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104
M
arch
2011
www.read-tpt.com›
I
nspection
, T
esting
& Q
uality
C
ontrol
ON numerous visits to pipe mills around the
world, Optical Metrology Services (OMS)
has noticed that the tools being used to
inspect pipes are not up to the standard
expected by demanding clients in the oil
and gas sector.
One example is the case of a quality
control manager explaining how pipe
straightness is measured. He illustrated
how the fishing line was tightened between
the ends of the pipe and the gap between
the line and the pipe was measured.
New inspection tools for pipe manufacture
Unfortunately, when he questioned the
inspector he was informed that he estimated
the distance by eye. The supervisor asked
him to find a ruler and he was not able to
find one.
A number of Pipe Checker
TM
tools have
been developed byOMS to provide accurate,
traceable quality control information to pipe
mills.
Pipe straightness is measured using
a laser tool that is calibrated and enables
an operator to easily determine the out of
straightness of a pipe at any point along
its length.
Dr Clarke, founder of OMS, commented,
“I am personally amazed that pipe mills do
not have technology like this to understand
their manufacturing processes in more
detail. We are often brought in to provide
missing information about dimensions such
as pipe shape, ovality, end-squareness,
bevel geometry, weld geometry, and
counterboring, to name but a few.”
The pipe straightness tool consists of
a laser, which is magnetically clamped to
a pipe. The laser beam is steered until it
aligns with a line at the opposite end of the
pipe which is at exactly the same height
as the laser beam. As the laser beam is
straight, does not bend under gravity and is
not deflected by wind, moving a measuring
device between the two ends of the pipe
allows the pipe straightness to be measured
from a digital readout.
Optical Metrology Services
– UK
Fax: +44 8700 940014
Email:
sales@omsmeasure.comWebsite:
www.omsmeasure.com