Advances in Eddy Current Verification of Heat Treat Processes

The latest generation of eddy current test instruments and probes enable manufactures to perform 100% in-line inspection of heat treated components reducing warranty, scrap, and testing costs.  The implementation of multi-frequency testing in conjunction with simplified user interfaces, allow these manufacturers to quickly create tests that effectively reject components with metallurgical defects such as misplaced case, shallow case, short quench, and ground out condition.  In a study performed with a major powder metal gear manufacturer, eddy current testing showed a higher consistency of results verses Rockwell hardness (HrB) testing.