January-February 2022 - 40

PRODUCT FOCUS: BORESCOPES AND NDT
Eddy Current Flaw Detection
T
he latest advancements in eddy current flaw
detection can be found in the Nortec 600 from
Olympus Scientific Solutions Americas Inc.
In fact, the device recently was put to an extreme test
- astronauts used the device to inspect cracks on the
International Space Station. As Ghislain Morais, product
leader, Eddy Current Product Line, wrote in a Jan.
28 Olympus InSight Blog, " Going into space is arguably the most
extreme environmental test there is. "
" I think the technology has really reached a point where eddy current
is going to be more the norm, " he said. Bittner started working
in the field of nondestructive testing technology (NDT) about 30
years ago. About that time, eddy current testing was transitioning
from analog to digital. " When that started to happen, " he said, " the
applications for eddy current exploded. "
Inspecting the supporting structure underneath the aircraft skin
without needing to remove paint and primer has saved the airlines
and aviation industry billions of dollars and also is good for the
environment. " The eddy current fields generated from a probe can
penetrate those coatings and look for subsurface cracking or corrosion
that may be occurring right under the paint surface, " he said.
Another significant time savings, he points out, is in the inspection
of thousands of fastener holes associated with the construction
of aluminum aircraft. Scanners that can be used with Nortec Eddy
Current Flaw Detectors have speed ranges from 600 to 3000 rpm
and frequency ranges from 50kHz to 6MHz.
Over time, Bittner said the Nortec device has gotten a lot more
user-friendly. For instance, he said signal calibration in Freeze mode
saves calibration time. Other new key features include:
* Full-screen option in any display mode.
* Improved filters for rotary scanner mode.
* Intuitive interface with Application Selection presets.
The Nortec 600 weighs just 3.7 pounds.
OLYMPUS
The rugged device has a protection rating of IP66 and a battery
life of up to 10 hours. A bright, 5.7-inch VGA display produces visible
eddy current signals in any lighting condition.
The Nordtec 600 can be used for surface inspection, wheel
inspection, bolt hole testing, conductivity and coating thickness
measurements, and weld inspection.
James Bittner, an NDT applications engineer and technology
specialist with Olympus, said eddy current is used to inspect metallic
aircraft and, to a lesser extent, composite aircraft, as well as
engine components and subcomponents.
Videoscope XT
IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & VISIBLE
SOLUTIONS
The Videoscope XT is a hazardous locations-rated,
tungsten-braided, high-resolution videoscope
available in 3, 4, 6 and 8mm diameters and lengths up
to 30m. Videoscope XT is UL- and MIL STD-rated with
4-way articulation and variable LED illumination providing
still image and video data storage. Battery lasts 6-8 hours.
www.aviationpros.com/21255125
40 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
* All-settings configuration page.
* 10 Hz to 12 MHz frequency capacity.
* Automatic internal balancing (for BNC connector).
* Up to two real-time readings.
* Storage capacity of up to 500 files (program and data).
* Onboard file preview
The Nortec 600 comes in four models: N600 (basic), N600C (measures
conductivity and non-conductive coating thickness), N600S (rotary
scanner operation), and N600D (dual frequency mode and mixing).
Which model works best depends on the requirements of the
application. For general aviation, most are doing basic surface and
wheel inspection, scanner capability is not always needed.
USA1000 J-4-1500 Portable Videoscope
USA BORESCOPES
The USA1000 J-4-1500 series portable
videoscope provides aviation and aerospace
professionals the features and
functions to perform even the most
challenging inspections. The large HD screen allows you to view
inspection areas with ease and confidence. This system comes standard
with an interchangeable side viewing tip and shipping case.
www.aviationpros.com/21255130
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
http://www.aviationpros.com/21255130 http://www.aviationpros.com/21255125
January-February 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January-February 2022
