Nanoindenter & Scratch Tester – NANOVEA CB500

NANOVEA CB500 is a compact modular mechanical tester combining nanoindentation and scratch testing in a single system.

Designed for nano- and micro-scale mechanical testing, it enables hardness and elastic modulus measurement, creep and relaxation analysis, stress–strain characterization, and scratch failure assessment with high accuracy and repeatability.

CB500 is ideal for laboratories and industrial R&D environments that require reliable, high-performance mechanical testing in a streamlined configuration without unnecessary complexity.

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Nanoindenter and scratch tester NANOVEA CB500 mechanical testing system
NANOVEA CB500 indentation and wear testing
UNMATCHED
ACCURACY

Provides the highest accuracy and repeatability with the widest range of measurements.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ONE SYSTEM

Nano or micro indenters - Nanovea Mechanical Testers

Indentation

Indentation hardness and elastic modulus testing

Hardness & Elastic Modulus

Indentation fracture toughness testing

Fracture Toughness

Indentation yield strength and fatigue testing

Yield Strength & Fatigue

Indentation creep and relaxation testing

Creep & Relaxation

Indentation stress vs strain testing

Stress vs Strain

Indentation loss and storage modulus testing

Loss & Storage Modulus

Scratch

Scratch cohesive failure testing

Cohesive Failure

Scratch adhesive failure testing

Adhesive Failure

Scratch hardness testing

Scratch Hardness

Scratch multi-pass wear testing

Multi-Pass Wear

Friction

Coefficient of friction testing

Coefficient of Friction

ENVIRONMENTAL MODULES

Tribometer Environment Modules - High Temperature Test

HIGH TEMP

Tribometer Environment Modules - Low Temperature Test

LOW TEMP

Tribometer Environment Modules - Liquid Test

LIQUID

Tribometer Environment Modules - Inert Gases Testing

HUMIDITY

Vacuum Chamber Materials Testing

VACUUM

NANOVEA mechanical tester stable on table in an enclosure

TECHNOLOGICAL

DOMINATION

ADVANCED AUTOMATION

TRACKING ZOOMED VIEW

Advanced Automation Tracking Zoomed View — NANOVEA mechanical tester nano and micro indenters
Nanovea Mechanical Tester indenter types
NANOVEA mechanical tester advantages

What is the NANOVEA CB500?

The NANOVEA CB500 is a compact modular mechanical tester for instrumented indentation, scratch, wear and friction testing. It takes either a nano module or a micro module and measures hardness and elastic modulus, loss and storage modulus, fracture toughness, yield strength and fatigue, creep and relaxation, stress-strain, scratch adhesion and cohesion, scratch hardness, multi-pass wear and coefficient of friction.

Independent load and depth sensors give true load control feedback with direct vertical loading. The nano module (piezoelectric actuator) covers load ranges from 80 mN to 4800 mN with 0.003 nm depth resolution; the micro module (ball screw servomotor) covers 20 N to 400 N. The CB500 has a 100 x 50 mm motorized stage, 50 mm of motorized Z with video zoom and lateral accuracy below 0.2 µm, with low maintenance cost.

Best for

  • Labs focused on one load scale, nano or micro
  • Coating, thin film and bulk material testing in a compact footprint
  • Routine hardness, modulus and scratch adhesion testing
  • A modular system with low maintenance cost, upgradable with environmental modules

CB500 at a glance

Modules
Nano OR micro
Load ranges
80 mN to 4800 mN (nano), 20 N to 400 N (micro)
Depth resolution
0.003 nm (nano), 0.01 nm (micro)
X-Y motorized stage
100 x 50 mm
Z motorized approach
50 mm, with video zoom
Lateral accuracy
< 0.2 µm, precision encoder
Temperature range
Below -40°C to 600°C (module dependent)
Video microscope
Up to 100x objective

CB500 specifications

CB500 platform

X-Y motorized stages100 x 50 mm
X-Y lateral resolution0.1 µm
Lateral accuracy< 0.2 µm with precision encoder
Z motorized approach50 mm, with video zoom
Load modulesNano or micro module
LoadingDirect vertical loading, independent depth and load sensors, no cantilever or pivot point
Video microscopeUp to 100x objective, 1200 x 1600 color camera, < 0.2 µm accuracy to/from indenter position, stitching and focus stacking

