Study of Magna Flux Machine

Non Destructive Test for

Detecting Cracks.

Knowing the Magna Flux Machine

Purpose of Megna Flux Machine. Materials Required for test on this Machine.

Method of Detecting Cracks.

Purpose of Magna Flux

This machine is used in non destructive tests . Megna Flux is used to detect cracks.

Shafts, crank shaft etc. are tested for cracks which is necessary for healthy production.

Requirement for Conducting Test

Machine is to be operated in dark, behind the thick black curtains A paste is required for the application on the surface of the material which is to be detected for cracks. Ingredients of the paste are Kerosene Magneaglo MG40

Magna flux machine

Picture showing magna flux machine . It is covered with black curtains.

Preparation of Paste

Paste consists of kerosene oil, which works as a base and Magneaglo MG40 which is in powder form. These two are mixed in required proportion. Best results are obtained when 0.75g of Mg40 is mixed with 1litre of kerosene oil.

Working of Magna Flux Machine

Step1
First of all the specimen like shaft, crank etc. which is to be tested for the cracks is mounted on the rotating spindle of the machine. Machine is turned on and the material to be tested starts rotating.

Step 2
Now the paste is applied on the surface of the specimen while rotating. Ultra violet light is turned on.

Also magnetic field of machine is turned on.

Step 3
As the magnetic field is applied to the surrounding of the specimen the material of specimen gets magnetised. Due to magnetisation the shaft or crank surface expands very minutely.

Step 4
As the surface of the material expands, cracks if any on surface also expands. Due to expansion of cracks the paste being applied on the surface of the material enters into the cracks.

Step 5
Now in final step the ultra violet rays are focused on the surface of turning material. Surface is inspected visually with naked eye. If any crack is present in the material the paste entered into the crack is seen in a bright yellow colour in thread like structure under UV rays.

Picture showing cracks . This is how the crack appears when UV rays are focused

Conclusion
So the appearance of the yellow thread like structure concludes that the crack is present in the shaft and this must not be used in the production.
Thus the material is not passed and if large number of shafts are found defected, quality department is informed, which further informs the vendor and whole supply is returned with warning for supply of good material in future.

Benefits
The operation of machine is not very complicated and operator can be trained in short duration. The use of machine is cheap as compared to the robotic inspection of cracks.
Accurate upto required level.

Drawbacks
The work on this machine is bit tiresome and dingy. The process is bit time consuming. Is less accurate than the robotic inspection.