Zyglo Magnaflux

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Anyone ever use this process to check for cracks?

I need to check 4 wheel centers before machine work.

[J P Stein]

It sounds like you are after penetrant inspection of a non-ferrous part.....not to be confused with magnetic particle inspection of a ferrous part.
Either way, BTDT several years for a lving.

[TimT]

I used to perform those test all the time

You have mentioned two different tests:

Zyglo is a dye penetrant test to find cracks, Magnaflux (magnetic particle inspection) uses a magnetic field and fine iron filings to find cracks, and can only be used on ferrous metals, unless you have steel wheels you will have to use dye penetrant inspection.

Easiest for at home is the dye penetrant.. You can pick up a kit pretty inexpensively.

Magnaflux does make a dye penetrant kit also...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

OK, thanks. Yes, I need to strip the paint off these centers and test for cracks before sending out to be re-drilled and then repositioned in the barrels.

Magnaflux came up when I googled Zyglo, and kits seem extremely expensive. $600.

Should I just take them to a local wheel refinishing place?

Tim, do you know anyone on the East Coast that can do this kind of work (all the machine work)? Wheels are early 80s TransAm/CanAm wheels.

[Zeke]

Nice wheels. Someone in your area must be doing non destructive testing. Make them some shirts.

[TimT]

You can get a small Spotcheck kit for around $50..

Pegasus and Aircraft spruce have them, also check some local welding supply places, they usually have small kits

[J P Stein]

Those centers are aluminum and PT is the way to go.
To do a proper PT they need to be stripped then etched.......etching is not a DIY operation. Take em' to a pro for PT.....your life may depend on it.

BTW: I like to radius (.05 or so) all sharp edges on centers (prior to etching)....overkill? sure, why not.

[Joeaksa]

Have done it for years. We use it all the time on airplanes.

Magnaflux is for steel.... and Zyglo is for other materials.

Check at your local airport, smaller the better and ask for the Director of Maintenance. They will have a source for someone who does this testing,

[HardDrive]

I have just found my universal answer to the question, "Whats wrong with my car?"

"Looks lik you have a bad Zyglo Magnaflux"

[RANDY P]

Dye penetrant inspection. Can't use magnaflux on non ferrous materials.

But, I'm sure people have pointed that out already.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by J P Stein

Those centers are aluminum and PT is the way to go.
To do a proper PT they need to be stripped then etched.......etching is not a DIY operation. Take em' to a pro for PT.....your life may depend on it.

BTW: I like to radius (.05 or so) all sharp edges on centers (prior to etching)....overkill? sure, why not.

Thanks JP.

Did I miss something, what is PT?

How do you know they are Al? The wheels are 17 lbs, 10x16, so I thought the centers might be Mg.

[944Larry]

Zyglo will only detect cracks that have extended to the surface. It's probably rare that a crack doesn't, but it isn't unheard of. Just be aware that this is a limitation. I have one with a blacklight that I use frequently.

[J P Stein]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Thanks JP.

Did I miss something, what is PT?

How do you know they are Al? The wheels are 17 lbs, 10x16, so I thought the centers might be Mg.

I must admit that was a WAG......they may be Magnesium but for Non Destructive Testing the point is moot. Penetrant Testing is still the method used.....Magnesium being non-ferrous. Etching is needed to remove smeared metal caused by abrasion....which tends to smear metal over defects open to the surface. To check for subsurface defects, Ultra Sonic or Eddy Current are the preferred methods. Both are widely used in the aircraft maintenance industry and are portable. X-Ray is good for inclusions but a poor crack detector. The source needs to be parallel to the crack (that you don't know is there) for the crack to show up on film.

On an individual, non welded piece, the vast majority of cracks start from a surface stress point.....like an edge or a kerf. I won't get into weldments.

[RWebb]

might be fun to introduce yourself to people as "Zyglo Magnaflux"

see how many pick up on it

[cashflyer]

Eddy.
Eddy Current.

[herr_oberst]

Miller.
Lincoln Miller

[J P Stein]

Magnus, Magnus Flux. I make capacitors.

[Jim Bremner]

[QUOTE=Zeke;6644333]Nice wheels. Someone in your area must be doing non destructive testing. Make them some shirts.[/Q


This! Zeke nailed it! Trade Tit for Tat! How did that saying come from?

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

Trade Tit for Tat! How did that saying come from?

Well, obviously the saying came from a tattoo artist who was a tit man.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Eddy.
Eddy Current.

don't forget Dr. Ed. E. Size

you could crash if your forget about him