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Heavy flaw detectors transformed
The special ceramics division of the Association at Stoke-on-Trent are using a Faxitron 805 x-ray unit to check defects or variations in the composition of alumina and beryllla ceranlics.
Objects up to 30 cm diameter may be radiographed safely by placing them inside the lead lined cabinet. The range is from 10-110 kVp. It is supplied by Field Emission (GB) Ltd of New Barnet, Berks.
Another application is the assessment of self-bonded silicon carbide which is a high-strength engineering material. The bonding technique involves pressing silicon carbide and graphite into shape by introducing silicon, dispersed in a liqttid, to convert the graphite into silicon carbide. The process takes place from the outside inwards so it is impossible to tell if the product is satisfactory from its outside appearante. A radiograph, however quickly reveals the extent of tile bonding.
The Association say that x-radiography has been little used for ceramics in the past either in research or industry. They have, however, announced some of their results to their members.
Other uses of radiography in ceramics research include detection of voids and particles (Fig.3). Porosity can be revealed by using radio-opaque penetrants such as lead nitrate. A void amounting to 1% of the thickness could generaUy be detected. The Faxitron 805 is a self-contained x-ray unit measuring 90 x 60 x 50 cm.
Fig.3 Radiographsof ceramic armour tiles: (left) a homogeneous tile; (right) a grossly inhomogeneous tile
The British Ceramic Research Association, Queens Road, Penkhull, Stokeon-Trent ST4 7LQ, UK
Inside a jet engine Inspection Instruments have made an endoscope kit for the RB 211 aeroengine. The kit consists of four endoscopes. They are made in different diameters for different inspection tasks: 11,8 and 5 nun for viewing at 90 ° to the endoscope and 5 nnll for oblique viewing.
Fig.4 A Rolls Royce engineer focusses a camera attached to an endoscope for a picture of the interior of an RB 211 combustion chamber
Special boles have been provided in tile combustion chamber to allow access (Fig.4). Through them the 18 burners can be inspected individually, including the high pressure nozzle guide vanes. A general appreciation of the state of the chamber and liner can thus be obtained. Access is also provided for inspecting all stages of turbine blades which run at high temperature in hot gases.
The RB 211 engine is used to power the Lockheed L-1011 aircraft. Rolls Royce (197 i), the makers of the engine, have recommended the endoscope kit in the maintenance manual.
Viewing by endoscope is made possible by cold light piped down the outside of the optical system to flood the
Inspection Instruments (NDT) Ltd, 32 Duncan Terrace, London N 1 8BS, UK
area trader inspection. The light source is a 150 W quartz-iodine lamp coupled to the endoscope through a light cable.
NEW EQUIPMENT Heavy flaw detectors transformed Allen Components Ltd have made lighter power supply units for ultrasonic flaw detectors by reducing the bulk and weight of the versatile trans formers requirqd in such equipnrent to give a wide range of voltages. The windings of the transformer must be of wire of a gauge large enough to provide the current without overheating. The core must be robust and the insualtion mr, st protect against flash over with high voltage secondary windings. The requirements for power supply to ultrasonic equipment have now been met by much smaller units built specially for this purpose. Two models of tile
MEL range of flaw detectors use this development: the PA 1010 (11 x 15 x 30 cm, 4.5 kg) which has a rechargeable battery and the PA 1020 which is a larger instrument for laboratory or site use which also works off the mains and weighs 13.5'kg. Power from the battery is fed into a push-pull converter to provide for the different circuits. The inverter transformer, wound on to a 35 mm ferritepot core, operates at 8 kHz, and supplies all the voltages for the crt raster and associated circuits. Allen Components Ltd, Port Talbot, Glare, Wales, UK.
N O N - D E S T R U C T I V E T E S T I N G . JUNE 1972
To test a piston pin An American company has produced an automatic, eddy-current inspection system for piston pins. The machine, model 2196, inspects 3 600 pieces an hour on line (Fig.5). Two sizes of automobile piston pins are tested and sorted for hardness of surface, core, and case depth, surface soft-spots, and seams. Two Verimet M900-II dual-channel, eddy-current instruments perform all checking functions. One dual-channel Verimet using a single test coil performs both low and high frequency inspection simultaneously. A five way accept-orreject gate system automatically
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Objects up to 30 cm diameter may be radiographed safely by placing them inside the lead lined cabinet. The range is from 10-110 kVp. It is supplied by Field Emission (GB) Ltd of New Barnet, Berks.
