SNB’s Blog

In order to keep production lines running smoothly, retailers state on their COPs that metal detectors should perform tests once an hour. To do so means passing product through the detector with a test piece to check that a metal detector will detect and reject contaminated products.

SNB understand the need for customers to have certified and traceable test pieces, as it ensures that detection equipment is continuously working correctly. This article will entail types of test pieces and how SNB Electronic Services can help customers with testing their metal detectors.

Types of Test Pieces 

All metal detectors are manufactured to a high grade that meets FDA (Food and Drug Administrator) guides and regulations. Therefore, metal detector test pieces must also be manufactured to high standards. That’s why SNB test pieces are produced with an engraved traceable ID number allowing a test piece to be easily traced.

Test pieces that have been manufactured by SNB are put through rigorous testing to confirm that the spherical size piece is precise. SNB Electronic Services are able to supply test pieces in the following materials:

• – Ferrous – colour coded in red
• – Non-Ferrous – colour coded in yellow
• – Stainless Steel – colour coded in blue

These metals can be supplied as:

• – Test Sticks – starting as small as 0.2mm through to 10.0mm. Customers can choose from sticks in standard blue or in specified retailer colours
• – Test Balls – sphere sizes from 0.5mm to 10.00mm
• – Test Blocks – sphere sizes 20.00mm
• – Test Discs – sphere sizes from 0.5mm to 5.0mm

If you do require for a specific type or bespoke test piece, do not hesitate to get in touch with the SNB sales team.

SNBs Tips and Advice When Selecting Test Pieces

Customers that are working towards any COPs may already have sensitivities to work towards. However, there are factors to consider when selecting the correct test piece.

Depending on whether your metal detector is on a conveyor, a throat or a pipeline, will depend on the type of testing piece that would be required.

Additionally, the test piece may depend upon the type of product, the product temperature, the frequency of the detector and the metal detectors aperture height and width.

If you require further advice on which test piece size or type to purchase, then you can contact SNB on 01977689555.

When Should A Metal Detector Be Tested?

All metal detectors needed to be tested at regular intervals. Standard practice is for the metal detector to be tested once an hour by using a ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless steel sample. In order to thoroughly conduct tests, the test piece needed to be placed either on the product (if the product goes below the centre of point of the head’s aperture) or if the product is higher than the centre of the aperture, the test piece needs to be placed within the product.

The weakest point in a metal detector is the centre of the aperture (half the width and half the height of the aperture). By placing a test piece in the centre, it will go pass through detection field at the weakest point and will confirm the test piece is detectable in other parts of the product where the detection field is stronger.

However, make sure to use all three different metal test pieces as in some cases, one type of metal may not be detected to the others due to tuning drift.

If you require any advice, help or training on testing metal detectors and the best practice, please call SNB Electronic Services on 01977 689555.