Abstract: An inspection system for detecting flaws on a moving metal (e.g., steel) bar coordinates the operation of an eddy current testing (ECT)-based flaw detection apparatus and an imaging-based flaw detection apparatus. The ECT-based flaw detection apparatus and the imaging-based flaw detection apparatus are disposed along a movement path in a predetermined relationship with each other, for example, as a predetermined fixed offset distance therebetween. A synchronizing mechanism synchronizes the output data streams from the two flaw detection apparatuses based on the predetermined relationship, so as to align the data streams as function of the axial position on the metal bar. A processing unit is configured to process the synchronized data streams for the detection of flaws, which are then also synchronized (axial position).

Abstract: An inspection system for detecting flaws on a moving metal (e.g., steel) bar coordinates the operation of an eddy current testing (ECT)-based flaw detection apparatus and an imaging-based flaw detection apparatus. The ECT-based flaw detection apparatus and the imaging-based flaw detection apparatus are disposed along a movement path in a predetermined relationship with each other, for example, as a predetermined fixed offset distance therebetween. A synchronizing mechanism synchronizes the output data streams from the two flaw detection apparatuses based on the predetermined relationship, so as to align the data streams as function of the axial position on the metal bar. A processing unit is configured to process the synchronized data streams for the detection of flaws, which are then also synchronized (axial position).

Abstract: The present invention relates a train of in-line continuous manufacturing equipment for producing steel wire, considered difficult with a block mill up to now, capable of efficiently carrying out controlled-rolling and slow-cooling by an effective in-line combination of controlled rolling apparatuses and slow cooling apparatuses, having a hot rolling mill for steel wire, a winder to wind the rolled steel wire into rings, bundling apparatuses to pack the wound steel wire into bundled coils and an in-line heat treatment furnace to slow-cool the steel wire bundled into coils, which are sequentially connected, and using, preferably, a block mill with an area reduction rate of 25 to 60% having at most 4 roll stands as a final finish rolling mill of the hot rolling mill.

Abstract: A machine structural steel bar or wire having a softening degree of at least that of the conventional spheroidization-annealed steel material, excellent hardenability, and improved cold workability, comprising 0.1 to 0.5 wt % of C, 0.01 to 0.15 wt % of Si, 0.2 to 1.7 wt % of Mn, 0.0005 to 0.05 wt % of Al, 0.005 to 0.07 wt % of Ti, 0.0003 to 0.007 wt % of B, 0.002 to 0.02 wt % of N and the balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, the unavoidable impurities including up to 0.02 wt % of P and up to 0.003 wt % of O, and having a microstructure comprising ferrite and spheroidal carbides, the ferritic grain size number according to JIS G0522 of the ferrite being at least No. 8 and the number of the spheroidal carbides per unit area mm2 being up to 1.5×106×C wt %.