MIL Services | Magnetic Inspection Laboratory Inc.

MIL offers numerous metal finishing processes. These methods improve the surface finish of a material. After finishing, parts may have improved performance in specific environments, abrasion resistance, color dyes, etc.

Anodizing

Chromic, Sulfuric, Boric, Hardcoat
Colors available: Blue, Red, Green, Black, Yellow, Orange, Purple
Materials: 2024, 7075, 6061, A356, MIL-A-8625, AMS 2468, AMS 2469, AMS 2470, AMS 2471, AMS 2472

Chromic Types I, IB, IC
Sulfuric Types II, IIB
Thin Film Surfuric
Hardcoat Type III
Class 2 Multiple Dye Colors

Chromate Conversion Coatings

Clear/Yellow (please specify)
ROHS compliant is available
AMS 2473, MIL-DTL-554L, CIA and CC3

Class 1A and 3
Rohs

Passivation

400 Series, PH & 300 Series, and Ti
24-hour humidity testing, Copper S

300 / 400 / PH / High Ni Alloys

Chemical Milling

The chemical removal of base material to a desired size
Removal of decarb (steel), alphacase (Ti), recast layer (EDM surface)
Materials: carbon steels, titanium

Cadmium Plating, Rack and Barrel

Used to protect various steel substrates from corrosion
Natural lubricity, electrical conductivity, low contact resistance, good solder ability, and ductility
Thickness ranges are 0.0001” to 0.0006” per surface

Phosphate Zn and Mn

Zinc (TT-C-490), Manganese (DOD-P-16232 Tym)
Surface conditions may require blasting. Surface hardness 39 RC or greater may require stress relief and embrittlement relief bake

Black Oxide

Materials: Carbon Steels (need hardness for bake requirments, some staineless steel)
MIL-DTL-13924 Ty1 & Ty4, AMS 2485

Prepenetrant Etch

Materials: titanium, aluminum, stainless steel
Removal of base material for Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection

Electro Polish

Surface Finish Improvement of microfinish
Materials: all staineless steels

Shot Peening

Two NADCAP accredited, six axis robotic shot peen systems capable of peening parts up to 550 lbs.

Pickle / Etch

Aggressive surface cleaning and surface preparation

Abrasive Blasting – Automatic / Manual

Glass Bead
Aluminum Oxide

Vapor Degreasing

Chemical cleaning process used to remove heavy oils and grease from work pieces.

Ultrasonic Cleaning

Uses sound frequencies of 15 to 40 KHz in combination with chemicals to clean parts.

Titanium Cleaning

EDM Recast Layer Removal

Stress / Embrittlement Relief Baking

MIL features a wide variety of coating types. The aim of applying coatings is to improve surface properties of a material. The appearance, adhesion, wetability, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, scratch resistance, etc., of a part can be upgraded. They may be applied as liquids, gases or solids.

Dry / Solid Film Lubricant

DFL provides surfaces with a grease-less lubrication
MIL also offers detailed masking
Common specifications: AS 5272, MIL-PRF-46010

Conveyorized Paint Line

Fully-enclosed and integrated process flow
Controls foreign object debris (F.O.D.) and reduces part handling
Medium-wave infared (IR) curing oven

MIL-Spec Prime / Paint

Types:Epoxy, CARC, Polyurethane
Testing: wet or dry tape adhesion
Common Specifications: MIL-PRF-23377, MIL-C-85285, MIL-C-22750, MIL-P-53022, MIL-C-46168, MIL-C-53039

Epoxy / Polyurethane / Enamel

CARC

Metallic Ceramic (Sermatel)

Permanent Resin

Teflon

PTFE

Controlled Atmosphere Cure

Powder Coating

Very durable and UV resistant
Electrostatic process
Many stock colors available

Silkscreen Printing

Part Marking (Rubber Stamp)

Fundamental method of applying part number, revision, S/N, cage code, etc.
Marking material is typically a contrasting ink or paint defined in the engineering drawing
Common specification: MIL-STD-130

Screen Printing (Silkscreen)

Fundamental method of applying part number, revision, S/N, cage code, etc.
Marking material is typically a contrasting ink or paint defined in the engineering drawing
Common specification: MIL-STD-130

Laser Marking

Utilizes Epilog Fusion M2 40, a dual source CO2 + Fiber system

Stenciling

400 Series, PH & 300 Series, and Ti
24-hour humidity testing, Copper S

Paint Filling of Characters

Precision machined engraving / embossing of alpha numeric symbology filled with a contrasting ink or paint
Common Spec: MIL-STD-130

Vibro Peen, Manual

Precision machined engraving / embossing of alpha numeric symbology filled with a contrasting ink or paint
Common Spec: MIL-STD-130

Shot peen, a cold-working metal process, is performed by directing a controlled stream of round particles (shot) against a metallic surface, creating a compressive layer in that surface.

Shot Peening

While the primary purpose of this layer of compressed material is to provide resistance to fatigue cracking, the consequential work hardening of the surface can provide the added benefit of resistance to fretting and wear. To accurately repeat this process requires a heightened degree of control and precision.

Shot Peening

Two NADCAP accredited, six axis robotic shot peen systems capable of peening parts up to 550 lbs

Abrasive Blasting – Automatic / Manual

Glass Bead
Aluminum Oxide

Nondestructive testing, or NDT, is a valuable and useful process, as it does not require the disassembly, dissection, or general sacrifice of a part or material.

