Testing Processes

Castle’s testing processes include the following:

• Hardness

  A test used to determine the relative resistance to indentation or displacement of metals by pressure, or by resistance to abrasion. Common methods of testing include Brinell, Rockwell, and Vickers tests.
  

  Brinell:

  A common standard method of measuring the hardness of certain metals. The smooth surface of the metal is subjected to indentation by a hardened steel ball under pressure or load. The diameter of the resultant indentation, in the metal surface, is measured by a special microscope and the Brinell hardness value read from a chart or calculated formula.
  

  Rockwell:

  A method for testing the hardness of metals by determining the depth of penetration of a steel ball or a diamond sphero-conical indenter. The value is read from a dial and is an arbitrary number related to the depth of penetration. (http://metals.about.com/library/bldef-Rockwell-Hardness-Testing.htm)

• Eddy Current Tester

  The ROTOMAC 550 CUSTOM rotary probe eddy current tester at Castle’s HA Industries provides for detection of surface defects such as cracks or seams in bar stock.  The rotating multiple test probes at speeds up to 6000 RPM around the bar.  The material under test moves longitudinally through rotating probes creating a helical search pattern. As the probe passes over a defect, variations in the induced eddy-current pattern are produced, detected and indicated.

• Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES)

  The ARL - OES at Castle’s HA Industries provides material analysis for carbon, alloy and stainless steels. The OES is able to perform rapid simultaneous analysis of up to 18 elements. The high energy spark emits a spectrum of radiation with wavelengths converted to the elemental composition.

• Ultrasonic

  A method of nondestructive testing of solid metal for internal flaws utilizing high frequency sound waves.