In the previous article, we touched upon NDT 4.0 and provided a glimpse into what it is and how it is transforming industries around the globe. Now we will dive into a segment of NDT 4.0, automation, and look at some examples that highlight how it is changing companies for the better.

Pick up any shaft or threaded fastener. How are you going to check it? An outside micrometer is most often the go-to tool for measuring diameters. A height gage or drop indicator could be used to check dimensions between part features, while an optical comparator is a good way to inspect thread forms or measure a groove width.

While Taoist philosopher Lao Tsu was the first to make the statement, “Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know” part of his formal teachings, some form of the wisdom behind this statement has been attributed to such great philosophical minds as Socrates, Buddha, and Jesus.

As the need for quality inspection increases and in some cases, requires 100% inspection, the inspection process can become a bottleneck in manufacturing. To increase efficiencies, manufacturers are moving toward automated inspection.

It is indisputable that automated controls have made the post-process monitoring of finished parts faster and easier than ever before. Even when applied after machining is complete, intelligent controls can provide three essential quality functions: automatic logging of the process routes and outcomes of cutting operations, on-machine verification, and post-process reporting.

Aerospace components and structures come in all shapes and sizes and more importantly are made from different types of materials. 

Ductile iron is an iron-carbon casting material whose matrix includes carbon in the form of nodular graphite particles. Rounded graphite nodules in the ductile iron matrix offer greater resistance to stress concentration when compared to graphite flakes (as in gray cast iron) and, therefore, inhibit the creation of cracks.

Automatic inspection by machine vision is leading to the dawn of the “smart factory,” eliminating errors resulting from human manual operations, improving quality consistency, increasing productivity, reducing production costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction.