TPT January 2016

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Inspection, testing & qual ity control
January 2016 65
Full body ultrasonic testing
of spinning tube
MAGNETIC Analysis Corp (MAC) has
developed a new automated pitch
control (APC) ultrasonic system for
full body tube testing in spinning tube
applications. Capable of handling
a larger range of dimensions, and
material that is not as straight as that
usually required by other test systems,
the APC design is a new option for this
application.
A recent MAC APC system for full
body seamless tube testing uses a test
head that incorporates 30 ultrasonic
transducer elements within a water
box carrier, with follower rolls that ride
on the under surface of the tube being
tested. The transducer holder within
the test head can move to either end
of the water box to allow for testing to
the very end of the tube, minimising
untested ends.
The spinning tube moves longitudi-
nally past the transducers and the APC
design automatically adapts the angle of
the rolls to the helical pitch produced by
the tube’s rotational speed and forward
motion. This design ensures minimal
wear and allows testing of some non-
round tube shapes.
The system’s design allows the tube
producer to test a broad range of tube
diameters (in this instance from 45.7
to 292.1mm) with only a convenient,
minimal adjustment of the roll separation
for changes in dimension.
The test head is lifted into the test
position beneath the tube by an air
cylinder when the leading end of
the tube has passed, and lowered
when the trailing end is approaching.
This ensures the head is securely
positioned when the tube ends pass,
preventing possible damage during
normal operation. A 49ft-long inlet and
exit conveyor system, controlled by a
PLC and conductor, includes a kick-
out mechanism for transferring rejected
tubes off to the side.
The system is designed to detect
longitudinal and transverse OD and ID
defects 5 per cent of the tube wall, and a
circumferential wall thickness reduction
of 5 per cent.
Magnetic Analysis Corp – USA
Fax: +1 914 703 3790
Email:
Website:
MAC’s APC ultrasonic test head for full body spinning tube inspection
Ultrasonic thickness measurement
ELCOMETER is a manufacturer of
inspection equipment, with specialised
divisions dedicated to coatings
inspection, ultrasonic NDT inspection,
concrete inspection and metal detection.
The company’s new MTG ultrasonic
thickness gauges are designed to make
measuring material thickness easier.
Rugged, fast and easy to use, the new
range of hand-held gauges accurately
measure up to 500mm (20") thick. With
an easy-to-use menu system in multiple
languages, the gauges can be used with
little or no training.
Measurement modes include pulsed-
echo (P-E), echo-echo ThruPaint™ and
velocity mode – suitable for determining
the homogeneity of a material.
Key features include user-
programmable calibration memories,
ensuring accurate and repeatable
results; display readings, statistics, bar
graph, run chart, reading & differential
and B-scan; up to 40 user-programmable
limits, with audible and visual pass/fail
warnings; storage of up to 100,000 sets
of readings in 1,000 sequential or grid
type batches; and integral zero disc and
intelligent transducers for automatic
probe recognition.
The new Elcometer MTG ultrasonic
thickness gauges offer accuracy of ±1
per cent across the full 0-500mm range
on smooth, rough, curved coated or
uncoated surfaces.
Wireless connection to ElcoMaster ®
data management software via
Bluetooth or USB to PC, Android or iOS
mobile devices allows the generation of
professional reports in minutes.
Elcometer Ltd – UK
Fax: +44 161 371 6010
Email:
Website:
The top-of-the-range Elcometer MTG8 with
ThruPaint™ Echo-Echo technology