Hello my name is Jean-Francois Fortin.
Today I would like to introduce you to the Olympus BIS.
BIS stands for bar inspection system.
These systems are designed for round and square bar inspection
using phased array technology.
Different type of materials can be inspected
such as carbon steel, stainless steel, and special steel.
The BIS is available in three models:
BIS-T1, BIS-T2 and BIS-T4.
The BIS-T1 can inspect round bars
with diameters ranging from ten to sixtyfive millimeters.
The BIS-T2 can inspect round or square bars
with diameters ranging from twenty to one hundred and twenty millimeters.
The BIS-T4 can inspect round or square bars
with diameters ranging from fifty
to two hundred and fifty four millimeters.
The BIS can be setup according to the required
inspection configuration in the Quickview software.
This includes the longitudinal wave for volume inspection
and shear wave for sub-surface inspection.
Due to the flexibility of the phased array technology,
configuration and inspection modes are typically changed by software
with minimal intervention required on the inspection head.
The BIS comes with a fully automated calibrator
for equalization of the phased array probes.
Olympus can supply the BIS
as a fully integrated turn-key solution.
Behind us we have such a system,
more specifically a BIS-T2.
Throughout this video we will use this system
to demonstrate the general concepts
applicable to all BIS models.
This is the inspection head of the BIS.
More specifically we can find here the immersion tank.
Inside the immersion tank we have
the floating UT head.
And on top of the head we find the heart of the system,
the Quickscan LT acquisition units.
More electronics can be installed on the system
to either improve its productivity
or its detection capability.
Below the Quickscan LT acquisition units,
we find the floating head
containing the phased array probes.
The design of the Olympus floating head and immersion tank
ensure optimal water-coupling conditions.
On each side of the immersion tank are the flood gates.
The floodgates are designed to retain the water
inside the immersion tank, limiting the need
for water refilling and avoiding water disturbance.
The water brought to the immersion tank
is carefully handled through an advanced
water management system to eliminate all bubbles.
We have removed the floating head from the immersion tank
to have a look of what is hidden inside the Olympus BIS.
Here we have the centering devices
They are used to ensure that the probes
are in the optimum position in relation to the bar.
This exclusive concept provides a constant
dynamic adjustment of the probes position
to keep them perfectly perpendicular and concentric
in relation to the bar surface
despite bar straightness variations.
The Olympus floating head concept ensures
high dynamic detection repeatability
during the in-line inspection of production bars.
The floating head holds the probe holders or cassettes
on which the phased array probes are fixed.
In the case of the T2 system,
the floating head contains three cassettes
holding a total of twelve probes.
Six probes for the first half of the range
and six for the second half.
The six probes are arranged throughout the cassettes
in such a way as to ensure full volume coverage.
The BIS inspection head is designed for
modular integration and easy maintenance.
All components can be easily accessed
for regular inspection and maintenance operations.
The phase array probes are very easy to connect
to the Quickscan LT acquisition units.
The EZ latch connectors are spring loaded
to ensure a good connectivity and cancel the effects of vibration.
A complete changeover process between product ranges
is fairly short due to the design of the BIS.
Depending of the BIS model,
the changeover process includes
changing the phased array probes by switching cassettes,
connecting the right probes to the Quickscan LT acquisition units
and loading the correct inspection setup.
All of these steps can be achived directly at the inspection head
which helps to reduce down time.
Once the head has been setup,
we can move on to the equalization of the phased array probes.
The equalization process for the BIS
is very simple and performed by a fully automatic calibrator unit.
This ensures better and more consistant results
than manual equalization.
The calibrator unit is made up of a calibration bar
with known reference defects
along with a motion system that precisely moves
and rotates the calibration bar
so that every probe sees the same reference defects.
The calibrator is controlled from the operator station
and the equalization results are managed by the QuickView software.
Typically all the probes are being equalized on the same two defects.
One for longitudinal wave and one for shear wave.
In Quickview, we can see the signal response
of every aperture on the phase array probes
as the calibration bar goes through the system.
The goal of the equalization
is to bring the response of every aperture
to a specific target level,
typically eighty percent, plus or minus ten percent.
After the first pass
some apertures may not have reached the target level.
Actual equalization is performed by selecting, in QuickView,
either all the apertures
or only those that did not reach the target level.
After the selection is done
QuickView will automatically apply the required gains
to reach the target level.
Now, as you can see, after the second pass
the equalization is perfect.
Now that the equalization process has been completed
we are ready to inspect some bars,
but first we must bring the inspection head
to the online position.
With the inspection head in position
we can start the inspection from the HMI.
During the inspection process, data files
are generated for every inspected bar,
and saved on the acquisition PC.
All inspection information
including alarms and defect positions
are automatically recorded in a database
for future reference and traceability.
• A look inside the system during bar inspection
This concludes our introduction to the Olympus BIS.
For more information on Olympus bar or tube inspection systems
please contact your local representative
or visit our website at www.olympus-ims.com.