-New equipment X-ray imaging

One of a new family of X-ray linear detectors developed by Thomson Tubes Electroniques, the TH 9588 has an improved pitch of 0.225 mm for high resolution NDT. It is suitable for ful ly automated production line equipment for monitoring thickness (plastics and metals), defect identif ication (metals, composite materials or wood) or element posit ioning.

The detector assembly consists of a detector unit and a preprocessing unit, and is based on the same technology as the company's other X-ray linear detectors. The output may be fed to a frame grabber for display on a monitor, or may be coupled through an interface board to a data processor for real-time production line control.

The TH 9588 has 1024 sensitive elements, giving a sensitive length of 230 mm. It provides an 8-bi t readout, wi th an integration time of 1.5 ms per line, givi'ng a nominal scan speed of 150 mm s -~. The 0.225 mm pitch is also available wi th a 1 2-bi t readout for improved image quality (at the expense of scanning speed) and in 256, 512 and 768 pixel versions.

The TH 9591 detector assembly has 1536 pixels wi th a pitch of 0.45 mm, giving a corresponding sensitive length of 690 mm. The minimum integration time per line is 2.2 ms, resulting in scanning speeds of up to 200 mm s -1. It includes a separate preprocessing unit which drives the detector and carries out gain and offset corrections. The output is in 8-bi t TTL symmetric pairs for high-speed processing, but a similar unit exists wi th a 12-bit readout for greater image precision. The unit operates with an X-ray energy range between 20 kVp and 160 kVp.

Currently undergoing beta testing is the TH 9512, which interfaces the output from Thomson Tubes Electroniques' X-ray linear

The TH9588 high resolution X-ray linear detector from Thomson Tubes Electroniques, with preprocessing unit

detectors with PC AT compatible imaging boards (Matrox IM-1280 / IM-ASD, Imaging Technology AFG-100 AT, EPIX 4 Meg Video, etc.) for real-time NDT on production lines.

The input clock frequency and data-l ine length: settings are adjustable to any X-ray linear detector configuration. Output data is formatted to meet specific imaging board input requirements, such as control signals, analogue or 8-bi t or 12-bit digital data. It also includes calibration and monitoring funct ions to ensure the correct funct ioning of the X-ray linear detector from the PC.

The interface package includes a PC AT board, software and cables.

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Also announced by the company is the TH 49424, a triple-field, 229 mm image intensifier for neutron- beam inspection equipment. It incorporates the HX image-intensifer technology to produce excellent output image characteristics.

The intensifer has a high conversion factor of 120 cd m - 2 / 106 n s -1 mm -2 in normal mode. Its centre l imit ing resolution in normal mode is typically 55 Ip cm -1 with a contrast ratio of 26:1. In zoom mode, resolution is 75 Ipcm -1 and the contrast

ratio is greater than 30:1.

The TH 49424 meets the growing demand for neutron-beam inspection techniques and is particularly well adapted to neutroscopy and neutrography applications, such as aircraft wing inspection and nuclear reactors.

Thomson Tubes Electroniques, BP 121, 78148 Velizy, C~dex, France

Cu rved- bed manual scanner

The curved-bed X-Y manual scanner from Phoenix Inspection Systems, recently supplied to a major offshore exploration company, combines ease and speed of operation wi th a high degree of accuracy. The unit can be used with any display interface, but is designed to operate wi th the company's Mult iple Display Unit (MDU). The scanner wil l operate on any material and in any position from the horizontal through to the vertical. Curvatures in one plane on external and internal surfaces with diameters down to 600 mm are possible. The maximum scan area is 450 mm x 48 mm.

106 NDT& E International Volume 25 Number 2 1 992

-New equipment The scanner body comprises a standard unit capable of being fitted to three track attachments using a quick release device. Track attachment options include damped band, magnetic and vacuum.

The ultrasonic transducers (with integral couplant supply) are mounted in a toolpost secured to the X-axis arm. The toolpost and holder arrangement was designed to ensure good transducer contact with the surface and consistent couplant supply.

The scanner wil l accommodate the latest transducer phased array technology in the Babcock 'Variable Angle Probe' - also manufactured by Phoenix Inspection Systems. This transducer can generate eight different shear wave beams in the range 30 ° to 75 °. A portable electronic switching unit enables the beam angle to be scanned at high speed so that a search examination can be carried out simultaneously with a number of different angles chosen to meet the particular inspection requirements.

Phoenix Inspection Systems Ltd, 46 Melford Court, Hardwick Grange, Woolston, Warrington, Cheshire WA 1 4RZ, UK

Maximizing bearing life

The optimum conditions for the longest possible life for ball and roller bearings can be easily obtained using the Lubmaster system developed by SPM Instrument.

The system is a software program, running on industry standard hardware (IBM AT/Intel 80286 or higher), incorporating data on bearing dimensions and type of lubricant. It gives the operator instant on-screen information on the operating conditions of bearings. Data on speed, load, temperature and lubricant type is input and Lubmaster indicates the expected life of the bearing.

Optimum conditions for ball and roller bearing operation can be quickly determined with the Lubmaster software from SPM

The operator can then test how any change to these conditions, for example by cooling the bearing or altering the viscosity of oil used, would increase or decrease bearing life.

It replaces the trial and error methods of altering operating conditions in practice, by displaying on-screen how those alterations would affect life expectancy.

Data obtained during decades of laboratory and field tests has been built in to the program. This includes bearing condition evaluation measures, ISO 281 rating life calculations, the life adjustment formulas compiled by major lubricant and bearing manufacturers and relevant catalogue data on type, size and load for bearings with standardized ISO dimensions.

The software can be used as a free-standing program or in conjunction with all SPM instruments and systems measuring LR/HR values. It incorporates the industry-leading shock pulse method of evaluating bearing condition, allowing machines to run for longer periods before stoppage for

bearing replacement, so keeping production downtime to a minimum. This allows machine operators to institute planned maintenance programmes to cut their costs significantly.

SPM Instrument UK Ltd, Walshaw Road, Bolholt, Bury, Lancashire BL8 1PY, UK

Storing data from ultrasonic flaw detectors The Datatrack, Model 21 PDC, a data collector compatible with the Epoch II and Epoch liB digital ultrasonic flaw detectors, has been introduced by Panametrics. The pocket-size instrument uses replaceable credit card size memory cards to provide non-volatile storage of A-scan, thickness and amplitude data, and status information. Epoch users can therefore store data on the memory cards rather than the instrument itself. This allows inspectors to acquire unlimited data at remote locations and transport it back to the office for analysis, with no need to carry along a computer or printer.

NDT& E International Volume 25 Number 2 1992 107