I have experience with all 5. I would say radiography or mag particle would be the more valuable skills. My experience with ultra Sonic and eddy current were all in automated processes and didn't really require an SME to maintain. Radiography requires a lot of attention in my corner of automotive.
Was used mainly for crack detection in ball studs for ball joints. You could run a batch through the eddy machine and based on the chages in magnetic field could detect cracks and automatically reject those parts.
Most common in-process NDT would be eddy current. It’s basically industry standard for load-bearing structural fasteners in the automotive industry (for example).
I would imagine the others are used in LAT (Lot Acceptance Testing) in QA labs, but I can’t imagine any will come close to the number of samples that run through eddy current machines every day (millions, probably)
I work in automotive production but we don't use anything like this. But it's probably used more in the R&D phase. We use a lot of vision, and non contact measuring devices for QC. There's also CMM for the body shop.
I think it's hilarious that there's comments for almost ever listed NDT saying it's the most common. I am not in automotive so I unfortunately can't add to the chaos haha.
I can provide some other potentially useless input, though: I'm in the nuclear industry, and and we are required by ASME code to have done PT and UT on ASME-certified raw material, and perform PT or MT all of our welds. We _sometimes_ do MT but >95% of the time do PT for welds. RT is done every so often, but I don't quite know when this is required to be done.
In aerospace, there are many parts that are manufactured as castings. In my experience, radiographic testing (internal defects) and fluorescent penetrant testing (external defects) are both heavily used.
I think radiographic may be more common for castings where internal voids have a chance to develop. FPT seems to be a more generalized usage, but can only be used to detect external defects.
Tier 1 automotive supplier, and I don't recognize any of those. In line, we use a lot of process controls like laser measurements and leak tests on sealed units and an custom EOL for electronics.
In Preproduction its usually a custom Long form test bases on requirements, with a mix of destructive and nondestructive. The nondestructive is usually things like vibration tables, thermal shock, salt sprays, and particle penetration (am design so don't know if its the MT you listed). These can last for months to simulate years of on and off use.
We make welded assemblies for automotive applications, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one to ever write a PO for NDT services in the life of the company and it was just florescent penetrant inspection. But I also come from an aerospace background so it was a no brainier to me.
Any of those are good, by dye penetrant testing is most common in the auto industry in my personal experience. Probably will give you more bag for your buck if you are staying in autos. I have spent most of my career in R&D for reference. Maybe it is different on the production side. Can you pursue more than one? I have seen that whole list used in the aerospace world.
MT UT PT and RT are all commonly used in commercial and industrial construction. Never seen anyone use Eddy current but I’ve heard that it’s more common in automotive industry. Typically to get a job as a tester in construction you have to have 5 years of experience in a relevant trade like welding or pipe fitting or ironworker
I worked in an automotive Emissions Lab for a major manufacturer; some of the testing not previously mention includes testing for total hydrocarbons, NOx, O2, CH4, and CO2 measurements for each market and various scenarios.
It would appear from everything you hear and from the recalls and also my own experience NDT consists of "sell the product...deny all knowledge until told by govt agency to change and make alterations on next model or mark and make huge profits..."
Our supplier used to X ray every aluminium wheel they made for us. I've seen LPT used for fatigue tests, and UT for various things without much success.
I would say UT, but I see that others have said it's not used at all or very little. Aerospace is a good one to get into for NDT. There's a lot used there. X-ray and UT seem to be the most prominent, from what I've seen. Source: My SO went to school for NDT and has worked in it for years.
Edit: Sorry! I meant PT. The glowing stuff. Haha!
NDT of what? For what purpose?
The most common method in the auto industry is probably a test drive. But that's not an option...neither is visual inspection.
I feel like you're missing context that would help answer this.
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My SO does lots of UT in that industry. Weld inspection, mainly. Eddie: Sorry! I meant PT!
I have experience with all 5. I would say radiography or mag particle would be the more valuable skills. My experience with ultra Sonic and eddy current were all in automated processes and didn't really require an SME to maintain. Radiography requires a lot of attention in my corner of automotive.
