faster than classic tensile-test series. DIN SPEC 4864 was developed exactly for this gap between
hardness testing and tensile testing.
Which properties are derived from the indentation?
Mainly local yield strength RIp0.2, local tensile strength RIm and
stress-strain curves. ASTM E3499 describes these plastic properties up to the regime before necking.
Fracture elongation and fracture behaviour are not part of the result space.
How fast can screening or comparison campaigns run?
In standard mode around 72 seconds per point are realistic. When throughput matters, the optional superspeed mode
reduces the cycle time to about 20 seconds per point. That is exactly what makes PRO attractive for grids,
screening and large comparison campaigns.
Is the system suitable for welds, small samples or real parts?
Yes. PRO is particularly strong for welds, heat-affected zones, small samples and real parts because point placement
is reproducible and local properties can be measured where classic tensile specimens become impractical.
How do the data move into FEM or material models?
The software combines measurement, geometry capture and inverse FEM evaluation. This produces local stress-strain
curves and properties that can be transferred directly into simulation, material models or local comparison studies.
