Abstract:
An apparatus (1) for determining the effective case-hardening or nitriding depth of a steel component comprises a measuring head (2), including a laser source (10) generating a variable frequency radiation for the scanning of pre-determined portions of the component to be measured (20); an infrared detector (16), configured so as to detect infrared radiation generated by the component to be measured; and computing means (17) of spectra of the infrared radiation received; and an evolventimeter (3), connected to the measuring head (2) and including first computing means (26, 40-56) suitable for computing a hardness profile of the component to be measured on the basis of a launch profile and spectra of the infrared radiation received and second computing means (26, 58) suitable for computing the effective case-hardening depth from the hardness profile computed.