Non destructive testing (NDT) is the process of inspecting and testing components for discontinuities, or defects without altering or affecting the part in any way, with this when the inspection or test is completed the part can still be used.
NDT Covers a wide group of testing processes and there are 3 main processes available at South West Metal Finishing.
We have worked with companies from a wide range of sectors and have obtained many company approvals and accreditations.
Magnetic Particle Inspection uses a magnetic field to locate surface and near-surface discontinuities in ferromagnetic materials. When very fine ferromagnetic particles are applied to the surface of the part and the magnetic field encounters a discontinuity the particles will be drawn into the discontinuity, producing a visible indication on the surface of the part.
Florescent Penetrant Inspection uses a very low viscosity fluorescent liquid which is applied to the surface of a part, it penetrates into defects on the surface. Once the excess penetrant is removed, the penetrant trapped in those defects will flow back out, creating an indication which can be seen under black light. Penetrant testing can be performed on magnetic and non-magnetic materials, but does not work well on porous materials.
Nital Etch Inspection is a test to determine if heat has been induced to a hardened steel component by machining, grinding, or other means, which will adversely affect the properties of the component. Under certain circumstances machining and grinding can introduce sufficient heat into a component to “burn” its surface. This is generally caused by local overheating and can produce undesirable changes in the metal’s properties. If an area is overheated, it will appear darker than the surrounding after etching.
Our technical support team are here to help answer any questions or queries you may have.
I just wanted to pass my thanks to you and your teams for all the hard work and commitment you put into processing our TSA work last week
You pulled out all the stops (despite a number of curve-balls!) and kept everyone informed – we thank you for everything you did to achieve the best results possible
A fantastic display of exceptional customer service whilst treating our Silver work
Excellent responsiveness when you were painting our time critical parts – always get a timely response on a question
Thank you for the great technical support throughout processing our Passivation work; your teams and your suppliers were always available when we needed more information
Over the last year our partnership with SWMF has paid dividends and this can be clearly seen in the quality of the surface treatment on our parts
Great team to work with, good communication and timely delivery which has improved our turnaround
High quality technical support provided when needed, including NPI and the great work the engineering team did for us embedding the Cadmium parts
Thank you for the great technical support throughout processing our Passivation work; your teams and your suppliers were always available when we needed more information
Surface treatment services to the aerospace and other high technology sectors.
We offer an extensive range of coating services including Electroplating, Electroless Plating, Anodising, Conversion Coatings, Paint and Non Destructive Testing.
As a business, South West Metal Finishing recognises its Duty of Care with respect to the environment.
Are you unsure which surface treatment you need, or do you require some advice? Get in touch today and a member of our expert team will be happy to help.