Across all industries, material specifications are tightening beyond previously understood process capabilities. Slight shifts in material grade, microstructure, heat treatment, or alloy composition can significantly impact long term material integrity. This study examines the feasibility of noncontact, 100% inline magneto-inductive testing on materials and components to ensure material quality standards. To investigate the hypothesis that material grade, carbon content, density, and alloy composition can be accurately tested in real time during production, an experiment was conducted using magneto-inductive test instrumentation and an encircling coil. The results of the investigation confirmed that 100% of the material in a component could be thus tested, accurately, efficiently, and autonomously verifying that the specified material grade with the proper composition and properties had been used.

Eddy current is a non-destructive testing technique proven for use in heat treat and material structure verification. Modern multi-frequency eddy current instruments can test for conditions such as misplaced case, shallow case, short heat, short quench, and delayed quench. Eddy current testing offers many benefits over traditional heat treat validation methods. Unlike sample testing processes using cut, polish, etch, and visual inspection techniques, eddy current testing provides a clean, fast, and repeatable process that can perform in-line inspections of all parts produced. Eddy current inspections have traditionally focused on symmetrical parts such as wheel bearings and gears. However, advances in robotics have paved the way for cost-effective inspection of non-symmetrical, complex components that would have previously required multiple test stations. Robotics also provides a low-cost way to retest, null, and periodically proof the testing process using multiple conditions of masters. This has been difficult and expensive with other types of automation and operator involvement.