Its current acquisition systems portfolio, comprised by the multi-method UE1 Box and phased array U32 Box, are now open to those who need to exploit their flexibility at maximum to meet multiple technical specifications and accomplish different inspection goals, all within the same device.
The current economic context is pushing industrial players and R&D centres to concentrate their efforts on improving the efficiency of all their activities, maintaining value delivery and thus improving their competitiveness. The challenge for them is to find practical, cost-effective and reliable platforms to train their personnel, conduct experiments, perform tests and integrate the outcomes into industrial operation.
The acquisition platforms
The Box concept is conceived to deliver hardware and software on embeddable units. This architecture allows operators to define best suitable NDT inspection methods for their operations whether it is a desk job, a remote task or a large machine.
The UE1 Box device allows to perform ultrasonic testing (UT) and eddy current testing (ET) including bore holes with rotary probes and/or resonance data acquisition all-in-one. It is fully suitable to test any type of material for defect detection, material characterisation, thickness assessment, etc.
The U32 Box device is dedicated to phased array ultrasonic data acquisition including also conventional UT. With its 32 elements, it is fully suitable for ultrasonic inspection automation of aerospace parts as well as for other applications.
Boxes are now transparent
In response to challenges nowadays, Testia has centred its efforts into delivering smart and scalable solutions; this means that users of this equipment now can shift from just operating the device to interacting directly with it.
Thanks to the dedicated new Software Development Kit (SDK) packages, users can directly drive the associated software to give precise instructions to the box and manipulate its functions in a very flexible way. This capability allows users to fully exploit the equipment’s features at their maximum. The applications for this technology extend exponentially, because operators can use the device from a traditional NDT acquisition system for specialised tests in research centres or for training purposes up to a dedicated device for production line applications.
For instance, this solution is already being used in many of Testia’s customers’ sites for in-line assessment of elementary parts and/or finished products and on new manufacturing process lines. But also, in one of our clients’ on-going collaborative R&D project for automatised combined NDT inspections methods of metallic parts.
The SDKs provide a set of functions that allow to dynamically control Testia’s Box via their current software. They are categorised and organised per type such as: Initiators, Getters and Setters to ease their adoption by the developer. The tree architecture permits to quickly picture and access all the functions available in the library in order to: Design your own acquisition software; Quickly implement your workflow; Obtain instantaneous results.
Coupled with the detailed documentation, examples and support, it has never been easier to create your software.
A flexible combination
Testia also launched its flexible SmartScan earlier this year (available in various sizes, from scanning zone of 120 x 80cm) which enables multi-method acquisitions by embedding the UE1 Box or the U32 Box. The SmartScan 3-axis systems fulfils highest requirements on versatility, efficiency & accuracy. Used in combination with today’s SDK, the users will be able to set-up in record time a fully customized & accurate inspection acquisition system. Powered by Testia’s well known analysis software NDTkit, this package is a key for success.