Another application is the assessment of self-bonded silicon carbide which is a high-strength engineering material. The bonding technique involves pressing silicon carbide and graphite into shape by introducing silicon, dispersed in a liqttid, to convert the graphite into silicon carbide. The process takes place from the outside inwards so it is impossible to tell if the product is satisfactory from its outside appearante. A radiograph, however quickly reveals the extent of tile bonding.
The Association say that x-radiography has been little used for ceramics in the past either in research or industry. They have, however, announced some of their results to their members.
Other uses of radiography in ceramics research include detection of voids and particles (Fig.3). Porosity can be revealed by using radio-opaque penetrants such as lead nitrate. A void amounting to 1% of the thickness could generaUy be detected. The Faxitron 805 is a self-contained x-ray unit measuring 90 x 60 x 50 cm.
Fig.3 Radiographsof ceramic armour tiles: (left) a homogeneous tile; (right) a grossly inhomogeneous tile
The British Ceramic Research Association, Queens Road, Penkhull, Stokeon-Trent ST4 7LQ, UK
Inside a jet engine Inspection Instruments have made an endoscope kit for the RB 211 aeroengine. The kit consists of four endoscopes. They are made in different diameters for different inspection tasks: 11,8 and 5 nun for viewing at 90 ° to the endoscope and 5 nnll for oblique viewing.
Fig.4 A Rolls Royce engineer focusses a camera attached to an endoscope for a picture of the interior of an RB 211 combustion chamber
Special boles have been provided in tile combustion chamber to allow access (Fig.4). Through them the 18 burners can be inspected individually, including the high pressure nozzle guide vanes. A general appreciation of the state of the chamber and liner can thus be obtained. Access is also provided for inspecting all stages of turbine blades which run at high temperature in hot gases.
The RB 211 engine is used to power the Lockheed L-1011 aircraft. Rolls Royce (197 i), the makers of the engine, have recommended the endoscope kit in the maintenance manual.
Viewing by endoscope is made possible by cold light piped down the outside of the optical system to flood the
Inspection Instruments (NDT) Ltd, 32 Duncan Terrace, London N 1 8BS, UK
area trader inspection. The light source is a 150 W quartz-iodine lamp coupled to the endoscope through a light cable.
NEW EQUIPMENT Heavy flaw detectors transformed Allen Components Ltd have made lighter power supply units for ultrasonic flaw detectors by reducing the bulk and weight of the versatile trans formers requirqd in such equipnrent to give a wide range of voltages. The windings of the transformer must be of wire of a gauge large enough to provide the current without overheating. The core must be robust and the insualtion mr, st protect against flash over with high voltage secondary windings. The requirements for power supply to ultrasonic equipment have now been met by much smaller units built specially for this purpose. Two models of tile
MEL range of flaw detectors use this development: the PA 1010 (11 x 15 x 30 cm, 4.5 kg) which has a rechargeable battery and the PA 1020 which is a larger instrument for laboratory or site use which also works off the mains and weighs 13.5'kg. Power from the battery is fed into a push-pull converter to provide for the different circuits. The inverter transformer, wound on to a 35 mm ferritepot core, operates at 8 kHz, and supplies all the voltages for the crt raster and associated circuits. Allen Components Ltd, Port Talbot, Glare, Wales, UK.
N O N - D E S T R U C T I V E T E S T I N G . JUNE 1972
To test a piston pin An American company has produced an automatic, eddy-current inspection system for piston pins. The machine, model 2196, inspects 3 600 pieces an hour on line (Fig.5). Two sizes of automobile piston pins are tested and sorted for hardness of surface, core, and case depth, surface soft-spots, and seams. Two Verimet M900-II dual-channel, eddy-current instruments perform all checking functions. One dual-channel Verimet using a single test coil performs both low and high frequency inspection simultaneously. A five way accept-orreject gate system automatically
137