NDT-RAM Automotive

We have gone through an unprecedented time in the automotive industry. With continued consolidation of product lines and suppliers you can not afford quality mishaps. You've got to keep the customers you have. Non-Destructive Test Resonant Acoustic Method (NDT-RAM™) inspection is designed to help you manufacture 100% fully inspected powder metal, cast, ductile iron, forged or stamped metal component parts, giving you assurance in the integrity of your product and performance. Learn more about NDT-RAM

The principle of NDT-RAM is simple. Every part has a unique resonant signature or pattern that reflects its structural integrity. A familiar example is a cracked bell, which no longer has a clear ring and cannot hold its tone. When comparing the resonant signature of a batch of parts, any deviation from the expected signature indicates the presence of a variation. The variation can be either acceptable process variation or nonconforming variations like missing features, cracks or other structural flaws. An empirical sort is developed with a sample set of both good and bad parts to develop a screening criterion to reject the nonconforming parts. Contact us to provide you with a no charge parts evaluation test, to assess the suitability of NDT-RAM for your part and flaws.

In powder metal (PM), cast, ductile iron, forged or stamped parts, NDT-RAM detects variances such as cracks, voids, porosity, nodularity, missing features and missing manufacturing processes. The entire procedure occurs as fast as a second per part, allowing for efficient and cost effective quality assurance. Your performance is guarded, your liability is limited and your reputation in the industry grows. As a contributor to state-of-the-art innovative quality inspection The Modal Shop is a member of the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF), American Foundry Society (AFS), American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), and ASTM International.

Who needs NDT Resonant Inspection?
Automotive manufacturers or users of PM, cast, ductile iron, forged or stamped parts that:
• Have liability in quality or failure
• Require 100% inspection of their parts
• Have high cost of imaging inspection methods (CT, RI, etc)
• Desire to continuously improve quality of their parts and manufacturing processes

What does NDT Resonant Inspection detect?
• Cracks, chips, and voids
• Nodularity
• Porosity
• Missing features
• Variations in hardness
• Bonding, welding, or brazing failures
• Missing machining or heat-treating processes

Benefits to NDT-RAM method
• Confidence in 100% quality assurance inspection and test
• No "part preparation" required
• Parts are fully inspected in seconds
• Easy to learn and use application software
• Report generation, including statistical analysis
• Industrial package - NEMA4 enclosures
• Same system can test many different parts
• Process compensation for common process variables like weight, etc.

Total Quality with Rapid Through-put of Powder Metal and Cast Parts for Whole Part Flaw Detection via Resonant Acoustic Method of Inspection

Abstract
Rapid conversion of machined parts to powder metal and cast is driving industries, especially automotive. Due to the high expectations of both primary manufacturers and end consumers, defects cannot be tolerated even in million piece quantities. There is, in effect, a growing requirement for zero defect supply chain commitments. To achieve zero defect output, manufacturers are making the commitment to move to online NDT. This type of online inspection requires accuracy, reliability, and high throughput. Resonant Acoustic Method NDT (RAM NDT) provides a proven technique exhibiting these pivotal performance requirements and automates economically. RAM NDT tests, reports and screens for most common part flaws in a manner similar to the way NASA tests flight hardware and automotive manufacturers validate their new car designs. Utilizing structural dynamics and statistical variation, RAM NDT provides mature, laboratory proven technology in a robust, economical, process-friendly manner.

View the paper (542.25 kb)

Currently, there are four available configurations of the NDT-RAM™ system:

NDT-AUTO -- for integration into high-volume process lines
NDT-SEMI -- for integration into existing production lines
NDT-MAN -- mobile solution for spot-checks and field troubleshooting
NDT-DTF -- Drop Test Fixture for automated small part testing

Non-Destructive Test

Quality inspection of automotive metallic components

Total Quality with Rapid Through-put of Powder Metal and Cast Parts for Whole Part Flaw Detection via Resonant Acoustic Method of Inspection