Non-Contact Af Tester
(BFR Testing System)

The NCAT, short for Non-Contact AF Tester, is an innovative new testing device that ANV Laser has proudly developed for use in testing Bend and Free Recovery. This BFR testing device allows users to determine both the Start and Finish temperatures of martensite-to-austenite transformation (Af) for a set of several devices simultaneously, even when the devices are of different shapes.

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NCAT system

Standard BFR Testing Procedure

The test objects are:

  • Brought down to a temperature at which they are nominally fully martensitic.
  • Bend, to incur deformation.
  • Monitored during recovery as they are brought up to the fully austenitic phase. Motion is measured during recovery, and a plot is generated against the temperature.

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BFR Testing with the NCAT

Nickel-titanium test objects, heat-treated or fully annealed, are placed inside the NCAT's chilled test tray. The image of these objects is analyzed by the NCAT's proprietary software, defining each individual object's boundaries. The intuitive graphic interface lets the tester easily select and remove any erroneous artifacts. The change detection and registration model can be specified for each item individually during the test. Models include object boundary, parallel lines, inscribed or described circle, convex hull, and described rectangle.

Maximum and minimum boundaries are defined separately for each object, both for MEASUREMENT (i.e. either linear or quadratic characteristics of object), the Y-axis of the plot, and TEMPERATURE, the X-axis. The NCAT's innovative heating mechanics allow the tester to set a designated heating rate during the test. Once all these parameters are to their satisfaction, the tester begins the test. The NCAT produces MEASUREMENTS against TEMPERATURE plots for each object.

The NCAT automatically ends a test once the user-set end-temperature is reached. The NCAT's software generates a report that includes the MEASUREMENT against TEMPERATURE plot for each object, along with their calculated martensite-to-austenite start and finish temperatures.

The Benefits of NCAT:

  • Production-ready high-volume testing: This breakthrough device allows for testing multiple, different-shaped objects in the same tray simultaneously.
  • Lower minimum size requirement: BFR testing can now be done on much smaller objects, even under 3 grams.
  • Increased cost-effectiveness and greater accuracy compared with traditional BFR test methods.
  • Flexibility: cEvery parameter can be set separately for each object, with settings easily saved and retrieved for future testing of the same object.
  • Flexibility: Every parameter can be set separately for each object, with settings easily saved and retrieved for future testing of the same object.
  • Customizable:The NCAT is fully customizable to meet the demands of your unique QA system.
  • Real Distance measurement: Capability to Measure True Device Distances Before and After Deformation.
  • Possibility to record tests and reuse recorded data for retesting/analysis without physically retesting the parts again (e.g., reload saved measurement curves, reports, or Af values for verification or comparison).

The NCAT's Primary Features:

  • Complete control of experiment settings, end-temperature, change detection method, along with camera and image processing controls, number of frames, buffer, contrast and brightness, etc.
  • Many detection models: parallel lines, inscribed and described circle, boundary, etc.
  • Minimum and maximum MEASUREMENT and TEMPERATURE plotted can be adjusted for each object individually.
  • Complete control of the rate of heating with automatic stop at end-temperature set-point.
  • Automatically generate saveable reports for each object's start and finish martensite-to-austenite temperatures.
  • Possibility to record tests and reuse recorded data for retesting/analysis without physically retesting the parts again (e.g., reload saved measurement curves, reports, or Af values for verification or comparison).

Specification:

NCAT-001
NCAT - Mass Testing Pro
  • Overall footprint (mm): 350 x 450 x 600
  • Working Area (mm): 297 x 210
  • Electrical: 220(115) V/50 Hz
  • Weight: 10 kg
  • Dell Micro PC with NCAT Software installed
  • Calibrated Accuracy: ± 2° C
  • Volume Testing up to 20 samples
  • Testing of small parts (≤1 gr)
  • ASTM F2082 One Stage, Two Stage, Af-95%
  • Part Detection Method
  • Calibration Set
  • Record tests and reuse recorded data for retesting/analysis
NCAT-002
NCAT - R&D Pro
  • Overall footprint (mm): 350 x 450 x 600
  • Working Area (mm): 297 x 210
  • Electrical: 220(115) V/50 Hz
  • Weight: 10 kg
  • Dell Micro PC with NCAT Software installed
  • Calibrated Accuracy: ± 2° C
  • Volume Testing up to 10 samples
  • Testing of small parts (≤1 gr) with additional equipment
  • ASTM F2082 One Stage, Two Stage, Af-95%
  • Part Detection Method
  • Calibration Set
  • Record tests and reuse recorded data for retesting/analysis
NCAT-003
NCAT R&D
  • Overall footprint (mm): 350 x 450 x 600
  • Working Area (mm): 297 x 210
  • Electrical: 220(115) V/50 Hz
  • Weight: 10 kg
  • Dell Micro PC with NCAT Software installed
  • Calibrated Accuracy: ± 2° C
  • Volume Testing -Not Applicable
  • Testing of small parts (≤1 gr) with additional equipment
  • ASTM F2082 One Stage, Two Stage, Af-95%
  • Part Detection Method
  • Calibration Set
  • Record tests and reuse recorded data for retesting/analysis

NCAT Package Includes

  • Dell Micro PC with NCAT software
  • Digital Camera: The mounted camera also includes an adjustable stand for tweaking the distance from test objects.
  • Light system: The lighting system provides diffused light to avoid both reflections and glare.
  • Lenses: Multiple lenses for manually adjusting focus and different aperture settings.
  • Non-Contact Temperature sensor: Measurement range of -50° C - +100° C.
  • Heater
  • Beaker
  • Enclosure
  • Real Distance measurement: Capability to Measure True Device Distances Before and After Deformation.
  • The new PCAT Software (V. 1.6.00) with the following features:
  • Individually adjust test parameters for each object and save the settings to be easily retrieved for the next testing.
  • Very small minimum object size.
  • Test and record Af start and finish temperatures individually for several differently shaped objects, simultaneously.
  • High-volume testing, allowing for production testing: First time ever that several, different-shaped objects can be tested at the same time in one tray.
  • The beginning and the end martensite-to-austenite temperatures can be designed to the following standards:
  • ASTM F2082 One-Stage.
  • ASTM F2082 Af-95%.
  • ASTM F2082 Two-Stage.
  • 5% Fixed Offset.
  • Adjustable heating rate.

NCAT Certificates

Download NCAT Certificates:

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