TPT March 2014

Technology News

Fast phased array system THE FAAST_II system is a UT phased array technology fitting with high-speed testing applications and high in-line productivity, able to replace more than ten conventional phased array systems working in parallel. Its linear pulsing generator allows the transmission of a large quantity of ultrasonic beams, at different allocated angles, in one single spray. ID and OD, with 2D Matrix array probe; lamination (square ½" at 10 per cent and 90 per cent, FBH 3.2mm diameter) and WT with 1D Linear array probes. The calibration process is quick and easy, with no mechanical positioning of the phased array probes according to tube diameter and thickness range. All that is required is the loading of the correct UT setting file.

Linear for full body inspection of tube 14m-long equals 30 tubes per hour. The FAAST_II system with 2D active surrounding probes for L&T flaw detection, associated to the E.ROTA-12 patented system for full dimensional measurement (OD, WT, ECC, ID and OV) is now available as an option to rotary heads on linear feeding of high precision tube lines, with no mechanical rotating movement for easy and quick probe positioning and calibration. Socomate International – France Fax: +33 164 636021 Website: www.socomate.com

Fitting of the relevant number of phased array probes ensures line productivity is maintained: one 2D Matrix plus one 1D Linear per tube end for 300mm inspection equals 80 tubes per hour; six 2D Matrix plus three 1D

Tube ends and full body inspections on line comply with the strictest API standards for OCTG: longitudinal, transversal and all oblique notches (½" long and 5 per cent depth) orientated every 5° step of the 360°, ie 72 oblique,

PlasmaANNEALER for small diameter high precision tubes

PlasmaANNEALER and Plasma Cleaner can process different type of materials used in applications such as: fine precision tubes, medical tubes, hydraulic tubes, capillary tubes, heating element tubes, heat exchanger tubes, thin-walled tubes, and various tubes in automotive, aerospace and instrumentation applications. Plasmait will exhibit at Tube and wire Düsseldorf in the Austrian pavilion in hall 10, stand 10A40.

PlasmaANNEALER can cold start production in a few minutes and can be stopped immediately. This avoids the lengthy heating-up and cooling-down times and associated energy costs that are symptomatic of a conventional furnace. Ion sputtering on the material surface results in fine dry surface cleaning and surface oxide removal, which have proved beneficial to applications with demanding surface requirements. Plasma can also be used for surface cleaning and degreasing only. This is performed with PlasmaCLEANER at temperatures of about 200°C, or higher if necessary. Trials on the new line can be performed at Plasmait’s facility in Austria.

PLASMAIT has introduced a new PlasmaANNEALER for precision, thin- walled and small diameter tubes. The annealer can be used for tubes made of copper, titanium, alloy, stainless steel and nickel alloy. Plasma improves annealing speeds on small diameter and small cross-section tubes and improves surface quality of the finished tubes. Plasma annealing can be performed in-line with tube welding or drawing substituting multiple lines of a traditional tube furnace. The annealer features compact design, high energy conversion efficiency and very low gas consumption, and gives the operator the ability to target mechanical properties with a great degree of accuracy. Rapid heating and reduced time of recrystallisation results in fine grain size with uniform crystal structure. This in turn improves material formability, and its susceptibility to bending and further drawing.

Plasmait – Germany Email: info@plasmait.com Website: www.plasmait.com

A new PlasmaANNEALER from Plasmait

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M arch 2014