Fluorescent Dye Penetrant

Nondestructive testing for surface indications such as cracks, seams, porosity, etc.
Performed on non-ferrous materials ASTM-E-1417

Visible Dye Penetrant

Nondestructive testing for surface indications such as cracks, seams, porosity, etc.
Performed on non-ferrous materials ASTM-E-1417\

Magnetic Particle Inspection

Non-destructive testing for surface indications such as cracks, seams, chips, etc.
Performed on ferrous materials
ASTM-E-1444

Radiography (X-Ray)

Typically performed on castings and weldments
Non-destructive testing for sub-surface indications such as porosity, voids, lack of fusion, etc.
ASTM-E-1742

Nital / Temper Etch

Testing for grinding burns
Post baking RC39 greater is typically required
MPI performed post nital etch for detection of crack caused by grinding
Specs: MIL-STH867, AGMA 2007

Hydrostatic Pressure Testing

Test of weld quality
Up to 25,000 PSI Capibility
Hydrostatic

Helium Leak Testing

Test of weld quality
10-sensitivity

Metallurgical Testing is the analysis of a part or material, evaluation of material adherence to a specification, surface deformation check, contamination inspection, or material failure test.

Material Analysis / Identification

Provides elemental breakdown of material

Hardness

Verifies hardness of components
Rockwell
ASTM-E-18

Micro Hardness

Series of successive hardness readings
Used to determine case hardness
Used to determine strength of material

Tensile Testing

Determines tensile strength of material
Requires a prepared specimen
ASTM-E-8

Bend Testing

For weld procedure and qualification
Face, root, transverse, and longitudinal bend tests
Verifies accuracy of welding parameters to produce a sound weld
Requires prepared samples

Impact

Verifies toughness of materials
Requires prepared samples

Macro Etching

Often used to examine weld profiles (depth of fusion, HAS, etc.)
Prepared surface is etched to reveal metallurgical characteristics

Photomicrographs

Examination of microstructure
Failure / flaw analysis

Shear

Welding is the melting and fusing together of two items using the heat of an electric arc. The main welding processes used at MIL are Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) and Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW).

Most Materials

Aluminum, steel, titanium, stainless steel, magnesium, bronze, copper, nickel, etc.

MIG

aka GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding)
High deposition rates
Used onf ferrous and non-ferrous materials

TIG

aka GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding)
Used on ferrous and non-ferrous materials
Extremely clean welding process
Used for high precision welding

Silver Solder

Manual process used on thin material
Used on ferrous and non-ferrous materials
Low temp process (below 800 deg F)

Torch Brazing

Manual process which utilizes heat supplied by a torch
Higher strength than a soldered joint
High temperature process (above 800° F)

Casting Repair

Excavation resulting from defect removal is filled in with weld metal
Used to upgrade castings to a higher quality level

Tool and Die Repair

Weld build up to replace worn and lost material

Procedure Qualification

Verifies welding parameters to produce sound welds
Bend and tensile testing are utilized

Stress Relieving

Performed after welding to relieve residual stresses induced by welding
Time and temperature determined by material type and thickness

CWI Visual Inspection

A visual weld inspection performed by a CWI (Certified Welding Inspector). A CWI is a 3rd party certification issued by the American Welding Society to qualified candidates who pass specific examinations, codes and standards.

Welder Certification

Most often accomplished by radiography
Qualified by material, thickness, process, position, and diameter

Repair Welding

Casting repair
Tool and die repair
Repair of defect removal in welds

Hard Facing / Overlay

Validation tests are used to verify whether materials can withstand the rigors of harsh environments, such as humidity, high and low temperatures, salt spray, UV rays, etc.

Corrosion

Salt Fog Testing

Used to test quality of cleaning performed, anodizing or coatings durability ASTM-B-117

Services

Anodizing

Chromate Conversion Coatings

Passivation

Chemical Milling

Cadmium Plating, Rack and Barrel

Phosphate Zn and Mn

Black Oxide

Prepenetrant Etch

Electro Polish

Shot Peening

Pickle / Etch

Abrasive Blasting – Automatic / Manual

Vapor Degreasing

Ultrasonic Cleaning

Titanium Cleaning

EDM Recast Layer Removal

Stress / Embrittlement Relief Baking

Dry / Solid Film Lubricant

Conveyorized Paint Line

MIL-Spec Prime / Paint

Epoxy / Polyurethane / Enamel

CARC

Metallic Ceramic (Sermatel)

Permanent Resin

Teflon

PTFE

Controlled Atmosphere Cure

Powder Coating

Part Marking (Rubber Stamp)

Screen Printing (Silkscreen)

Laser Marking

Stenciling

Paint Filling of Characters

Vibro Peen, Manual

Shot Peening

Shot Peening

Abrasive Blasting – Automatic / Manual

Fluorescent Dye Penetrant

Visible Dye Penetrant

Magnetic Particle Inspection

Radiography (X-Ray)

Nital / Temper Etch

Hydrostatic Pressure Testing

Helium Leak Testing

Material Analysis / Identification

Hardness

Micro Hardness

Tensile Testing

Bend Testing

Impact

Macro Etching

Photomicrographs

Shear

Most Materials

MIG

TIG

Silver Solder

Torch Brazing

Casting Repair

Tool and Die Repair

Procedure Qualification

Stress Relieving

CWI Visual Inspection

Welder Certification

Repair Welding

Hard Facing / Overlay

Corrosion

Salt Fog Testing

Humidity Testing

Copper Sulfate / Ferroxyl

Taber Abrasion

Coating Thickness

Coating Weight

Wet / Dry Tape Adhesion

Cross Hatch

Electrical Resistance

High Pot Insulation (Hard Anodize)

Pencil Hardness