How to Use Eddy Current Equipment for Hardness Testing
Companies and manufacturers rely on hardness testing to ensure their products can stand up to certain conditions, this is particularly critical in industries where failure could result in a risk to health and safety. Technicians must have equipment that can measure an asset’s ability to resist damage and deformation in order to provide the best possible quality for their clients and customers. One of the most accurate, efficient nondestructive testing methods used for hardness testing is eddy current testing (ECT).
Eddy current testing equipment must be tailored for hardness testing. Technicians need specialized devices to help them find irregularities on a mass scale, and the test material and inspection conditions can influence what device they need. If analysts combine eddy current testing with advanced technology, they can use eddy current hardness testing to provide an accurate overview of the asset’s design form. If you’re considering using eddy current for hardness testing, it’s important you understand what technology you need. In this article, we will cover what device you need for hardness testing and why you should choose eddy current technology.
Why Should I Use Eddy Current Technology for Hardness Testing?
Eddy current testing is a contactless nondestructive method, so analysts don’t have to worry about damaging the asset or wasting any materials or resources. Eddy current testing equipment provides extraordinary sensitivity and accuracy when it comes to finding surface and near-surface flaws caused by high temperatures. Eddy current testing also doesn’t pose the same challenges that other nondestructive testing methods do, such as visual testing (VT). Inspection using visual testing can lead to human error, the human eye can easily miss a defect, particularly if it’s subsurface. In industries where accuracy is paramount for health and safety, eddy current hardness testing helps companies meet strict regulations.
A noncontact method, ECT uses flowing electromagnetic currents to reveal irregularities caused by high temperatures, making eddy current a clean option for hardness testing. Unlike some methods—for example, liquid penetrant testing (PT)—ECT does not require the use of chemicals that pose a risk to human health.
Hardness testing also requires quick, efficient testing of irregularities on the assembly line. Eddy current is a quick, simple, and reliable inspection technique that can identify abnormalities on a mass level. Finally, eddy current testing is portable, making use of small and light equipment—ideal characteristics when inspection is required throughout a production process.
What Type of Eddy Current Device Do I Need for Hardness Testing?
With the right eddy current testing devices, technicians can carry out successful hardness testing and validate that the hardness meets specific regulations. With the devices we recommend, technicians can rapidly find flaws and remove the faulty parts from the assembly line, enhancing safety and productive operations. Find Olympus advanced eddy current technology on our website.