Nano and micro modules

SpecificationNano moduleMicro module
Modes of testingIndentation, scratch, wear & frictionIndentation, scratch, wear & friction
Loading systemPiezoelectric actuatorBall screw servomotor
Load sensorUltra precision load cellPrecision load cell
Load range80 | 400 | 1800 | 4800 mN20 | 40 | 200 | 400 N
Load resolution (24 bit)0.006 | 0.03 | 0.14 | 0.28 µN1.2 | 2.4 | 12 | 24 µN
Load noise floor RMS0.5 | 1 | 4 | 12 µN50 | 100 | 500 | 1000 µN
Depth sensorCapacitor ringLarge area capacitor
Depth range250 | 1500 µm1 mm (extended range capability)
Depth resolution (24 bit)0.003 nm0.01 nm
Depth noise floor RMS0.04 nm0.15 nm
Friction sensorUltra precision load cellPrecision load cell
Friction range50 | 400 | 1800 mN20 | 200 N
Friction resolution0.004 | 0.14 | 0.28 µN1.2 | 12 µN
Friction noise floor RMS0.3 | 6 | 12 µN1.2 | 2 mN
Acoustic emission frequencies150 - 400 kHz150 - 400 kHz
Sensitivity of AE absolute energy0.005 aJ0.005 aJ
DMA / CSM frequencies0.1 to 100 HzN/A
Frequency & temperature sweep at constant loadYesN/A
FastMap5 min (100 indents)12 min (100 indents)
High temperature275° | 450°C275° | 450° | 600°C
Low temperatureDown to -10°C | <-40°CDown to -10°C | <-40°C
Humidity5% to dew point5% to dew point
LiquidRT to 60°CRT to 60°C

Values separated by | are alternative sensor or module options. Other acoustic emission frequency ranges available; nano only available under sample. Specifications subject to change; contact NANOVEA for the latest.

Specifications subject to change. Every NANOVEA instrument is built to order; ask for the configuration that fits your samples.

What the CB500 measures

Standards

  • ISO 14577
  • ASTM E2546
  • ASTM C1624
  • ASTM D7187
  • ASTM G171

Options and configurations

Nano or micro module
Choose the piezoelectric nano module (80 to 4800 mN ranges, DMA/CSM) or the servomotor micro module (20 to 400 N ranges).
High temperature module
Up to 600°C (micro) or 450°C (nano) in an enclosed MACOR chamber. See high temperature mechanical testing.
Low temperature, humidity and liquid modules
Peltier cooling to below -40°C, humidity from below 5% to dew point, liquid cups heated to 60°C.
Indenter geometries
Berkovich, Vickers, Knoop, cube corner, conico-spherical, ball, circular flat and knife tips.

Choosing between models

Related application notes

Studies from our laboratory on this class of instrument, published with full test parameters.

All related application notes →

Independent published research

At least 6 published studies name the CB500 in their methods. NANOVEA instruments appear in 438 published studies on indentation, hardness and scratch, by researchers at universities and industrial laboratories worldwide.

All 438 studies →

CB500: frequently asked questions

What is the CB500 used for?

Instrumented indentation (hardness, modulus, fracture toughness, yield strength, creep, stress-strain, DMA), scratch testing (adhesive and cohesive failure, scratch hardness, multi-pass wear) and low-load friction, on coatings, thin films and bulk materials.

CB500 or PB1000?

The CB500 takes one module, nano or micro, on a compact base with a 100 x 50 mm stage. The PB1000 carries both modules at once on a 200 x 150 mm stage with a 100 mm Z and can integrate an AFM and a 3D profiler. Module performance is identical.

What depth resolution does the CB500 have?

0.003 nm with the nano module's capacitor ring sensor (0.04 nm noise floor) and 0.01 nm with the micro module's large area capacitor (0.15 nm noise floor), both at 24 bit.

Can the CB500 measure loss and storage modulus?

Yes, with the nano module: DMA and CSM from 0.1 to 100 Hz, including frequency and temperature sweeps at constant load.

Which standards does the CB500 support?

Instrumented indentation per ISO 14577 and ASTM E2546, scratch adhesion per ASTM C1624, mar resistance per ASTM D7187 and scratch hardness per ASTM G171.

How much does a CB500 cost?

Pricing depends on the module and options. Contact NANOVEA sales for a quote.

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NANOVEA CB500 scratch test and indentation