| magnetic hardness comparator [mag`ned·ik `härd·nǝs kǝm´par·ǝd·ǝr] ENGINEERING A device for checking the hardness of steel parts by placing a unit of known proper hardness within an induction coil; the unit to be tested is then placed within a similar induction coil, and the behavior of the induction coils compared; if the standard and test units have the same magnetic properties, the hardness of the two units is considered to be the same. |