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What is Non-Destructive Testing?

What is Non-Destructive Testing?

Types of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and Inspection

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) is the examination of an object or material with technology that does not affect its future usefulness. NDT techniques do not harm or destroy the object under test. NDT can provide an excellent balance of quality control and cost-effectiveness without affecting manufacturing yield.

The term "NDT" includes many methods that can:

  • Detect internal or external defects
  • Determine structure, composition or material properties
  • Measure geometric characteristics

NDT can and should be used in any phase of a product's design and manufacturing process, including materials selection, research and development, quality assurance and production. Non-Destructive Testing is also known as Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) or Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI).

Different Types of NDT Methods

  • Resonant Inspection (RI)
  • Radiography X-ray (RT)
  • Computed Tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)
  • Ultrasonic Testing (UT)
  • Electromagnetic Eddy Current (ET)
  • Acoustic Emission Testing (AE)
  • Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT)
  • Optical Testing
  • Visual Inspection

Traditional NDT Technique Comparison

A more in-depth comparison of Non-Destructive Testing methods is available via our learn portal.

Excellent Excellent Fair Fair Poor Poor
  RAM
Resonant
Acoustic		 ET
Eddy
Current		 MT/PT
Magnetic/
Penetrant		 UT
Ultrasonic		 RT
Radiography
Defect/Issue
Cracks/Chips/Voids Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fair
Material Properties Excellent Poor Poor Poor Fair
Missed Operations Excellent Poor Poor Poor Poor
Structural Integrity Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Product Lot Variation Fair Fair Excellent Excellent Excellent
Defect Location
Surface (External) Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Poor
Internal Excellent Poor Poor Excellent Excellent
Brazing/Bonding/Welding Excellent Poor Poor Fair Fair
Speed/Training/Cost
Throughput Excellent Fair Fair Excellent Poor
Training/Certification  Excellent Poor Poor Poor Poor
Total Inspection Costs Excellent Fair Fair Poor Poor
Automation Capacity
Quantitative Results Excellent Poor Poor Fair Poor
Ease of Automation Excellent Fair Fair Poor Poor
Cost of Automation ExcellentFair Fair Poor Poor Poor


NDT-RAM™ is short for Nondestructive Testing Resonant Acoustic Method. NDT-RAM is Resonant Inspection (RI) for nondestructive detection of structural differences in parts.

NDT-RAM Serves a Range of Industries

Manufacturers that benefit from NDT-RAM:

Previous article Carbide Tooling Bits NDT Quality Inspection
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Resonance Systems

in-line resonant inspection system
turnkey resonant inspection system

RAM–AUTO Automated Resonance Inspection System ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

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The RAM–AUTO is a 100% in–line fully automated turnkey resonant inspection system with an automated conveyor and industrial grade computer that's c...

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Ram Drop Resonance Video

RAM-DROP Automated Resonance Inspection System ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

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The RAM-DROP is a 100% automated fast turnkey Resonance NDT inspection system for small parts with automatic sorting of defective parts. The system...

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resonant inspection workstation

RAM-TEST-FIXTURE Resonance Workstation ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

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The RAM-TEST-FIXTURE is a resonant inspection workstation with an adjustable platform for easy testing of various part sizes and shapes. This sys...

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portable resonant inspection system

RAM-TEST-MANUAL Portable Resonance System ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

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The RAM-TEST-MANUAL is a portable manual system that’s ideal for spot checks and troubleshooting in the field and new part set-up. This system is...

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integrated resonant inspection system

RAM-TEST-SEMI Resonance System ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

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The RAM-TEST-SEMI is a resonant inspection system that’s ideal for integration into an existing manufacturing process. The system includes all of...

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