From: Monday, November 24, 2014
Québec, Canada, November 24, 2014 — Eddyfi is proud to launch a new line of eddy current array (ECA) probes developed specifically for carbon steel crack inspections. Based on tangential ECA technology (TECA™), this new patent-pending technology is not only capable of measuring crack position and length, but also crack depth up to 10 mm (0.4 in) without surface preparation or paint/coating removal. In fact, the Sharck probe can tolerate a liftoff of up to 3 mm (0.120 in) so, unlike conventional methods such as magnetic particle testing (MT) and penetrant testing (PT), Eddyfi’s new probe eliminates the need to strip off paint and coatings over joints.
The spring-loaded fingers of the Sharck probe adapt to the geometry of the weld crown to scan the weld cap, toe area, and heat-affected zone all in a single pass. This is a major improvement over pencil probes and conventional eddy current techniques, moving away from highly operator-dependent examinations methods. Moreover, scan speeds of up to 200 mm/s (8 in/s) — with full data recording — allow welds to be examined up to 10 times faster compared to existing sophisticated electromagnetic methods such as ACFM®.
The Sharck probe is paired to advanced software for maximum performance and ease of use. Encoded 2D and 3D C-scan imaging offers the most intuitive analysis experience, while automatic readings provide crack position, length, and depth for fast reporting. The system also monitors liftoff and magnetic permeability variations while scanning, performing live compensation.
Considering that ferrous materials have always been a challenge for eddy current, the company invested substantially in developing a high-performance solution based on ECA technology: “Clients have been asking for ECA and C-scan imaging for carbon steel materials. Eddyfi has dedicated significant R&D efforts — about 30% of our staff — to bring breakthrough welds and corrosion solutions that address the needs of many industries relying heavily on carbon steel. The Sharck probe is the first step in our efforts to help solve the monumental challenges these industries are facing,” said Martin Thériault, President and CEO of Eddyfi.
Headquartered in the advanced NDT hub of Québec, Canada, with offices in Europe and the USA, Eddyfi focuses on offering high-end eddy current and electromagnetic solutions for the inspection of critical components and assets. Eddyfi has customers in more than 50 countries in such major industries as nuclear, power generation, oil & gas, and aerospace.
Eddyfi employs the world’s most renowned experts in the field of advanced eddy currents and electromagnetics, and their mission is to push the limits of these technologies to new heights. Eddyfi develops the industry’s best performing and most reliable test instruments, acquisition and analysis software, as well as standard but more importantly, specialized surface array and tubing probes. Eddyfi has the expertise, engineering, and manufacturing flexibility to supply fully integrated and specially made solutions that deliver superior performance to our customers.
At Eddyfi, performance matters.