It is very difficult to weld or mold a solid object that has no risk of breaking in service, so testing at manufacture and in service is essential. During the process of molding a metal object, for example, the metal may shrink as it cools, and crack or introduce voids inside the structure. Even the best welders (and welding machines) do not make 100% perfect welds. Some typical weld defects that need to be found and repaired are lack of fusion of the weld to the metal and porous bubbles inside the weld, both of which could cause a structure to break or a pipeline to rupture.

During their service lives, many ride components need regular non destructive tests to detect damage that may be difficult or expensive to find by everyday methods. For example:

• Road wheel spindles

• Axles

• Pulley Shafts

• Coupling Shafts