Ultrasonic Instrumentation for NDT

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=250 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NTS Ultrasonics"><U><B><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NTS Ultrasonics"><U>Home</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ultrasonic NDT</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="wheel_probes_and_test_rigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Probe Assemblies for NDT"><U><B><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="wheel_probes_and_test_rigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Probe Assemblies for NDT"><U>Probe</U></A><A HREF="wheel_probes_and_test_rigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Probe Assemblies for NDT"><U> Assemblies</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NTS Ultrasonics"><U><IMG SRC="005aa470.jpg" border=0 width="170" height="71" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>                                                                  </div> <bR> <div> Perth, Western Australia. Ph (int): +61 8 9367 1578<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >         </FONT><B> For more information, contact:</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:ntsu@amnet.net.au" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:ntsu@amnet.net.au"><U><B>ntsu@amnet.net.au</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="007520a0.jpg" border=0 width="850" height="10" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Ultrasonic Instrumentation for NDT</div> <div> NTS Ultrasonics can supply built and tested electronics for system integrators to incorporate into their ultrasonic NDT systems. We can supply</div> <div> stand alone remote pulser/preamplifier circuits, or preamplifiers without a pulser, for NDT applications involving long cable runs. We can also supply</div> <div> ultrasonic flaw detection circuits that can be controlled from a computer via a USB2.0 serial interface, or ultrasonic circuits that can be controlled from</div> <div> a microprocessor or microcontroller via an SPI port. Typically, our circuits are designed to meet specific customer requirements. Our circuits</div> <div> have found application in:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">ultrasonic rail flaw detection;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">ultrasonic TOFD systems operating in a subsea environment;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">thickness measurement and corrosion mapping in a subsea environment;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">ultrasonic tyre inspection;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">general ultrasonic flaw detection;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">robotic ultrasonic thickness measurement systems;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">determining the state of cure of setting materials;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">sonar arrays;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">ultrasonic measurement (the size distribution of zooplankton)</div> <bR> <div> These circuits have been deployed in ROVs for subsea applications, in wheeled assemblies for rail flaw detection, and in desk top assemblies for</div> <div> various applications. They are applicable to all manner of ultrasonic inspection ansd measurement tasks.</div> <bR> <div> Usually we supply the circuit as an unhoused circuit board that the end user builds into their own equipment. For USB and SPI systems we supply</div> <div> drivers and demonstration software to allow the end user to verify the operation of the board and as a starting point for their own software development.</div> <div> We can write software for for a clients application. On special request we can supply FPGA design files to allow clients to customize the boards</div> <div> themselves.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="874" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 224 ><NOBR><div> <B> <A NAME="usb_controlled_ultrasonics"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B> Software controlled ultrasonic systems:</B></FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">USB2.0 (480 Mbps) or SPI;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">single or multi-channel instrument: up to 8 channels for one USB link;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">multiple channels work in parallel, not multiplexed;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">computer control via USB2.0 full speed link;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A scan, B scan, or C scan, and other special displays;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">mains or battery powered;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">software can be customized to suit individual requirement;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">suitable for a wide variety of ultrasonic and NDT applications</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.amnet.net.au/~ntsu/pdf/spi_usb ut jan 2012.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amnet.net.au/~ntsu/pdf/spi_us"><U><B>Download information </B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.amnet.net.au/~ntsu/pdf/spi_usb ut jan 2012.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amnet.net.au/~ntsu/pdf/spi_us"><U>(pdf):</U></A></div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="246"><div>  <IMG SRC="077e5b10.jpg" border=0 width="229" height="177" ALT="ultrasonic rail flaw detection - screen shot" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Image showing an A scan of an unrectified signal in a multi-channel USB connected rail flaw detection system.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 388 ><NOBR><div> <B>Typical specifications:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">analog bandwidth of receiver: 250KHz to 35MHz;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">input referred noise 1.5nV/sqrtHz or better;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">transmitter tuning range (single pulse or burst mode): 250KHz to 25MHz;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">maximum transmit pulse voltage: -350V;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">maximum digitizing frequency (in digital instruments) 100MHz;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">digital resolution: 10 bit;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">tunable square wave and burst mode transmitter circuits;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">on-board high voltage generation;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">32 Kbyte data buffers;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Peak data transfer rates 48 MBps or 60 MBps (USB2.0), 30 MBps (SPI)</div> <bR> <div> We have design options are available for:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">wide input voltage range: 12 v peak to peak;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">lower input noise: 0.9 nV/sqrtHz or better;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">higher transmit voltages;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">higher digital sampling rates;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">higher digital resolution: 16 bit at 100 MHz;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">large data buffers: up to 1 Mbyte of 16 bit data;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">switchable input atenuators;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">user controllable voltage controlled LP and HP filters to 25 MHz;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">capture of large echo peaks for wide dynamic range</div> <bR> <div> If none of these options meet your requirement, we can design something new for you.