Non-destructive testing – or testing that doesn’t damage the tested product – as been around in one form or another since 1895, when German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen first invented the X-ray. And just as X-ray technology has been proven to yield many benefits in the healthcare industry, so too has our ultrasonic inspection system and other non-destructive testing methods. Here are five reasons why nondestructive testing is beneficial in a wide range of industries from automobile to oil and gas to, of course, the aerospace industry.
- Safety: Non-destructive testing is used to determine the integrity and condition of a given component before that component fails. Obviously, depending on the component the results of such a failure could be disastrous. Thus, nondestructive testing helps to protect testers as well as aircraft components. Moreover, non-destructive testing can be done on systems that are volatile when examined any other way.
- Reduces downtime: Often mechanics must shut down entire operations while conducting tests on certain systems and machine components. In contrast, NDT keeps these assets up and running. As you can guess, this is an invaluable benefit since downtime negatively impacts a company’s bottom-line.
- NDT is more comprehensive than other testing methods: NDT testing does not alter substances or machine components. Because of this, every component of a system can be tested and not just individual components of that system. Moreover, NDT techniques can be applied to multiple stages of a system or component’s construction helping technicians better diagnose problems before they occur.
- NDT helps determine structural integrity non-invasively: Using ultrasonic testing to determine the integrity of your systems and machine components, you are able to prevent the destruction of valuable assets. Obviously, the benefit here is that you prevent these systems from being unfit for use and from possibly having to be replaced.
- Helps maintain regulatory compliance: NDT helps operator remain in compliance with the many safety requirements that are a part of the aerospace sector.
In short, ultrasonic testing is among the most efficient methods of NDT. Its benefits save users time and money and increases safety which is always a major concern to those of us in the aerospace sector. When you use ultrasonic testing equipment such as immersion tanks, squirter systems, irrigated transducers, your results will be more comprehensive and detailed.