Sub-surface discontinuities are detected by transmitting X-rays or Gamma rays through a material to a film on the opposite side of the piece being tested. Radiography works on both ferrous and non-ferrous materials.
Magna Chek has several Radiographic capabilities: X-Ray, Real Time X-Ray, Gamma Ray and Mobile NDT units. Whatever your needs, Magna Chek can assist you with them.
Real Time Radiography
Real Time radiography is a method whereby an image is produced electronically, rather than on film. This is a highly requested form of X-ray. Being produced electronically on a disk, very little lag time occurs between the item being exposed to radiation and the resulting image. In most instances, the electronic image that is viewed results from the radiation passing through the object being inspected and interacting with a screen of material that fluoresces or gives off light when the interaction occurs. The fluorescent elements of the screen form the image much as the grains of silver form the image in film radiography. The image formed is a ‘positive image,’ since brighter areas on the image indicates where higher levels of transmitted radiation reached the screen. This image is the opposite of the negative image produced in film radiography. In other words, with RTR, the lighter, brighter areas represent thinner sections or less dense sections of the test object. Real-time radiography is a well-established method of NDThaving applications in automotive, aerospace, pressure vessel, electronic, and munitions industries, among others. The use of RTR is increasing due to a reduction in the cost of the equipment and resolution of issues such as the protecting and storing digital images.
X-ray
With Magna Chek’s 200 and 300 kilovolt x-ray units, maximum thickness penetration is 2.5inches of steel. But it offers an even greater thickness penetration when inspecting aluminum, plastics, ceramics and other certain materials, depending on their density. We have a 12×12 foot exposure room with a sliding lead doorwall that is capable of inspecting very large pieces. Testing in this room uses the 300kilovolt x-ray unit for maximum penetration and greater versatility. With this large exposure room we can test a wide variety of large parts such as steering components, aircraft assemblies, armored vehicles, turrets and more. We can also test large lot sizes of castings, forgings, solid state components, etc.
Real Time X-Ray
Magna Chek uses the BI-VISION video digital image processing system. This system sets the standard for industrial real time x-ray image enhancement. With its high resolution, speed and advanced image manipulation features, the BI-VISION system provides quick and accurate detection of the most subtle defects from the x-ray image up to 2.5inches of steel. This system provides a wide range of image processing functions that are easily accessed through the touch screen menus. Features include frame averaging, recursive frame averaging, contrast, black and white levels adjusting, image overlay labeling and pseudo color. A range of 2 to 264 frames of video can be integrated and averaged to reduce white noise caused by x-ray scatter. Image convolution features include image sharpening, smoothing, edge detection, edge enhancing and more. The on-screen distance measuring feature allows for easy evaluation of the sizes of image indications. Images can be output to RS-170 or SVGA monitors, stored to disks or other digital storage media or printed. All of these capabilities and more make the BI-VISION digital image processing system ideally suited for integration into NDT radiography applications. This system allows us to create an immediate and thorough analysis of complex structures of varying densities. Our equipment enables us to identify and diagnose submicron defects, void percentage, solder sphere information, and wire sweeping. Real-Time also gives the user the freedom to enhance image quality and obtain distance and diameter measurements of a component. Without the need to remove components from protective packaging, it allows for single-layer inspection of the electronic components. Real-Time X-ray can also be a complementary technique providing critical information for the proper implementation of subsequent analytical techniques.
Applications
Failure Analysis
Process and Quality Control
Reliability
Printed Circuit Boards
Solder Joint Formation
Metallization Defects and Registrations
Via Alignment
Ball Grid Arrays
Solder Sphere Formation and Voiding
Die Attach
Metal Packages
Lid Seals
Die Attach
Opaque Particles
Plastic Packages
Die Attach
Bond Wire Sweep
Capabilities
Submicron spot size
Automatic void identification and measurement software
Maximum inspection area of 18″ by 16″ (458mm by 407mm)
Image analysis and measurement software
System (geometric) magnification up to 4800X
Oblique angle view 0 to 45 degrees
Digital Imaging
Industries
Microelectronic
Aerospace
Automotive
Medical
Commercial
Ceramic Packages
Frit Seals
Foreign Material
Die Attach
Bond Wire Sweep
Gamma Ray
With Magna Chek’s Gamma Ray unit, we increase penetration capabilities up to 3.5 inches of steel. Gamma ray units do not require power because of the Iridium isotope, which makes them ideal for inspecting remote items such as pipelines, bridges, etc.
CT Scan
Industrial CT uses irradiation to produce three-dimensional views of the scanned sample both externally and internally. Industrial CT scanning has been used in many areas of industry for internal inspection of components. The most common use for industrial CT scanning is flaw detection, failure analysis, metrology, assembly analysis and reverse engineering applications. Industrial imaging includes both nontomographic radiography and computed tomographic radiography. With 30+ years of experience, we have accomplished many unique NDT projects, No matter how routine or how unconventional your project may be we can handle your inspection needs.
Mobile NDT Units
Can’t come to us? Then Magna Chek will come to you. Our units can be equipped with 200 or 300 kilovolt X-Ray machines or Gamma ray units – whatever your spec requires. On site development, interpretation and reporting are standard with Magna Chek. These units are available for on-site inspection of power generating turbines, boilers, pressure vessels, bridges, crane assemblies and much more.
Acceptable Standards
ASNT-SNTC-1A
CP 189
ASME Section IV
API 1104
ASTM E 94, Standard Guide for Radiographic Examination
ASTM E 155, Standard Reference Radiographs for Inspection of Aluminum and Magnesium Castings
ASTM E 592, Standard Guide to Obtainable ASTM Equivalent Penetrameter Sensitivity for Radiography of Steel Plates 1/4 to 2 in. [6 to 51 mm] Thick with X Rays and 1 to 6 in. [25 to 152 mm] Thick with Cobalt-60
ASTM E 747, Standard Practice for Design, Manufacture and Material Grouping Classification of Wire Image Quality Indicators (IQI) Used for Radiology
ASTM E 801, Standard Practice for Controlling Quality of Radiological Examination of Electronic Devices
ASTM E 1030, Standard Test Method for Radiographic Examination of Metallic Castings
ASTM E 1032, Standard Test Method for Radiographic Examination of Weldments
ASTM 1161, Standard Practice for Radiologic Examination of Semiconductors and Electronic Components
ASTM E 1648, Standard Reference Radiographs for Examination of Aluminum Fusion Welds
ASTM E 1735, Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Image Quality of Industrial Radiographic Film Exposed to X-Radiation from 4 to 25 MeV
ASTM E 1815, Standard Test Method for Classification of Film Systems for Industrial Radiography
ASTM E 1817, Standard Practice for Controlling Quality of Radiological Examination by Using Representative Quality Indicators (RQIs)
ASTM E 2104, Standard Practice for Radiographic Examination of Advanced Aero and Turbine Materials and Components
Limitations
RT has thickness limitations based on material density and energy used
Can be time consuming
Radiation hazard
Cracks oriented perpendicular to the x-ray beam may not be detected
Electrical source for x-ray tube inspection
Advantages
Permanent record of the test in the form of easily interpretable radiograph
Highly sensitive
Versatile in examining a variety of shapes and sizes
Volumetric inspection that eliminates needs to disassemble component