Contact Us

Use the form on the right to contact us or,

email us at info@elmetlabs.com,

or call us at (248) 957-1170.

We will get back to you as soon as possible.

24073 Research Drive
Farmington Hills, MI, 48335
United States

(248)957-1170

Elmet LLC is primarily a metallurgical and metallographic laboratory focused on the electrical and electronics industries.  All circuit boards, connectors, clips, cages, and electrical devices have metallic components that can suffer damage or fail due to causes such as fatigue, corrosion, stress overload, dendritic growth, and fretting.  These are metallurgical issues, not electrical issues, and a metallurgical perspective brings insight into the problem.  We provide that insight through investigation and thorough explanation of the metallurgical factors at work, from manufacturing defects to design to conditions of use.

Much of our work is solder joint cross sectioning, and we have a large capacity to handle this type of work.  With five automated polishers we can process more than 20 cross sections per day, day after day.  We have two metallographic studios with studio cameras, stereomicroscopes, and metallurgical microscopes to document the incoming parts, the cross sections, and the microstructures. Our scanning electron microscope assists us in evaluating intermetallic layers, microstructures, fretting, and fracture.  The EDS (energy dispersive spectroscopy) system allows us to analyze solder compositions, contamination, and debris observed on circuit boards.

We have staff holding certificates in IPC-A-610 inspection (CIS), electrical engineering, and metallurgical engineering, and we have a great deal of experience with failure analysis of metallic components. 

Tech Topics

Induction Heat Treating

Arthur Griebel

Elmet’s principle, Arthur Griebel, has worked in the induction industry since 1979.   Working as the Chief Metallurgist at Tocco (now Ajax Tocco) and then as an independent consultant, Arthur has instructed numerous classes in induction heat treating for SAE, ASM, and the Center for Induction Technology.  Arthur contributed to the ASM Handbook on Induction Heating and Induction Heat Treating, and holds three patents relating to induction technology.

 
There are several points in the process of adopting and using induction heating at which outside assistance can be beneficial.  The first is the decision to use, or not to use, induction heating.  Equipment manufacturers can be very helpful, but it can be difficult to get their attention, and it is difficult to know how well they are protecting your interests. The purpose of outside help is to give you basic information and the advantages and disadvantages of induction, an understanding of the process, and the equipment requirements.    

 
If inductors were supplied by the OEM, he will likely give assistance with developing the power levels, heat time, or speeds to obtain the desired heating pattern. Customers that are left to do this on their own sometimes run into trouble, and expert assistance can help tremendously here.  Coil builders are a great source of knowledge, especially if you are just getting started, as they can direct you toward the correct inductor and process design. If you find yourself spinning your wheels, incrementally making changes that get you out of one problem but into another, and you feel a more comprehensive view of the operation is needed, you might benefit from bringing in a consultant. 

 

1 Comment