METHOD OF BACKPRESSURE TESTING MANUFACTURED PARTS

1 . A method of backpressure testing manufactured parts, the method comprising:

a) obtaining one or more reference parts and determining a reference backpressure measurement for each reference part indicative of the backpressure of that reference part when or if tested on a reference testing unit;

b) calibrating one or more testing positions of a backpressure testing unit using the one or more reference parts;

c) setting an upper backpressure limit and a lower backpressure limit for each of the one or more testing positions; and

d) thereafter using the one or more testing positions to assess the backpressure of one or more manufactured parts;

wherein, calibrating the one or more testing positions of the backpressure testing unit in step b) comprises:

b) i) installing one of the reference parts in a or each testing position of the backpressure testing unit;

b) ii) creating a flow through the or each testing position;

b) iii) establishing a calibrated flow for the or each testing position by adjusting the flow through the or each testing position until a backpressure measurement of the reference part in the or each testing position corresponds to the reference backpressure measurement of the respective reference part;

b) iv) thereafter using the calibrated flow for the or each testing position during step d);

wherein, using the one or more testing positions to assess the backpressure of one or more manufactured parts in step d) comprises:

d) i) installing a manufactured part in a or each testing position of the backpressure testing unit;

d) ii) flowing the calibrated flow determined from step b) iii) through the or each testing position;

d) iii) measuring a backpressure measurement of the or each manufactured part;

d) iv) comparing the backpressure measurement of the or each manufactured part against the upper backpressure limit and the lower backpressure limit for the respective testing position and generating and outputting a test result indicative of whether the backpressure measurement is within an acceptable range compared to the upper backpressure limit and the lower backpressure limit.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the reference backpressure measurement for each reference part indicative of the backpressure of that reference part when or if tested on the reference testing unit in step a) comprises:

measuring a backpressure of that reference part on the reference testing unit; and/or

calculating a backpressure of that reference part to simulate testing that reference part on the reference testing unit.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicative backpressure of the or each reference part when or if tested on a reference testing unit is for a specified air flow rate of the reference testing unit.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the upper backpressure limit and the lower backpressure limit for each of the one or more testing positions in step c) comprises:

obtaining one or more upper limit reference parts and one or more lower limit reference parts;

installing one of the upper limit reference parts in the testing position of the backpressure testing unit and setting the upper backpressure limit as the backpressure measured for that upper limit reference part when flowing the calibrated flow through the testing position;

installing one of the lower limit reference parts in the testing position of the backpressure testing unit and setting the lower backpressure limit as the backpressure measured for that lower limit reference part when flowing the calibrated flow through the testing position.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the upper backpressure limit and the lower backpressure limit for each of the one or more testing positions in step c) comprises setting the upper backpressure limit and the lower backpressure limit as a percentage of the reference backpressure measurement and/or an absolute pressure offset from the reference backpressure measurement.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining one or more verification reference parts having a backpressure measurement when tested on one of the one or more testing positions that is between the upper limit and the lower limit, and periodically:

i) installing a verification reference part in the or each testing position of the backpressure testing unit;

ii) flowing the calibrated flow determined from step b) iii) through the or each testing position;

iii) measuring a backpressure measurement of the or each verification reference part;

iv) comparing the backpressure measurement of the or each verification reference part against the upper backpressure limit and the lower backpressure limit for the respective testing position and generating and determining whether the verification pressure measurement is within an acceptable range compared to the upper backpressure limit and the lower backpressure limit.

7 . The method of any preceding, claim 1 , wherein one or more of the reference parts and/or upper limit reference parts and/or lower limit reference parts and/or verification reference parts is an orifice plate.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more manufactured parts are flow through substrates or filter substrates for purification of exhaust gases.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a robotic arm for automatic placing of calibration reference parts, verification reference parts, and/or manufactured parts.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the or each of the one or more manufactured parts comprises a unique identifier.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the unique identifier is a barcode.

12 . A controller configured to carry out the method of claim 1 .

13 . A system for backpressure testing of manufactured parts, comprising

the controller of claim 12 ; and

a backpressure testing unit comprising:

one or more testing positions configured to accommodate a manufactured part and/or a reference part;

a flow generator configured to create a flow through each testing position; and

a backpressure sensor configured to measure backpressure at each testing position.

14 . The system of claim 13 further comprising a robotic arm for automatic placing of one or more manufactured parts and/or reference parts at the one or more testing positions.