Inspection
Inspection of finished products is an important element of our quality assurance system, and probably the three most important areas for us are dimensions, welding and finish.
Checking the dimensions of an exhaust system can be tricky and time-consuming using traditional inspection equipment, so we have invested in a Microscribe portable co-ordinate measuring machine which gives us XYZ co-ordinates to an accuracy of plus or minus 0.3mm. An experienced eye is probably the best way of assessing welding quality but we can also check for holes using either pressurisation or dye-penetrant testing.
Turning to finish, an aluminised or stainless steel exhaust is ready to install in the form it leaves the production line, however for customers requiring a black finish we can apply heat-resistant black paint or powder coating. In order to check the durability of this finish, we place test pieces in our oven at 500 C, leave them for 30 minutes then remove and air cool them. After this we carry out cross-cut tests to check coating adhesion, and we also have an electronic coating thickness meter.
(Photo: Checking dimensions using Microscribe)
(Photo: Stainless TIG welds)
(Photo: Stainless MIG weld)