In this paper, we present an eddy current transducer with rotating permanent magnets for the inspection of planar conducting plates. The transducer consists of a rotating head with permanent magnets, which is used to generate variable magnetic fields and thus induce eddy currents in the tested material. Two Hall sensors connected in a differential manner are used to detect a nonuniform distribution of eddy currents induced in a specimen containing a defect. To prove the usability of the transducer, a number of experiments were conducted on thick aluminum samples containing notches at different depths. Selected results of the achieved measurements are presented.
Keywords: applied electrotechnics; eddy current testing; nondestructive testing; permanent magnets.