TPT March 2022

I NDUS T RY

MAC to exhibit test systems for tube and pipe MAGNETIC Analysis Corp will be featuring the Echomac ® PA TW Phased Array Ultrasonic Robot System for inspecting tube and pipe at its Stand 6H20 at Tube Düsseldorf 2022. operator intervention during production. The wide coverage of the test head can handle typical shifts in the weld location, and the electronically controlled trans- ducers can vary the pulse timing of the individual elements to inspect with multiple angles, if needed, all without any manual intervention.

the data. A Minimac ® 55 eddy current tester will also be demonstrated in the Booth to detect surface defects in tube and wire. This instrument is often installed for high speed in-line testing of small diameter drawn wire. Its filters and digital processors, along with guiding and holding mechanisms, prevent vibration from interfering with the test as well as ensuring smooth progress of the product through the production line. The test detects typical small surface defects such as scratches, cracks and pin holes. MAC’s optional quality grading software can allow the customer to customise the defect types, each based on a specific threshold gate, specify the maximum number of defects for each grade level, and configure reports that include coil ID, grade, date, time, production line, test instrument and total defect count for each designated type.

A recent phased array system, supplied to a SouthernUSERWpipemill, can test material with diameters ranging from 10" to 28" (254mm to 711.2mm) diameter using eight interchangeable test head wear shoes. The shoe profiles match the curvatures of the weld zone areas of the different sized pipes which allows full test coverage for detecting OD and ID longitudinal defects, all while using the same robot mechanism. The inspection, which can alsomonitor the weld profile and pipe wall thickness, takes place in the lower temperature area of the production line, below 140°F (60°C), after the forming and shaping operation. In general, a diameter range of 2 to 28" (50.8-711.2mm) can be covered with various head and wear shoe combinations. A key feature of the Echomac PA TW system is the minimal

In another installation, the Echomac PA TW is installed in the heat affected zone within 40ft of the welder, at temperatures up to 252°F (122°C). This upstream location in the weld line gives the operator instant feedback when the scarfing tool is bad or broken, allowing immediate adjustment of the welding operation, and saving many feet of possible tube scrap. Real time B and C-scan views of the quality of the weld and seam-trim tool alert the operator to issues such as undercuts and other failures with the scarfing process. High PRF can be used based on thickness to get a detailed weld profile with high resolution and no averaging or AGC is used for processing

Magnetic Analysis Corp www.mac-ndt.com

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MARCH 2022