Automatic magnetic particle inspection becomes a reality with newly developed system from Tiede

Magnetic particle inspection is undoubtedly one of the most sensitive NDT m ethods for the detection of surface-breaking discontinuities in ferrous mat erials. For many years it has been considered the 'Cinderella' method due t o its low-tech approach to inspection, with defect detection entirely depen dent upon the integrity of the machine operator or inspector. Throughout the last seven to eight years Tiede has developed a technology t hat allows for fully automatic magnetic particle inspection systems to be i mplemented. Such systems have already been delivered to automotive parts ma nufacturers in a number of countries. Tiede's ground-breaking technology al lows magnetic particle inspection to deliver the same level of quality cont rol, automation and reproducibility as any modern eddy current or ultrasoni c system. To achieve such a fully automated system it is necessary to contr ol the complete inspection cycle. Tiede decided to attack the problem in two parts: first, to develop a magne tic particle inspection system that could monitor and control the test proc ess, and then to develop an optical system that could reliably detect the s urface-breaking defects.