-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

- N e w equlpmen The data collector stores test data, time and date of each inspection along with serial number, operator name, location of test, four lines of notes and file type for future identification. Stored information can be retrieved, recalled, deleted and transferred. The calibration parameters can be accessed and changed from the unit's keypad.

Datatrac and memory cards have separate batteries. Datatrac's battery shuts down automatically when it is too low and the memory card's backup battery takes over, eliminating data loss.

The memory card system supports industry standard PCMCIA memory cards of up to 512 kbytes.

Panametrics, Inc., ND T Division, 221 Crescent Street, Waltham, MA 02254, USA

Thickness measuring instrument

Phoenix Inspection Systems have designed and built a thickness measuring instrument for Scottish Power. The function of the instrument is to measure the wall thickness of feed heater tubes

Portable data collector from Panametrics with memory cards

Thickness measurement device from Phoenix Inspection Systems for narrow tubes

with an internal diameter of 12.5 mm to 15 mm and a nominal wall thickness of 3 mm. The device provides its own couplant, and allows an operator to measure wall thickness at all points around the tube.

It consists of a probe head with an ultrasonic transducer mounted axially within the head, with a 3.2 mm diameter flat crystal operating at 15 MHz. The ultrasound beam for this transducer is transmitted axially along the length of the pipe and is reflected off a mirror orientated at 45 . The probe head is pushed along the tubes to be inspected by a conduit. This conduit is used to transfer couplant to the probe head and also contain within it a coaxial cable to transmit the

ultrasonic signals. The probe head is located in the tube by flexible brush rings and these allow the probe head to be used in tubes of different diameter. The device incorporates a stainless steel body, mirror and spigot tube to enhance its anti-corrosion properties.

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

Electrical insulation tester The integrity of insulation can be assessed nondestructively with the Brandenburg Model 630 high voltage insulation tester from Astec High Voltage. The benchtop tester supplies a voltage continuously adjustable up to 30 kV with output current limited to a maximum of 200/~A, ensuring breakdown will not cause permanent damage. Two meters show test voltage and leakage current and an audible signal draws attention to the onset of ionization, frequently not visible on the current meter.

Powered from 100-130 V or 200-260 V mains, the test voltage has three ranges, 0 -3 kV, 0 -10 kV and 0 -30 kV, adjusted by a ten-turn potentiometer and measured to an accuracy of 4-5% on a similarly ranged voltmeter. The item on test is connected to the tester by an insulated test probe which incorporates a switch to energize the HV generator.

108 N DT & E International Volume 25 Number 2 1992