Immersion Ultrasonic Testing for Materials to 5000 lbs.
LTI has expanded immersion ultrasonic testing (UT) capabilities with a 24 foot by 5 foot immersion UT tank. A two-axis, five-channel A, B, and C scan immersion ultrasound system is installed to perform testing of round material up to 20 feet long and 24 inches in diameter and flat material up to 20 feet long and 4 feet wide, with a weight limit of 5000 pounds. The immersion tank is equipped with a computer-based recording system, which generates detailed printouts of test data and results, an option not available with contact ultrasonic testing.
Laboratory Testing also has extensive capabilities for immersion UT inspection with three high-speed immersion machines for round stock between 1/8 inch and 6 5/8 inches diameter, and lengths up to 70 feet. The contact inspection method is used for ultrasonic testing of material outside these size and shape limitations. The immersion capabilities provide a speed and reliability advantage over the contact method, as well as chart recording and printouts not available with contact ultrasonic testing.
According to Phil Trach, NDT Technology Coordinator and ASNT NDT Level III, "This UT tank system greatly expanded the scope of LTI’s immersion capabilities, and provides faster turnaround for large volume, repetitive orders and adds a control factor for higher accuracy that is not available with the contact method of inspection. Our long-term experience with immersion ultrasound and with inspection of large-diameter and very heavy pieces made this a natural extension of ultrasonic capabilities for Laboratory Testing Inc.”