Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Services for Critical Components

High-reliability inspection services that identify surface and internal defects without damaging or altering the part—ensuring safety, compliance, and performance for precision components.

NDT CAPABILITIES & INSPECTION ADVANTAGES

MIL provides a comprehensive suite of non-destructive testing methods designed to detect cracks, porosity, leaks, overheating, structural discontinuities, and internal flaws. These processes support aerospace, medical, industrial, and commercial components where part integrity is mission-critical and failure is not an option.

Spec & Capability Highlights

  • Nadcap-accredited and prime-approved NDT processes
  • Surface, subsurface, and volumetric inspections for metals and assemblies
  • Ideal for ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials
  • Detects cracks, porosity, leaks, heat damage, weld defects, and internal discontinuities
  • Supports pressure vessels, welded structures, machined parts, castings, and flight-critical hardware
  • A valuable complement to coatings, metal finishing, and metallurgical testing

Explore Our Non-Destructive Testing Processes

MIL offers one of the industry’s most complete portfolios of NDT services, performed by certified inspectors using calibrated equipment.

Surface & Near-Surface Inspection Methods

Fluorescent Dye Penetrant Inspection (FPI / PT)

A capillary-action method used to detect surface-breaking flaws in metals, weldments, and precision components. Ideal for aluminum, titanium, and other non-ferromagnetic materials.

Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI / MT)

Detects surface and near-surface discontinuities in ferromagnetic materials by identifying flux leakage at crack sites.

Nital / Temper Etch

Reveals overheating, re-tempering, re-hardening, decarburization, and localized thermal damage in hardened components.

Volumetric & Internal Defect Inspection

Radiography (X-Ray / RT)

Provides a 2D radiographic image of internal structures to locate voids, inclusions, weld defects, and internal flaws.

Pressure & Leak Detection

Leak Testing (Helium Mass Spectrometry)

Highly sensitive detection of small leaks using a helium-filled test article and vacuum chamber.

Hydrostatic Pressure Testing

Evaluates pressure integrity and leak resistance by pressurizing liquid-filled vessels or assemblies under controlled conditions.

How Non-Destructive Testing Works

Step 1 — Inspection Method Selection

Technicians evaluate the part’s material, geometry, and required specifications to identify the appropriate NDT method or combination of methods.

Step 2 — Controlled NDT Execution

Inspections are performed using certified procedures, calibrated instruments, and controlled environments to ensure accurate and repeatable results.

Step 3 — Defect Detection & Evaluation

Inspectors identify indications of surface cracks, discontinuities, internal defects, overheating, porosity, or leak paths and evaluate them against relevant acceptance criteria.

Step 4 — Documentation & Certification

Findings are recorded and certified for traceability, quality assurance, and compliance with customer or prime requirements.

Why Work With MIL for NDT Services?

Proven NDT Expertise

MIL’s NDT team brings decades of experience supporting flight hardware, medical components, weldments, pressure systems, and precision-machined parts.

 

Reliable, Repeatable Inspections

All NDT processes follow ASTM, AMS, MIL-STD, and prime specifications, ensuring technical accuracy and dependable quality.

 

Integrated Quality Ecosystem

NDT is performed in the same facility as coatings, metal finishing, and metallurgical testing—streamlining turnaround time and reinforcing end-to-end quality control.

 

Built for High-Stakes Applications

Manufacturers rely on MIL to detect defects early, mitigate risk, and ensure components meet performance and safety expectations.

 

Applications & Industries Served

Component Types

  • Machined parts, weldments, castings, and forgings
  • Ferromagnetic components requiring crack detection
  • Pressure vessels and sealed assemblies
  • Aerospace hardware and structural components
  • Surface- and volume-critical precision metal parts

Industries

  • Aerospace & defense
  • Medical device manufacturing
  • Commercial and industrial equipment
  • Space systems
  • Prototype, R&D, and precision manufacturing

FAQs

Turnaround depends on the inspection method and volume, but MIL is structured to support both rapid prototype needs and full production workflows.
Typical timelines:

  • Magnetic Particle (MT) & Dye Penetrant (FPI/PT): Often same-day or 24–48 hours depending on part volume and required documentation
  • Nital/Temper Etch: Fast-turn in most cases
  • Helium leak testing & hydrostatic testing: Scheduled based on setup requirements
  • Radiography (X-ray): Typically 1–3 days depending on part geometry and exposure requirements

For urgent aerospace product holds, line-down situations, or medical-critical components, MIL can often prioritize work depending on capacity.

Yes. MIL maintains Nadcap accreditation for all major NDT methods we perform, including fluorescent dye penetrant, magnetic particle inspection, radiography, and related processes.
Customers may request our current Nadcap scope, which we provide as part of certification packages, quoting, or supplier onboarding.

Yes. MIL’s NDT processes and documentation meet or exceed the requirements of major aerospace primes—such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Collins, and Raytheon—making our reports widely accepted without rework.
When source inspection is required by customer contract, MIL can coordinate scheduling and documentation in advance.

MIL can support a broad range of part sizes and geometries across our NDT methods.
Typical capabilities include:

  • FPI / PT & MT: Suitable for small, intricate components up to medium-size assemblies
  • Radiography: Part size is governed by cabinet capacity and exposure setup—send your drawing for confirmation
  • Helium leak testing: Ideal for sealed components, pressure housings, and welded assemblies
  • Hydrostatic testing: Supports a variety of vessel and enclosure configurations

For very large or unconventional parts, MIL can review drawings and determine fixturing options or alternate inspection setups.

Yes. MIL offers:

  • In-process inspections (e.g., pre- and post-weld MT)
  • Final acceptance inspections aligned with prime and customer specifications
  • On-site or field inspections, depending on method and customer requirements

Mobile MT and PT setups can often be deployed, while radiography and helium leak testing typically require in-facility equipment due to regulatory constraints.

Yes. MIL provides fully digital NDT reports that include:

  • Captured indication photos (when applicable)
  • Indication mapping or description
  • Acceptance criteria callouts
  • Compliance/non-compliance statements
  • Technician certifications and process traceability
  • Nadcap and prime-approval references

 

Same-day reporting is available for many methods, especially MT and FPI, depending on workload and customer urgency.

Request a Quote or Speak with an NDT Specialist

Receive fast, accurate quoting for magnetic particle inspection, dye penetrant inspection, radiography, leak testing, hydrostatic testing, and other NDT services.

Not sure which inspection method your part requires? Need help interpreting a specification? Our NDT specialists can guide you.

When Your Parts Carry Risk, We Carry the Load. 82 Years of Flight-Critical Confidence.

Search our approvals