Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

Reveal the unseen with Waygate Technologies' NDT solutions. With 120 years of expertise, our advanced technology ensures unmatched safety, quality, and performance in every inspection. 

Mettetevi in contatto con un esperto.

La vostra richiesta è stata inoltrata.
Grazie per l'interesse dimostrato. Uno specialista vi contatterà a breve.


Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

Image
LM2500 assist-S
 

Gain peace of mind in your inspections with Waygate Technologies' portfolio of advanced non-destructive testing solutions and services

Non-destructive testing (NDT) refers to a wide range of inspection or testing methods that allow inspectors to evaluate and collect data about materials, components, welds, systems, or assemblies without permanently altering or damaging them.

Waygate Technologies is a global leader in non-destructive testing products for use in your industrial NDT, NDE, or NDI inspection processes. Our product offerings include state-of-the-art NDT equipment and service solutions to power your radiographic, eddy current, ultrasonic, and remote visual inspection tasks.

We provide the best detection performance and drive technological innovations, making us the reliable partner of choice for our customers in the aerospace, electronics, automotive, battery, additive manufacturing, and energy industries.



Explore Our Portfolio

Phoenix V|tome|x M product image
Radiographic Testing

Perform efficient, reliable NDT inspections using advanced radiography and CT equipment.

Industrial Ultrasound_Product Images_Ultrasonic Transducers and Probes_600x400
Ultrasonic Testing

Ultrasonic flaw detectors, thickness gauges, transducers, probes, automated testing systems, and more.

RVI_Product Images_Remote Visual Inspection Services_600x400
Visual Inspection

Video borescopes, fiberscopes, Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) cameras, and more.

Eddy Current Inspection
Eddy Current Solutions

Electromagnetic flaw detectors, eddy current testing probes, transducers, and accessories.



Non-Destructive Testing FAQs
What is Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)?

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) also known as Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) refers to any type of non-invasive inspection technology used to inspect an object without damaging it in any way. 

While there are several types of NDT/NDE, it is generally understood that these methods are capable of identifying the presence of damage or the mechanisms that may cause damage such as cracks, corrosion, ineffective welds, part misalignment, and so on.

NDT Software product image
Destructive vs Non-Destructive Testing

As the name would suggest, Destructive Testing does in fact damage the sample in question, typically through deformation as the result of a stress test for tensile strength, bend strength, mechanical cutting, or the like. Non-Destructive Testing, as stated earlier, allows you to test your part without causing any damage as a result of testing or inspection. 

This allows you to preserve your production sample, or in the case of equipment that is already in service, to keep that equipment if it is deemed to be fit. Destructive testing will result in an unusable part by virtue of the testing process, even if it was free of defects prior to testing.

Global Industrial X-ray 2D and 3D CT Inspection Services 2 men looking at computer
What are the advantages of Non-Destructive Testing?

Non-destructive testing brings with it many advantages over traditional testing methodologies. NDT can save your organization time and money in many ways, such as:

  • No wasted samples, as there are no samples. 100% of your production remains devoted to end-use.
  • No removal of parts or production shut down in some cases which not only saves time and money but also affords testing of a component as it resides installed within its system and all the unique loads and stresses that come with that application - something you cannot reliably replicate with DT.
  • Predictive maintenance - as part of a predictive maintenance strategy, NDT can oftentimes be employed to identify areas of concern before they lead to a problem or failure.
  • Better end products thanks to advanced imaging technologies and accompanying software that enables you to see flaws in greater detail - so you can reverse their effects sooner in the production cycle and optimize your production processes to avoid scrap and recalls.
Composite Inspection_Product Images_GE speedscan rotating gantry
What industries use Non-Destructive Testing?

There are numerous applications where non-destructive testing makes sense, but industries that rely on NDT to a large degree are:

NDT for Aerospace Header Image
Which Non-Destructive Testing methods are best?

While there is no single solution that trumps all other non-destructive testing technologies, some do lend themselves to specific tasks, such as Computed Tomography (CT) for casting, 3D printing, and additive manufacturing, ultrasoundfor corrosion management, or eddy current testing for coating thickness, welds, heat treatment, and the like.

Eddy Current Inspection_Product Images_Mentor EM
Where can I get training on Non-Destructive Testing?

While there are several resources available for non-destructive testing training, Waygate Technologies offers NDT training across the broadest range of inspection methods, which are offered around the globe, or at a location of your choice.

Get your team up to speed on the latest in NDT today!

Training


Types of Non-Destructive Testing
Radiographic Testing

Radiographic testing - a form of non-destructive testing (NDT) - typically employs gamma or x-rays to examine manufactured parts for any flaws or defects that would otherwise go undetected with a visual inspection. 

