Small Part Non-Destructive Resonant Inspection Drop Test Fixture

The principle of NDT-RAM is simple. Every part has a unique resonant signature or pattern that reflects its composition. Any deviation from the expected signature or pattern indicates the presence of a structural flaw or variation. An example is a cracked bell that no longer has a clear ring and cannot hold its tone.

RAM-DROP automates easily with typical small part automation components like bowl feeders or vibratory tables and is instrumented with a laboratory grade force sensor, microphone, and digital signal analyzer while still being rugged enough for the manufacturing environment. This easy-to-use NDT system can detect imperfections or flaws such as cracks, missing features, and mixed parts. It can also detect if processes have been missed, such as a machining or heat treating operation.

With typical throughput speeds of one to three seconds per part, RAM-DROP provides a means for objective sorting that requires no human interpretation. A simple pass/fail result is returned by the system and parts are automatically sorted via a controlled servo motor.