Phased Array ultrasonic examination
Phased Array ultrasonic examination
(OP)
Olympus-ims have made downloadable their books on Phased Array Ultrasonic testing on their website:
http://www.olympus-ims.com/en/pdf-library/
6 months ago I paid GBP 120 for the advanced book now its free. Fill yer boots!
http://www.olympus-ims.com/en/pdf-library/
6 months ago I paid GBP 120 for the advanced book now its free. Fill yer boots!





RE: Phased Array ultrasonic examination
RE: Phased Array ultrasonic examination
We are using phased array on a welding project right now where we have limited space to use numerous wedges. The biggest problem right now is not enough people at our NDT source know how to use the equipment yet, but I am sure that will change over time.
RE: Phased Array ultrasonic examination
Olympus marketing strategy has been very effective in pushing forward the concept of replacing conventional NDT with advanced NDT to service providers, but perhaps they are receiving feedback that its the powerful service procurers who are cautious in adopting the new technology due to various issues, e.g. (Codes just beginning to include PA, loss of control without suitably knowledgeable personnel). The people who are prepared to spend a hundred dollars or more on a text book are not necessarily the same people who can introduce PA services on a braod scale.
NDT equipment manufacturers live and breathe multiple quantity purchases. I think at present companies are buying ione or two units to test the waters and if the return on the investment is not there then they will not purchase further units leaving Olympus sales grounded. This could be an attempt to get things moving again.
RE: Phased Array ultrasonic examination
This may be a problem (and not the method itself) that discredits PA and other advanced technologies in the eyes of customers. Inspection companies regularly push technicians to do work they are not fully qualified or experienced to do (and the bigger the inspection company, the greater the tendency).
It also seems the more advanced the methods and the analytical demands on the technician, the more disagreements and the more totally incorrect evaluations result. I see that a lot with eddy current; I don't know if it is the same with PA (refer to para. 2 above).
RE: Phased Array ultrasonic examination
CP 189, SNT-TC-1A allow employer certification for both PA and TOFD. I dont know about ACCP.
Both CSWIP and PCN in the UK certfy up to Level III in PA and TOFD.
The "suitably knowledgable personnel" I was referring to are those employed by the end user. Many end users either do not employ NDT Specialists or, if few will have sufficient hands-on experience with advanced UT. Often NDT control is left to the welding engineer!
I am not certain about your last paragraph, i have not witnessed either disagreements or totally incorrect evaluations (really?). I work to Code Case rules which requires Performance Demonstration on a suitably flawed job representative mockup. If I dont find and report the flaws or mis-evaluate then I dont get the job - simple as that
RE: Phased Array ultrasonic examination
I won't mention the name of my previous employer (for whom I did not perform inspection), but I had to bite my tongue on numerous occasions when $$ trumped responsibility. One problem is, a half-trained tech often does not know what he may be doing wrong. One principle I try to keep in mind is 'you don't know what you don't know'.
To be fair, this company is not the only one. High-end NDE methods also bring higher rate$, with the added advantage of the customer frequently not being knowledgable enough to dispute a result or even the appropriateness of a proposed method.
Anyway, I'll stop here because its Friday, and because dark thoughts about my previous place of employment are creeping in ...
RE: Phased Array ultrasonic examination
RE: Phased Array ultrasonic examination
However I dont believe this is standard practice yet.