</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><bR> <div> <IMG SRC="086e9460.jpg" border=0 width="233" height="70" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Example of a single channel ultrasonic system</div> <div> on a 170 mm by 50 mm format board intended</div> <div> for deployment in an ROV for a subsea  </div> <div> application. This circuit has both USB and SPI</div> <div> communications.</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 981 WIDTH="617"><bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="ultrasonic_preamplifiers_and"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Ultrasonic preamplifiers and pulser/preamplifiers:</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Why use a remote preamplifier or pulser/preamplifier?</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Driving ultrasonic signals through long cables can seriously degrade the signals: transmit pulses become flattened and wide; received signals can become corrupted by external noise and distorted by impedance mismatches. Preamplifiers and pulser/preamplifiers can be custom designed to correct these types of problems. Good quality preamps and pulser/preamps improve signal quality in underwater UT and auto UT applications involving long cable runs.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>When is a cable "long"?</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Depending on ultrasonic frequency, coaxial cables can be "long" at 30 metres. Twisted pair cables are less ideal and can be "long" at 10 metres. In electrically noisy environments even shorter cables can benefit from the use of remote preamplifiers to boost the signal from the transducer. We</FONT></div> <div> have provided circuits that drive ultrasonic signals throughcoaxial cables in excess of 500 metres long, maintaining the quality of the signal.</div> <bR> <div> We have produced ultrasonic circuits that offer:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> a very low noise ultrasonic preamplifier (better than 1 nV/(sqrt Hz) input noise);</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">in ROV applications connection to main (topside) ultrasonics by single coax, dual coax, or single coax plus twisted pair;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> reconstruction of degraded ultrasonic transmit pulses;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> operation from external AC or DC supplies, or from batteries</div> <bR> <div> If required, we can operate and supply power to a remote ultrasonic pulser/preamp through a single coaxial cable.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Examples of </B><B>custom designed</B><B> pulser/preamplifiers:</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="604" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 137 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="08703830.jpg" border=0 width="259" height="131" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="296"><bR> <div> <B>Ultrasonic pulser/preamp</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > for remote TOFD inspections:</FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">operates from 240 VAC;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">reconstructs the original transmit pulse allowing tuning from topside UT set;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">twisted pair cable for transmit;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">coaxial cable for receive</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 150 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="082fe900.jpg" border=0 width="254" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><bR> <div> <B>Ultrasonic preamp</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > for hydrophone array:</FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">+/- 600 volt input protection;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">externally controlled gain (50 dB range);</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">fixed bandpass filter;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">solder links allow for various configurations</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 162 WIDTH="297"><div> <IMG SRC="07da1990.jpg" border=0 width="161" height="153" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="296"><bR> <div> <B>Ultrasonic pulser/preamp</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > for remote thickness testing:</FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">operates from +12 vdc;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">250 vdc generated on-board;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">single coaxial cable to topside UT set for both transmit and recieve;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">reconstructs transmit pulses degraded by long cables (> 100 metres);</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">small size</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="246"><bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>For more information, please contact:</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > <A HREF="mailto:ntsu@amnet.net.au" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:ntsu@amnet.net.au"><U><B>ntsu@amnet.net.au</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> See our <A HREF="wheel_probes_and_test_rigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Probe Assemblies for NDT"><U>Probe Assemblies</U></A> section for the range of probe assemblies, including small wheel probes, that we can provide to go with our ultrasonic circuits. </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NTS Ultrasonics"><U>Home</U></A> | <A HREF="wheel_probes_and_test_rigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Probe Assemblies for NDT"><U>Probe Assemblies</U></A> | About us</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>