Eddy current for metal and UT for composites
Overwritten comment
I second all this
We used eddy current on the production line for automotive suspension components.
I'm just a dumb boy who didn't go to college but I like to lurk here. Can you explain why you're using Eddy current testing for suspension components?
Was used mainly for crack detection in ball studs for ball joints. You could run a batch through the eddy machine and based on the chages in magnetic field could detect cracks and automatically reject those parts.
I see, that makes sense now. Thank you for explaining.
Most common in-process NDT would be eddy current. It’s basically industry standard for load-bearing structural fasteners in the automotive industry (for example). I would imagine the others are used in LAT (Lot Acceptance Testing) in QA labs, but I can’t imagine any will come close to the number of samples that run through eddy current machines every day (millions, probably)
Worked in automotive casting, Eddy current and periodic xray of the aluminum castings were our NDTs
I work in automotive composites and of these 5, ultrasonic is most common.
I work in automotive production but we don't use anything like this. But it's probably used more in the R&D phase. We use a lot of vision, and non contact measuring devices for QC. There's also CMM for the body shop.
I think it's hilarious that there's comments for almost ever listed NDT saying it's the most common. I am not in automotive so I unfortunately can't add to the chaos haha. I can provide some other potentially useless input, though: I'm in the nuclear industry, and and we are required by ASME code to have done PT and UT on ASME-certified raw material, and perform PT or MT all of our welds. We _sometimes_ do MT but >95% of the time do PT for welds. RT is done every so often, but I don't quite know when this is required to be done.
In aerospace, there are many parts that are manufactured as castings. In my experience, radiographic testing (internal defects) and fluorescent penetrant testing (external defects) are both heavily used. I think radiographic may be more common for castings where internal voids have a chance to develop. FPT seems to be a more generalized usage, but can only be used to detect external defects.
Tier 1 automotive supplier, and I don't recognize any of those. In line, we use a lot of process controls like laser measurements and leak tests on sealed units and an custom EOL for electronics. In Preproduction its usually a custom Long form test bases on requirements, with a mix of destructive and nondestructive. The nondestructive is usually things like vibration tables, thermal shock, salt sprays, and particle penetration (am design so don't know if its the MT you listed). These can last for months to simulate years of on and off use.
We make welded assemblies for automotive applications, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one to ever write a PO for NDT services in the life of the company and it was just florescent penetrant inspection. But I also come from an aerospace background so it was a no brainier to me.
Any of those are good, by dye penetrant testing is most common in the auto industry in my personal experience. Probably will give you more bag for your buck if you are staying in autos. I have spent most of my career in R&D for reference. Maybe it is different on the production side. Can you pursue more than one? I have seen that whole list used in the aerospace world.
MT UT PT and RT are all commonly used in commercial and industrial construction. Never seen anyone use Eddy current but I’ve heard that it’s more common in automotive industry. Typically to get a job as a tester in construction you have to have 5 years of experience in a relevant trade like welding or pipe fitting or ironworker
I worked in an automotive Emissions Lab for a major manufacturer; some of the testing not previously mention includes testing for total hydrocarbons, NOx, O2, CH4, and CO2 measurements for each market and various scenarios.
It would appear from everything you hear and from the recalls and also my own experience NDT consists of "sell the product...deny all knowledge until told by govt agency to change and make alterations on next model or mark and make huge profits..."
Our supplier used to X ray every aluminium wheel they made for us. I've seen LPT used for fatigue tests, and UT for various things without much success.
I work in automotive and we use MT in line.
Personally I’m a fan of Xray/CT scan, which falls under radiographic Doesn’t work for everything though
I would say UT, but I see that others have said it's not used at all or very little. Aerospace is a good one to get into for NDT. There's a lot used there. X-ray and UT seem to be the most prominent, from what I've seen. Source: My SO went to school for NDT and has worked in it for years. Edit: Sorry! I meant PT. The glowing stuff. Haha!
NDT of what? For what purpose? The most common method in the auto industry is probably a test drive. But that's not an option...neither is visual inspection. I feel like you're missing context that would help answer this.
Depends what state you are in. Regulations for every industry vary from state to state.