TPT March 2015

Inspection, testing & qual ity control

Fluorescent crack detection system

dissolve the penetrant. Immersion in the water stop bath is used for finishing the process. The testers apply a dry developer before assessing the component. This picks up the penetrant remaining in the defects and shows it up under UVA light. Even microscopically small cracks are revealed in the evaluation cabin; these are cracks that can have a decisive effect in aerospace applications. In addition to a re-emulsifiable material on quality level three (high) being used, priority is given to regular monitoring of the test instruments. Before the start of each test pro- cedure a sample plate is put through the entire process. Existing defects are documented according to the highest quality standards, by qualified specialist personnel. Toolcraft is a partner of research and development departments in many industrial sectors. As an associate of engineers and designers of semiconductors, optical industry and opto-electronics, special machinery manufacturing, motorsports and automotive, medical technology, aerospace, defence and security, toy and consumer goods industry, and the printing industry, Toolcraft manufactures precision parts, assemblies, moulds and injection moulded parts. MBFZ toolcraft GmbH – Germany Fax: +49 9172 6956 560

system for non-destructive surface testing. The precision parts and high- tech components are wetted with a fluorescent penetrant for this purpose, making even the smallest cracks visible under UVA light. On an area of 105m 2 , Toolcraft can now offer the opportunity to check components using a non-destructive method for cracks, overlaps, folds, pores and binding errors in the surface. The process is predominantly used on metallic materials, although it can also be applied to materials such as ceramics, assuming the surface is suitable for testing with penetrants. The system itself occupies an area of 75m². When building the crack detection system, emphasis was placed on cleanliness. The system and all equipment are made from stainless steel – a material suited to crack testing because substances with elevated pH values are used. Harmful, flammable and volatile substances are employed, as a result of which the entire area is strictly monitored; only specialist personnel are allowed to enter during the test procedure. Each testing process starts with preliminary cleaning of the components in an alkaline bath. Following this, the alkali is washed off again in a three- stage bath cascade using demineralised water. Once the fluorescent penetrant has been applied by an electrostatic method, the component undergoes intermediate cleaning. It is then immersed in an emulsifier bath in order to partially

IN AEROSPACE applications, as well as other sectors such as the automotive industry, the highest quality is of decisive importance. Even the smallest defects can have serious consequences. Toolcraft states that its components are produced with the highest precision. The quality of products can be quickly and reliably verified by the new

Precision parts and high-tech components are wetted with a fluorescent penetrant for the testing

Even microscopically small cracks are revealed in the evaluation cabin

Email: toolcraft@toolcraft.de Website: www.toolcraft.de

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M arch 2015