Conventional UT and Phased Array Inspection Solution

Parts made of laminate composite materials pose an inspection challenge because of their many shapes and thicknesses. However, many parts consist of a somewhat flat section such as skins, stringers, and spars. Olympus offers a complete solution for the inspection of carbon fiber reinforced polymers flat panels. This solutions is based on the OmniScan® flaw detector, the GLIDER scanner and probes dedicated to CFRP flat panel inspection.

The CFRP Flat Panel Inspection Solution from Olympus provides a portable solution with advanced tools such as two axes encoded C-scans with amplitude and time-of-flight (TOF) information, gate synchronization, and data recording. The GLIDER scanner is easy to use and well-suited for raster scanning with both conventional UT and phased array probes. The Olympus CFRP solution offers important benefits:

• high inspection speed powerful and versatile software tools
• ease of deployment
• greater POD
• portability

Note that the Olympus CFRP Flat Panel Inspection Solution can also be used for other FRP flat panels.

Features

• OmniScan instrumentation
• OmniScan software
  • Familiar menu-driven interface
  • Multiple C-scans option
  • A-Scan and C-scan data storage
  • TCG
  • Quick swapping between PA and UT for prove up and defect sizing
  • Customizable color palette for amplitude and thickness C-scan
• GLIDER scanner
  • Well suited for PA, UT, ECA, and EC probes
  • High inspection speed
  • Two encoded axes
• UT and PA probes and wedges
  • Near-wall probes: shortened dead zone at both ends
  • Delay line: provides excellent near-surface resolution
  • Water Pocket Rexolite wedge: for limited irrigation needs and better coupling on some surfaces

OmniScan instrument

The OmniScan MX offers a high acquisition rate and powerful software features in a portable, modular mainframe to efficiently perform manual and automated inspections. The Olympus CFRP flat panel inspection solution is based on the OmniScan PA with the 16:128 phased array module.

• Portable, light-weight, and battery operated
• Very simple to set up and use
• Multiple C-scans option
• A-scan and C-scan data storage
• Up to 6000 A-scans recorded per second
• Compatible with all linear array probes available on the market with optional adaptors
• Olympus linear array probes can be made up to 128 mm wide
• Typical PA inspection rate: 60 m²/hr with 1 mm resolution making PA inspection up to 30 times faster than conventional UT
• Quick swapping between PA and UT for prove up and defect sizing
• Olympus NDT Remote Control software compatible

Software

• Monitors amplitude, peak position, crossing-level position, and thickness on each gate
• Interface gate for surface-following synchronization on the front wall echo
• Automatic gate synchronizes on previous gate
• A-scan data storage and C-scan post-processing capabilities
• Customizable color palette for amplitude and thickness C-scan
• 2-axis mechanical encoder with data acquisition synchronization on mechanical movement
• Optional data library to access A-scan and/or C-scan on PC for custom processing

GLIDER XY manual scanner

The GLIDER X-Y scanner is a 2-axis encoding scanner for the manual inspection of slightly curved or flat composite surfaces.

• Compatible with UT, PA, ECA, and EC probes
• Compatible with all Olympus instrument with optional adaptors
• Completely portable
• Can operate in various orientations (horizontal, vertical)
• 2 suction cups mounted on ball joints for curved surfaces
• 2 waterproof encoders
• 3 modes on both axes
  • Free movement
  • 3,27 mm step increment
  • Locked

PC-based analysis software: TomoView™

OmniScan is compatible with Olympus TomoView PC-based software family. For example, TomoView Lite Aero is dedicated to aerospace data analysis and offers:

• Generation of binary C-scan
• Multiple file C-Scan merge
• Defect sizing with signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) - amplitude and TOF C-scans

The free TomoVIEWER application can also be used to view data acquired by the OmniScan.