Non-Destructive Test

NDT-RAM

In the world of manufacturing today, the potential liability of shipping a defective part is catastrophic to you, your customer, and the consumer. Non-Destructive Test--Resonant Acoustic Method (NDT-RAM™) inspection is designed to help you deliver fully inspected parts, economically and on-time, giving you confidence in the quality of your parts.

The principle of NDT-RAM is simple. Every part has a unique resonant signature or pattern that reflects its composition. Any deviation from the expected signature or pattern indicates the presence of a structural flaw or variation. A familiar example is a cracked bell, which no longer has a clear ring and cannot hold its tone. Learn more about NDT-RAM

NDT-RAM overview video (03:18).  Learn more about how NDT-RAM can help you achieve zero ppm.

NDT-RAM detects imperfections such as variances in dimension, geometry, weight, voids, cracks, density, bonding, and manufacturing processes. The entire procedure takes seconds per part, allowing for efficient quality-control testing of all parts in your process line.

Who needs NDT Resonant Inspection?
Manufacturers or users of metal parts that
• Have substantial inspection cost
• Require 100% inspection of their parts
• Desire to improve quality of their parts
• Produce and/or use safety-critical parts
• Have customers demanding higher quality
• Have substantial scrap costs due to false rejects

What does NDT Resonant Inspection detect?
• Cracks, chips, and holes
• Porosity
• Out-of-tolerance dimensions
• Variations in hardness
• Residual stress
• Bonding, welding, or brazing failures
• Machining or heat-treating processes

Benefits
• No "part preparation" required
• Parts are fully inspected in seconds
• Reduction of scrap costs with elimination of false rejects
• Process compensation for common process variables
• Easy to learn and use application software
• Report generation, including statistical analysis
• Industrial package -- NEMA4 enclosure
• Contact or non-contact test many different parts
• Same system can test many different parts
• Confidence that all tested parts are defect-free

Learn more about NDT-RAM™

NDT-RAM Theory and Principles
• Overview
• Principles
• Analyze
• Equipment
• Advantages

Example Application
• Powder Metal

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