This cart-mounted Eddy Current Inspection System offers the operator the capability to inspect small lots of parts by hand on a mobile platform. Occurring in real time, inspections can be performed to verify part geometry, chemistry or hardness. The Pro Series Profiler is used to inspect parts; it is capable of profiling parts with either noncontact or contact eddy current probes and then displaying these profiles on a computer screen. The inspection system automatically calculates the part accept/reject limits from a review of 10 good parts during a “learn” process. These limits can then be adjusted by the operator, as required, to represent the characteristics of the ideal virtual part. The system’s memory is capable of storing the learned profiles from any number of parts, as well as the part profiles themselves. This information can then be downloaded from the system via USB or Ethernet ports mounted on the monitor stand.
A digitizer system and software bundle offers digitizing, archiving and sharing of film images. The bundle includes the Kodak Industrex V2.0 Digitizer Software and the LS-85 Large Format Film Digitizer, which includes either a single or automated six-sheet feeder. The software offers increased productivity for film digitizing with an automatic file save and naming function, allowing operators to capture and review images quickly. In addition, the digitizer’s six-sheet film feeder allows automatic digitization of multiple film sheets without manual handling.
The HMX handheld XRF film thickness and composition analysis measurement tool is suited to the needs of the fastener, connector and general metal finishing industries. The unit’s measurement capabilities include at-process measurement for quality control, plating line and analysis lab applications, and at-sample analysis in the factory or in the field along with alloy sorting and alloy identification for substrate materials management. The Batch Measurement mode lets the operator calculate the average thickness of a batch of small parts with a single measurement. Point and shoot and the analyzer automatically generates an average thickness for the entire lot. In addition, the unit is an XRF solution for measurement of large samples that commonly cannot be measured in chamber-based systems because of part size.
Hall Effect gages are particularly important in the blow molding industry for measurement of wall thickness in plastic bottles and similar containers, as well as many other situations involving relatively thin, nonmagnetic products such as aluminum containers, plastic and glass tubing, scientific glassware, and many small machined or molded plastic and composite parts.
On a recent Thursday morning, I went to New York for a plant visit. I live in Chicago, so instead of my usual drive, my morning commute was a two-hour flight. It was a short trip: one taxi picked me up at 6:30 a.m. and another one took me home 12 hours later. Though I only spent a few hours with the company, I considered the trip a success because I learned a lot and-no small miracle when flying out of O’Hare airport-both flights were on time.
New 3-D analysis capability in stereomicroscopy is available. Conventional stereomicroscopes now transform into true 3-D measurement devices with full analytical capability to generate profile, roughness, area and volumetric measurements.
Within the myriad of inspection systems and technologies available in the industry that are relatively inexpensive and can be fully automated, one inspection technology stands out-eddy current inspection. It is available to the machining industry in two forms: noncontact and contact.
Viewing and quantifying defect damage during a visual inspection has become a critical function of quality control engineers and all borescope operators. This need to quantify inspection data has driven borescope manufacturers to achieve higher levels of system performance.
HOLLY, MI-Quantech Contract Sorting Inc. (QCS) offers part inspection and sorting services to the machining and assembly industries. QCS forms the contract inspection arm of NDT Technologies.