Blog Archives - Page 3 of 3

Certification vs Verification in Quality Testing

Don’t overlook this crucial difference. At Metallurgical Supply Company (METSUCO) we are often asked to provide quotes for hardness testers, calipers, micrometers, and other precision measurement tools to manufacturers and labs. Sometimes our clients know exactly what equipment or tool they are looking for, down to the specific brand and part number. But oftentimes, we ask our clients questions to help narrow down the hundreds of choices and help them get the most suitable item at the price point needed. One of the most critical questions we ask: will you be using the equipment or tool to verify or to... Continue reading

Getting Help From Hardness Testing

Getting Help From Hardness Testing Hardness tests let engineers check whether materials have been processed correctly. Jul 07, 2011 Author: Norm Ellis, Ellis & Associates CADD/Technical Illustration Editor: Jessica Shapiro Key points: • Engineers can use hardness testing to verify the composition or heat-treatment history of materials. • Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers, and Shore are common hardness tests. Their use depends on the material being tested. • Rockwell tests cover a wide range of metallic materials, while Shore testing is for plastics and elastomers. Resources: Ellis & Associates CADD/Technical Illustration “Pint-Sized Hardness Tester Gets its Finesse from Compact Servodrive,” Machine Design,... Continue reading

Easing the Inspection Task

Easing the Inspection Task Recent developments in various NDE modalities are making inspection more accurate and faster while providing data that is easier to interpret. June 10, 2020 By: Henning Juknat Fig 3. HD Images Provided by Mentor Visual iQ KEYWORDS nondestructive examination technology / phased array / radiography / ultrasonics / visual inspection As nondestructive examination (NDE) continues to evolve as an inspection discipline, so the technologies of NDE evolve to meet new challenges in terms of materials and material geometries to be inspected. This article looks at some of the recent developments in various NDE modalities which are... Continue reading

Blog

Lean ISO Management Systems: How to Create Lean Procedures

The objective is to eliminate or minimize waste within the process without impacting the outcomes. May 1, 2020 Mark Kaganov KEYWORDS ISO standards / lean manufacturing / management systems / procedures The authors of the sample procedures here started from title blocks and tables that did not contribute to the purpose. Such “decorated” documents are difficult to read and impede the focus from the content. Lean approaches are beneficial for the development and maintenance of management systems compliant with ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001 ISO 45001 standards and 21 CFR 820 FDA regulation. An excessive number of documents,... Continue reading

What Will Manufacturing’s New Normal Be After COVID-19?

What Will Manufacturing’s New Normal Be After COVID-19? History teaches us that short-term measures taken in response to global crises lead to changes that last for decades. Artem Kroupenev APR 21, 2020 Most of us hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will end within months, and things will go back to normal. In fact, many aspects of our society may never return to normal. In an effort to control the spread of the coronavirus, governments have taken extreme measures reserved for global wartime situations and the use of military-grade surveillance technology to enforce social distancing. With millions of people in complete... Continue reading

Blog

The Gage Selection Conundrum

The Gage Selection Conundrum The correct selection of measuring devices will ensure the quality, price and delivery of the products we manufacture and use. May 1, 2020 (By Mike Oddy) The goal is to ensure we have the correct inspection tools to ensure the quality of the product produced. Selecting gages and other types of measuring tools can be challenging. It does not matter if you are an experienced or novice gage user, tool crib manager, lab manager or buyer. In some cases, these decisions can have detrimental effects on the finished product. In others, the gage cost and calibration... Continue reading

Blog

Why Did METSUCO Start Selling Cleaning Supplies?

In March 2020, METSUCO, and every company in the world, started to feel the impact of COVID-19. Not just financially. Our way of doing business had to change. The virus was bringing about new social interaction norms, questions about how to work safely, and thoughts of how to work more remotely. As we started looking at how to adapt our own business, we also started hearing from some clients. “Can you get hand sanitizer?” “Do you have gloves by any chance?” “I’m completely out of disinfectant, any idea who carries that?” As a niche distribution company, we had never been... Continue reading

Blog

Hardness Testing Changes with the Times

February 1, 2020 Author: Genevieve Diesing Source: Quality Magazine, Feb 2020 As 2020 marks the 100-year anniversary of the world’s first commercial hardness tester, the technology is as significant as ever. Today’s hardness testers, including the Universal 4000 from Buehler, can help with increasing quality demands. Component manufacturers across the manufacturing spectrum—such as in automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical, energy and other fields—must ensure that their parts meet engineers’ specifications. In addition to metrology, mechanical testing and nondestructive testing methods, among others, hardness testing is an important method of testing part quality. Material hardness testing gauges a material’s strength by measuring how... Continue reading