Corus of approval for automatic hardness testers
A
Mitutoyo (UK) product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Apr 15, 2002
Corus depends on two Mitutoyo fully automatic hardness testers to cope with the volume of testing required without the need of full-time operators to carry out the work.
The Metallurgical Services function of the giant Corus organisation can be called on to carry out investigative testing on any materials supplied by the company to many of the most demanding metal customers around the world.
An ongoing task involves hardness testing of welded pipes used in oil and gas fields.
For this, Corus depends on two Mitutoyo fully automatic hardness testers to cope with the volume of testing required without the need of full-time operators to carry out the work.
Test blocks manufactured by Corus Tubes and Pipes that include a section of submerged-arc weld are sent to Metallurgical Services where they are cut into sections, prepared to a suitable finish of three microns and then etched to reveal the weld micro-structure in readiness for the hardness testing.
To perform the test, the Mitutoyo Series 810 IN2 View HT fully automatic hardness tester is programmed by a technician for the required number and spacing of indents - different customers specify different surveys and number of indents in either weld or plate.
Typically a survey consists of around 80 indents and takes one hour to complete - the time being governed by the required load time for each indent.
Corus has two series 810 IN2 View HT machines at its Redcar, Cleveland facility, both automatically carrying out the hardness test before producing a table of results, as well as printing out a test certificate and schematic diagram of the weld showing results for each indent.
The two Mitutoyo machines provide very accurate, consistent results and free-up labour whilst the test takes place.
Cath Fennel, Section Manager in Metallurgical Services at Corus explained, "The technicians just programme the machine for the required test, hit the Go button, and the machine takes over.
Before we had the Mitutoyo machines, they could spend 12 hours a day manually carrying out the tests and writing down all the results.
It was a ridiculous use of labour! Now they are free to do other work".
When Corus was looking to automate its hardness testing function, it had difficulty finding a company able to fulfil its needs.
Ms.
Fennel continued, "We contacted a company called QC Plus for help with image analysis.
This was about seven years ago: there were automatic hardness testers about but none that would test on an etched sample".
"QC Plus, hand in hand with Mitutoyo, developed the software specifically for our needs and we ended up with the ideal system for hardness testing of welds.
Since then the same system has become available to any company concerned with weld assessment".
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Contact Mitutoyo (UK)
Tel +44 1264 353123
Other Mitutoyo (UK) stories
-
Strato CMM can cope with heavy vibrations
The Strato CNC coordinate measuring machine (CMM) from Mitutoyo can work in changing temperatures, heavy vibration and a less-than-ideal environment. -
Crysta-Apex C CMM has digital servo control
The Crysta-Apex C 3D CNC coordinate measuring machine (CMM) from Mitutoyo offers accuracy, speed and functionality. -
Crysta-Plus M CNC CMM requires minimum floor space
The Crysta-Plus M CNC coordinate measuring machine features lightweight materials and an innovative machine structure. -
Digital micrometer provides measuring speed boost
The QuantuMike combines a precision 2mm-pitch leadscrew with a high-resolution electromagnetic induction rotary encoder to increase adjustment speed by up to four times. -
Laser scan micrometer aids fibre testing
Dia-Stron uses a Mitutoyo laser scan micrometer to help evaluate the tensile properties of cotton, hair, carbon fibre, Kevlar and other fibres as thin as 5um in its automated testing machines.
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (905)
- Machine Building (4,542)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,205)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (201)
- 3D CAD software (1,159)
- FEA and structural analysis software (372)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (919)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (198)
- Materials design and moulding design software (152)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (260)
- Electrical design software (165)
- Publishing and documentation software (230)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (318)
- Data, document management software (312)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (571)
- File conversion software, data capture (352)
- PLM and collaboration software (650)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,376)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (415)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,279)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (498)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,067)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,982)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,043)
- Control and Instrumentation (1)
- Plantwide control (1,330)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,178)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (388)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (202)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (563)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (807)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,493)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (496)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (473)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (631)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (718)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (442)
- Data loggers (423)
- Materials testing equipment (418)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (509)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,228)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,181)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (558)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (685)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (424)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (804)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (370)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (631)
-
Materials and Processing (2,975)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,224)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (288)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,101)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (563)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (401)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (350)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (435)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (840)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (278)
-
Powertrain Design (3,626)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (949)
- Chains and belts (327)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,447)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (429)
-
Capital Equipment (3,398)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (512)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,098)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (934)
-
Sensors (7,114)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (430)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (705)
- Pressure sensors (624)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (619)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (528)
- Linear Position Sensors (403)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (550)
- Proximity Sensors (706)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (285)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (154)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,387)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,639)
