-New equipment Probes can vary angle of sound Electronic variable angle probes (VAPs) have been launched by Babcock International. The probes have the following features:

• shearwaveanglesselectable from 30 ° to 75 °

• automatic rapid scan through preselected angles

• phased arraytechnology • 1 .5 ,2 .5or4 MHz

The manufacturer expects applications to be found in both manual and automated inspections where a VAP can be used in place of an array of probes. Babcock used the probe in the PISC II trial.

Babcock Energy Ltd, Research Centre, High Street, Renfrew PA4 8UW, UK

Ultrasonic software Software which allows screen dis- plays from the MDU 2A ultrasonic system to be downloaded to a porta- ble computer for printing and storage has been announced byWells Krautkramer.

The software has been developed by the British Gas Engineering Research Section and licensed to Wells Kraut- kramer. The M DU 2A system itself is licensed to the manufacturer by the Central Electricity Generating Board.

The software will run on IBM PC or compatible computers. Portable models will permit site use of the analysis capabilities.

Wells Krautkramer, Blackhorse Road, Letchworth, Herts SG6 1HF, UK

Portable FFT analysers launched by Hakuto

Fast Fourier Transform analysers which are portable and battery powered have been launched by Hakuto of Japan.

TheAD 3524 and 3525 two- channel instruments are either 20 or 100kHz with 14-bit resolution. The user can select up to 8192 points for the FFT calculation.

Hakuto International UK Ltd, 33-35 EleanorCross Road, Waltham Cross, Herts EN8 7LF, UK

Variable angle probes from Babcock

Leak detectors sold Two leak detectors for ethylene oxide gas are to be provided by Parsons Chemical Engineering Ltd to the Singapore Hospital Management Branch.

A S $300 000 contract covers the design, manufacture and installation of the leak detection systems using a gas chromatograph-based photo- ionization system. Leak detection initiates a ventilation and scrubber system.

Parsons Plastics Ltd, Parsons House, Leamore Lane, Bloxwich, West Midlands, WS2 7EB, UK

Non-contact equipment uses air as couplant Non-contact ultrasonic through- transmission testing using air as a couplant is possible with the Air Scan instrument from Qualcorp Aerospace Systems.

Air coupling allows advanced materials such as composites and bonded structures to be more easily inspected. The equipment is said to detect delaminations, disbonds and porosity.

The company says that the instru- ment has successfully tested ca rbon/ca rbon, graphite/epoxy, fibreglass, Nomex, Kevlar, thermo- plastics, metal matrices, wood, rubberand ceramics.

Qualcorp Aerospace Systems, 2032 7 Nordhoff Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6161, USA

Acoustic emission interface A computer interface for use with the Dunegan Classic 3000 acoustic emission system has been announced by PAC.

The 950 PC interface allows the system to be linked to a personal computer to permit both real-time data display and storage, as well as more sophisticated data analysis and presentation.

The interface module with accessories costs $2475. For further details write to: DrAdrian Pollock, Physical Acoustics Corpora- tion, Box 3135, Princeton, NJ 08543-3135, USA

~,ir Scan from Qualcorp Aerospace Systems

Eddy current system detects longitudinal flaws in wire Detection of longitudinal flaws while testing hot wire for transverse flaws is said to be possible using a system devised by Institut Dr F0rster.

Using an accumulation method for flaw counting, the system is said to overcome the low signal noise ratio from longitudinal cracks during testing upto 1200°C. An eddy current system is used,with the signal compared each 0.01 m with a threshold level set just above the normal noise level. Thus, noise will result in fairly regular transgressions, but longitudinal flaws will produce a series of transitions which are detected by computer analysis.

At the same time flaws such as scabs or laminations are detected using higher set thresholds. Results are printed out as a representation of each wire, an overall Q (quality) number being assigned to each coil.

Institut Dr F(~rster, In Laisen 70, Postfach 1564, D-7410 Reutlingen, FRG

NDT International December 1 987 367