System traces fabrication and inspection records of special hardware back to the raw material. Reidentification of hardware, after loss of serial numbers, is established by X raying all parts again and comparing the new film with the original, whose numbers were previously recorded on serialized documents

Wells, R. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

March 1969	 Brief 69-10059 
NASA TECH BRIEF I& 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Reidentifying Hardware After Loss of Serial Number 
Problem: 
Many engineering drawings hear a general note 
which requires "complete traceability" of parts. A sys-
tem is needed which makes it possible to trace fabrica-
tion and inspection records of these special parts all 
the way to the raw material. In one system, the heat 
number marked on the raw material is recorded on 
the manufacturing document, and the corresponding 
serial number of the document is stamped on the part 
(or on a tag attached to the part). Occasionally, how-
ever, during operations such as machining, heat treat-
ing, and blasting, serial numbers stamped on parts 
(or tags) are accidentally obliterated or removed from 
several identical parts at the same time, making it 
impossible to match each part with its manufacturing 
document. This loss of identification can result in 
scrapping expensive parts. 
Solution: 
Nearly all castings, forgings, and welded parts 
which require traceability are X-rayed, and film con-
trol numbers are recorded on corresponding serialized 
manufacturing documents. Variations in size or loca-
tion of normal porosity, inclusions, width or thickness
of welds, etc. (which are easily detected in processed 
X-ray film), are never exactly the same in any two 
parts. When the serial numbers are lost from several 
identical parts, their identity can usually be reestab-
lished by X-raying all parts again and comparing the 
new film with the original film whose numbers were 
previously recorded on the serialized documents. 
Note: 
No further documentation is available. Inquiries 
may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, Alabama 35812 
Reference: B69-10059 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: R. J. Wells 
of North American Rockwell Corp. 
under contract to 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
(MFS-18 133) 
Category 05 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19690000059 2020-03-16T17:49:18+00:00Z


Reidentifying hardware after loss of serial number

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server