A two-part inspection solution, radiography employs a generator which, as the name implies, generates the X-rays that will pass through the sample, and a detector that captures the rays and the resulting image for inspection:

  • Microfocus X-ray Tube - In an evacuated tube electrons are emitted from a heated filament and are accelerated towards the anode by the potential difference UACC. Electrons enter through a hole in the anode into a magnetic lens which focuses the electron beam to a small spot of a few microns in diameter on the target. The target consists of a thin layer of tungsten deposited on a diamond or light metal plate which also serves as an exit window for the X-radiation (transmission tube). In the tungsten layer, the electrons are abruptly decelerated whereby X-rays are generated. Hence, the focal spot represents a very small X-ray source which enables the sharpest imaging with micrometer resolution even at high magnification. The latest nanofocus tubes achieve a detail detectability down to 200 nanometers (0.2 microns) by using multiple electron lenses. The electron beam current is controlled by the bias voltage UG via the Wehnelt electrode. A set of deflection coils aligns the electron beam with the optical axis of the lens. Since the focal spot is located at a short distance of merely 0.4 mm from the outer surface of the exit window, the cone of X-rays spreads over an angle of 170°.
  • Digital Detector Array - The X-ray shadow image is converted by a scintillator foil to visible light which is directly detected by a photodiode array. The main advantages of this technique are the undistorted image as well as the high dynamics and the superior contrast resolution. The latest temperature stabilized high dynamic DXR digital detector array technology ensures brilliant live imaging with up to 30 frames per second.

Popular solutions in the industrial space are portable, field-ready generator/detector solutions such as those used in the inspection of Oil & Gas pipelines, and the larger, laboratory and/or production floor X-ray inspection and computed tomography (CT) systems as seen in the AutomotiveAerospace, and Electronics Manufacturing industries, which offer a greater degree of precision.

 

Radiographic Testing_Product Images_Digital Radiography.png
Computed Tomography

Computed Tomography is another form of non-destructive testing (NDT) that uses hundreds of X-ray images to create three-dimensional models of the internal and external structures within a scanned sample. 

There are three types of scanners associated with industrial CT scanning, cone-beam, line-beam, and fast gantry-based helix:

  • Cone-beam - Generating volumetric data using industrial cone beam CT starts with the acquisition of a series of two-dimensional X-ray images while progressively rotating the sample step by step through a full 360° rotation. These projections contain information on the position and density of absorbing object features within the sample. This accumulation of data is then used for the numerical reconstruction of the volumetric data.
  • Line-beam - To ensure high CT data quality with reduced scattering artifacts at high X-ray energy, collimated line detector arrays are being used for CT data acquisition. For each slice, a set of X-ray line profiles is acquired while progressively rotating the sample step by step through a full 360° rotation. By vertically shifting the sample through the fan beam and repeating the procedure, a set of slices is compiled to obtain a representation of the volume.
  • Fast gantry-based helix CT - At high-speed helix CT based on medical computed tomography technology, a gantry with an X-ray tube and corresponding line detector rotates around the workpiece being forwarded on a linear belt manipulator. To ensure the required image quality with short measuring times and low scattering artifacts, a highly sensitive multiline detector is being used. A typical casting workpiece is being scanned within 10-90 seconds. The numerical volume reconstruction starts automatically, even 3D evaluation tasks like automated defect recognition (3D ADR) including good/fail decisions can be performed fully automated.

Typical tasks for which CT is suited include flaw detection, metrology, failure analysis, and the like.

One of the key benefits of modern industrial CT solutions is the ability to employ part-to-part or part-to-CAD comparison where two models are overlayed and/or compared: one being the CAD file or a reference scan from a known good sample, and the other being the production sample being scanned. This level of detail and reference greatly enhances the rate of flaw detection and can be used for reverse-engineering and geometric dimensioning.

3D Metrology_Carousel Slider-3_Discover phoenix v|tome|x m_1500x500
Ultrasonic Testing

Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is another form of non-destructive testing (NDT) that employs ultrasonic waves which are transmitted into materials and samples to detect flaws such as cracks and tears and to measure thickness - an important measurement for welds, seams, and corrosion prevention in pipelines.

Automated Ultrasonic Testing (AUT) refers to the use of UT technologies where the transducers and receivers are driven by a mechanical system that ensures consistent measurements as well as the ability to repeat the test over and over. One popular application of AUT is in pipeline inspection, where a system can be clamped around the outside of a pipe and then walked or piloted down the length of the pipe collecting data along the way for analysis.

Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) is a UT solution that employs a series of phased array probes that allow for the beam to be focused and swept without physically moving the probe - which allows for scanning in tighter locations where traditional single-element systems may not fit, or where motion is otherwise limited, thus resulting in a smaller scan size. PAUT is one of the best solutions for defect detection where time is of the essence, and scanner mobility is impaired or impossible while simultaneously increasing your Probability of Detection (POD).

Mentor UT - Ultrasonic Phased Array Flaw Detector
Visual Inspection

Visual Inspection, the first and oldest form of non-destructive testing (NDT), is that which is done with the naked eye as the primary scanning “tool” if you will. Modern visual inspection solutions augment the technician's natural abilities by allowing them to inspect hard to reach or hard to see locations thanks to video borescopes, rigid and flexible borescopes, and even remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). 

Many of these modern solutions also offer enhanced lighting, contrast, and other image transforms that aid in the detection of flaws, thus enhancing the technician's vision while still relying on their expertise to make the determination of what is flawed and what is not.

XL Detect durability
Eddy Current

Eddy Current Testing (ECT) is a form of non-destructive testing (NDT) that employs electromagnetic induction to detect and define flaws in conductive materials. ECT is a great solution for checking surface and subsurface (i.e. underneath a coat of paint) conditions.

ECT transducers, at their core, are comprised of a coil of wire (i.e. an induction coil) and an alternating current which together form a magnetic field. When this coil is introduced to conductive materials, any opposing currents will be induced into the material and will be visible as eddy currents

Any defect in the target material will manifest itself as a disruption in the eddy currents, which can then be measured by way of their changing impedance. It is this sort of non-visual confirmation of surface and subsurface defects that makes ECT perfect for weld inspection, fastener hole inspection, tube inspection, heat treatment verification, and even metal grade sorting.

Eddy Current Inspection_Product Images_Mentor EM
Magnetic Particle Inspection

Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) is a form of non-destructive testing (NDT) that, as the name implies, employs a magnetic field to detect surface and subsurface irregularities in ferromagnetic materials. 

When a magnetic field is applied to the target sample, the piece can then be magnetized and any resultant irregularities in the material can be detected by the application of ferrous particles or ferrofluid and checking for areas where larger concentrations of the ferrous materials have gathered, thus indicating a deformity in the material.

Acoustic Emissions Testing

Acoustic Emission Testing (AET), another form of non-destructive testing (NDT) relies on the use and measurement of acoustic waves when passed through a solid. What makes AET different from conventional ultrasonic testing (UT) and limited to a very specific sort of defect, is that the waves being detected are actually produced by the target material during a failure or stress event, and not from an outside generation source. 

Due to this ability, AET is often used to detect defects during the manufacturing process, such as a crack during welding of a pipeline that may go undetected. 

Liquid Penetrant Testing

Liquid Penetrant Testing (LPT) also known as Dye Penetrant Inspection (DPI) is another form of non-destructive testing that is used to detect surface defects in non-porous materials requires the application of a penetrating liquid, usually an emulsifier, which is then exposed to a developer which pulls the penetrating liquid out from any surface defect thus amplifying the presence of a defect through a concentration in the appearance of the penetrating liquid on the surface of the sample.

While inexpensive and relatively simple to deploy, LPT requires a clean surface, protective clothing, and proper ventilation, and results in a detection level only slightly higher than visual, with proper LPT training of the technician. One should also consider what methods are used in the cleaning of your target materials prior to LPT as some surface prep methods can interfere with the test thus skewing your results.

Leak Testing

Leak Testing is another simple form of non-destructive testing (NDT) that does just what the name implies: it tests a given manufactured part to make sure fluids or gases aren’t escaping from any unintended paths. 

There are several forms of Leak Testing from total submersion (i.e. the “bubble test”) to helium leak testing, pressure decay, vacuum decay, flow monitoring, and thermography.

This method of testing is widely used across multiple industries where leaks could be a problem, from automotive, oil & gas, to consumer packaged goods (CPG), medical, and waterproof electronics.



Case Studies & Applications

Our wide range of non-destructive testing (NDT) solutions represent the best NDT technologies available today, for virtually any application across a wide array of industries.

Read through any one of our case studies below to see how we can bring value to your NDT programs today.



Automotive Industry
Speed|scan at BMW Foundry

Gantry-based CT scanning for optimized testing.

Predictive Corrosion Management
Corrosion Monitoring

Predictive Corrosion Management for TSA coated pipes.

RVI_Carousel Slider_3_Update your Mentor Visual iQ_1500x500
Mentor Visual iQ for Aviation

See how RVI is revolutionizing aviation inspection.

Gas Turbine digital transformation
Gas Turbine Inspection

See how Mentor Visual iQ adds real value to Power Generation.