Canada makes ten-ton neutron

flBT IflTERflRTIOflflL flEUS Clean testing is remote Coventry Tubes Permatube produce more than 100 000 m of tube a week from 17 tube mills - each of which is fitted with eddy-current test equipment (Fig.4). "The installation, which is claimed to be the largest eddy-current system in the UK, incorporates a fault memory and reject system which control the operation of flying saws. The equipment CeNteSt 710, is installed well away from the shop floor in a clean area. The tubes are made to many specifications including BS 4127 part 2, BS 3014 part 2, ASTM A249 5GT and ASTM A269. The works has used eddy-current equipment for nine years in which time it has become the largest single producer of argon-arc welded stainless steel tube - all eddy current tested. CNS Instruments Ltd, 6 1 - 6 3 Holmes Road, London NW 3AN, UK

Deep in the heart of ndt The US Department of Defense is to set up a ndt information centre at San Antonio in Texas. The centre is to be called the Nondestructive Data Support Center (NDTSC) and it is an offshoot of the Army Nondestructive Testing Information Analysis Center NTIAC in Watertown, Massachusetts. The NDTSC will be housed to the Southwest Research Institute. Gerald Gardner is to be the manager. NTIAC, Army Materials and Research Center, Watertown, Mass. 0 2172, USA

Metallurgical technicians run their own show A new professional body, the Institute of Metallurgical Technicians was launched in London in July. Dr E. G. West the founder Chairman described the Institute's aim as the establishment and promotion of status of technicians working in metallurgical industries. Dr West has long been active in metallurgical training, he was honoured by the queen in 1970. There are two grades in the Institute, member (MIM Tech) and associate (AIM Tech). The

NON-DESTRUCTIVE

Fig.4 The 17 inspection controls are kept in a clean area well away f r o m the millheads they serve

technician is educated to national certificate or City and Guilds and must have at least three year's experience. He, or she, is generally specialized and occupies a position between the qualified technologist and the skilled foreman. Institute of Metallurgical Technicians, Northway House, Whetstone, London N20 9LW, UK

Canada makes ten-ton neutron The neutron radiographic facility at the NRX reactor at Canada's Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories has taken its thousandth radiograph. The facility has now been in steady operation for three years. Over 600 fuel elements have been examined after irradiation at Chalk River, NPD, Douglas Point, Gentilly and Pickering. AECL, 275 Slater Street, Ottawa, K1A OS4

trate on ndt of components. K. Thomas, Conference Organizer, Division of Materials Applications, NPL, Teddington, Middx, UK

NOT top of the bill Institut Dr F6rster has entered the film business with the 13 minute production: NDT of four-sided steel billets by the Conti-Powder-Tester (Fig.5). The film is available on loan in 16 mm reels with English and German soundtracks. The film shows the progress of the billet through the magnetic-particle tester in a large German steel mill. Institut Dr F6rster, D-7410 Reutlingen, Grathwohlstrasse 4, Postfach 925, West Germany

Plastics testing by the Thames 1he National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is to organise a meeting on inspection techniques for polymeric materials in October. Papers will be given by members of the NPL staff and guests. The meeting will concen-

T E S T I N G . O C T O B E R 1974

Fig.5 The soundtrack explains ndt principles as a billet passes the test head

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