Testing
We offer many forms of testing for hardware requirements such as NDI, structural, CTE, RF, and materials. Integrating testing into your program will ensure successful performance. We are also experienced with strategic test planning and can provide guidance when government qualification is necessary for the final hardware application.
Manufacturers have long known to “measure twice and cut once,” but Program Managers will still insist on testing.
Whether you are a Program Manager, Systems Engineer, or tasked with building or repairing equipment, then you understand the importance of testing hardware. Programs may require some testing or may require a lot of testing. It can be a convoluted path to reach final qualification for your customer. Rock West Composites can help you with the planning, coordination, and execution of a variety of qualification tests for many common and uncommon requirements.
Non-Destructive Inspection
It can be important when producing mission critical hardware to test the manufactured components for voids, delaminations, or inconsistencies in areas that aren’t visible, but we can’t destroy the part to do it. So we use nondestructive inspection to verify that parts have met all manufacturing requirements and will perform as expected. Whether it’s ultrasonic, through transmission, pulse echo, x-ray, or other methods, we will work with you to verify the hardware meets requirements.
Structural Testing
The secret to composites strength to weight ratio is the ability to orient strengthening fibers in ways that can increase strength, stiffness, or durability. By testing assemblies, we can ensure that finished hardware can withstand the conditions the part was designed to face. These tests can be nondestructive (test to prescribed conditions), destructive (test to failure), and be performed test full assemblies, small-scale demonstrator units, or features such as inserts, or bonded joints.
CTE Testing
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) testing is vital for parts that will undergo significant temperature changes during their use. To test the CTE of a part, two physical quantities (displacement and temperature) are measured on a sample going through a thermal cycle. Carbon fiber composite parts can be specifically designed to have near zero CTE making them ideal for applications in space like optical benches.
RF Testing
Radio frequency testing in our lab environment measures the effects on RF signals as they pass through, or reflect off, our composite parts. This testing can be useful for composite radomes during design development and qualification, as well as part of our quality assurance when delivering parts. We can measure RF transmission or reflection properties at frequencies from 0.4 to 40 GHz over a range of view angles to meet our customer’s needs.
Material Testing
Our in-house test lab allows us to quickly generate test data for analysis, design validation, and process verification at various steps of the manufacturing process. In-house capability also allows for the development testing of new, less characterized materials for evaluation in new products and processes.