-New equlpmen with thicknesses in this range. Typical practical examples include polymer or ceramic coatings on metal substrates. The results indicate that the analysis of signals reflected from coated surfaces may be used to determine many useful properties of the coating, including its composition, uniformity and thickness. Further advantages of the technique arise from the ability to illuminate the surface from non-contacting aerials and the fact that microwave signals can penetrate optically opaque coatings. The results are especially sensitive to the presence of certain contaminants in the coating materials, the most significant of these, in many industrial systems, being the amount of moisture which is present.

The RF and Microwave section at Harwell is interested in developing the technique for industrial applications and has received provisional acceptance of a proposal for a LINK scheme with support from the DTI. Industrial partners interested in the production, measurement and application of non-metallic coatings such as plasma-sprayed ceramics, are being sought.

Mike Flemming, The National Nondestructive Testing Centre, Harwell Laboratory, Oxfordshire OXl I ORA, UK

Portable tes ter assesses vehicle corrosion

An eddy current instrument designed for assessing corrosion on vehicle bodywork has been introduced by Wells Krautkramer.

Known as Corrotest, the unit can be used with the minimum of instruction to provide reliable and consistent assessment of a vehicle's structural condition. It is designed to be used by inspecting authorities, vehicle assessors, workshop employees and used car establishments.

Corrotest, the eddy current tester, from Wells Krautkramer for assessing corrosion in vehicle bodywork

In operation the probe is held against the surface and the inbuilt microprocessor classifies the signal obtained and assigns it to the relevant display.

Green, amber, red and white are the colours in use. Green signifies continuous sheet steel beneath the surface which is sound. Amber denotes the presence of filler which constitutes a dubious repair. Red signifies corrosion is present in the steel, either pitted or flaked and white alerts the operator to the presence of non- magnetic conducting metal such as aluminium, copper or solder. A combination of colours suggests that the condition is not clear cut.

Two versions of the instrument are available: a self-contained, portable battery operated unit and a static, mains-driven unit with a wall mounted instrument and display with remote probe.

An audible warning buzzer is incorporated which can be used to alert the operator of departure from acceptable standards.

Wells Krautkramer, Castle Vale Industrial Estate, Maybrook Road, Minworth, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B76 8AY, UK

Educat ional kits

A range of educational kits for training establishments and in- house training has been launched by Sonaspection International. Each NDE kit comprises a set of ten welded carbon-steel specimens, each containing a different defect type, designed to give students maximum practical experience of detecting, identifying and sizing real defects. The kits are supplied with a macro section and radiograph of each defect to let students compare the defects visual appearance with their own results.

The kits are available in six versions covering the main techniques. The ultrasonic and radiographic kits each concentrate on weld-body defects; the magnetic, penetrant and visual ones have surface and sub- surface defects appropriate to their respective techniques; and the demonstration kit contains a selection from each of the others and is for engineering students who require a basic understanding of all NDE techniques.

54 NDT International February 1990

Companies in Germany and elsewhere rely on the name FCIRSTER ® when it comes to

. . . . quaUW stanzas , mamutp~.~, . . . . ~-~ ~o.1 tot for FOKSTEK is u~ ,- non.destructive test and measur- ing equipment based on highly sophisticated electromagnetic

methods, semi-finished Be it for testing

ucts, componentS or for set- prod . . . . r,~ m asuring physical vice tes~, t,, . . . . e

le~qu, pment for 4~v erY 3 or" .. More than years of expen

ence in basic and process research, as well as in developing and using equipment and a worldwide distribution and ser- vice network make the decision for F{3RSTER equipment a safe decision all round.

- N e w equlpmen They are aimed at the student who has received training in NDE theory and the use of equipment. The student should then be given an educational kit to familiarize himself with typical defect types and how they are identified, using the particular NDE method he is learning, and then move onto basic defect sizing. This gives experience of working on real defects and improves skills in reliability of defect detection and interpretation.

Sonaspection International Ltd, 18 Ladies Walk Industrial Estate, Caton Road, Lancaster LA 1 3NX, UK

Remote control manipulator for ultrasonic inspection A versatile dual-axis remote tractor, named Dart, has been introduced by Sonomatic. Typical applications are expected to be for internal and external ultrasonic inspection of pipe, tanks, hulls, pressure vessels, nozzles and shell welds.

The heavy-duty, dual-axis, dc- powered raster scan manipulator is designed for programmed or manual remote control on curved or flat surfaces. It is driven on a

Upgraded portable alloy identifier using arc emission spectrometry from Arun Technology

flexible, magnetically or vacuum- attached track with an integral drive rack for positive transmission.

Axial (x-axis) motion offers scan rates of up to 5 0 m m s land circumferential (y-axis) scan rates are up t o l 0 0 m m s 1 Both axes have speed control via integral motor tachogenerator and positional feedback using optical incremental shaft encoders.

It can act as a stand-alone unit when used with the company's DCU programmable drive control

unit, or can be interfaced with a range of ultrasonic inspection systems. The system accepts individual and multiple array probe holders and may be specified with a local 16-channel multiplexer/decoder facility with plug-in connections for single or dual-element ultrasonic transducers.

Remote operation up to 300 m is possible, and audiovisual communication facilities are incorporated for setting up and monitoring scan progress.

Sonomatic Limited, 20 Rivington Court, Hardwick Grange, Woolston, Warrington WA 1 4RT, UK

Raster-scanned manipulator for remote control operation on curved or flat surfaces

Portable alloy identifier An upgraded version of the Analoy 1401 portable alloy identifier has been launched by Arun Technology.

The instrument is a DC arc emission spectrometer which addresses many applications in the metals industry including analysis of remelt ingots, sorting and upgrading of scrap and quality assurance for stockholders and consumers. It comprises a power pack, electronic control

56 NDT International February 1990