by David Geis, Product Manager, and Brian Batteiger, NDT Services Manager
There are many different types of magnetic particle equipment, ranging from small portable power packs to wet bench units, all the way to high-amperage stationary power packs for large structures.
If you are following ASTM E1444, ASTM E3024, ISO 9934, or Nadcap AC7114/2, your equipment must be calibrated on a semi-annual basis. No matter what type of magnetic particle equipment you have, and no matter which specification you follow, the same five steps are used to perform equipment calibration.
By David Geis, Product Manager
Check the power cord and switch to make sure they’re in good condition. Check that the legs can bend to conform to the inspection surface. Check the feet to make sure they can make even contact with the inspection surface. The more contact area, the better.
The Y-2 is an AC electromagnetic yoke, ergonomically designed to improve productivity and reduce operator arm and wrist fatigue. The yoke generates a strong AC magnetic field for the detection of surface indications during magnetic particle testing.
Lightweight with an ergonomic grip and trigger, the Y-2 is designed for the rugged demands of field inspection. Featuring a field swappable cord and isolated trigger switch; the Y-2 is easily serviceable because a severed cord should not stop a job from getting done.
A super bright LED attachment is available as an optional item to help illuminate the inspection area while simultaneously magnetizing the part. All-in-one Kits are also available, including #1 Gray and #8A Red magnetic powders, a yellow paint marker, and cleaning cloth, for a full inspection kit in one convenient carrying case.
The operating temperature range for penetrant inspection as specified in ASTM E1417 Standard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Testing is 40°F to 125°F (4°C to 52°C), but how is the penetrant inspection affected at temperatures below 40°F (4°C) and can the inspection process be adjusted to achieve acceptable results?
To answer these questions, we evaluated SKC-S cleaner/remover, SKL-SP2 solvent removable dye penetrant and SKD-S2 non-aqueous developer at a range of temperatures in order to figure out what NDT inspectors can expect when using these, or similar quality dye penetrant products when inspecting at lower temperatures
At lower temperatures in the range of 32°F – 50°F (0°C – 10°C), the solvent cleaner will take longer to dry.
We used 75°F (24°C) as our ambient, standard operating temperature, and observed how decreasing temperatures impacted how quickly the solvent cleaner dried. Below are our suggested drying time for solvent-based cleaner/removers at lower temperatures.
Just like changing the oil in a car, basic preventive care is a cheap and easy way for NDT professionals to get the most out of your mag particle inspections and make sure your mag particle machine investments last. Will it prevent all failures from occurring, no. But I can guarantee you that if you never pull off the machine’s ventilation panels to check the cooling fans or to blow off the dirt and dust off of the rectifiers, your machine will eventually develop issues, just like a car if it’s oil hasn’t been changed in years.
One of the reasons many NDT professionals don’t pay more attention to mag particle equipment maintenance is they perceive standards like ASTM E1444 as an operating guideline instead of as minimum requirements. While it is important to regularly have your meter calibrated for accuracy, your shot timer checked and to verify output repeatability, this is not enough to keep your mag equipment at peak performance.
By Brian Batteiger, Service & Custom Equipment Manager
The latest editions of ASTM E1444 and ASTM E3024 require daily system performance verification of MPI machines. To perform this test, customers can either use test parts with discontinuities or fabricated test parts with discontinuities.
If using test parts with discontinuities, the reference parts should have discontinuities that are similar to the type, location and size specified in the acceptance requirements. It is also critical to demagnetize and clean the parts after performing the test to prevent false test results.
By Brian Batteiger, Service & Custom Equipment Manager
The latest editions of ASTM E1444 and ASTM E3024 require daily system performance verification of MPI machines. To perform this test, customers can either use test parts with discontinuities or fabricated test parts with discontinuities.
If using test parts with discontinuities, the reference parts should have discontinuities that are similar to the type, location and size specified in the acceptance requirements. It is also critical to demagnetize and clean the parts after performing the test to prevent false test results.
