Advanced Non Destructive Testing

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© Composite Inspection Ltd 2008

Laser Shearography  Equipment

Laser Shearography
The capabilities of any Laser Shearography system are directly related to the quality of the equipment used. After many years of operating shearography equipment we have found a system that fully meets our exacting specification both in sensitivity and easy of use, so much so that we put our own name behind it. Both systems shown here are fully Foreign Object Damage (FOD) safe for aerospace use. The Istra software package common to both instruments  below, allows wrapped, unwrapped and live images simultaneously for definitive image interpretation

Q-800 Shearography Camera System
A small, highly portable,phase stepping,  free-standing Laser shearography camera. Fully sealed against  dust and moisture ingress. The unit is small enough to be used in any situation. With a choice of 1, 2 or 4 laser diodes for optimum laser illumination of the subject. The small size allows the camera into reduced access areas of structure. The camera can be vacuum tripod mounted to fully inspect all areas. The camera can work from a small ‘lunchbox’ computer as shown, or as an add-on to the Q-810 shown below









Q-810 Vacuum Hood System
A self contained, phase stepping  vacuum hood system enabling high resolution, sensitive inspections of aerospace and marine composite sandwich constructions. The hood  incorporates a touch sensitive screen to view the inspected area below, with a suite of software capabilities to fully interrogate the images. The Q-810 vacuum hood developed with the inspector/NDT technician in mind. The hood provides phase stepping sensitivity, with the minimum inspection area to edge distance. Results are viewed on the foldable screen with touch screen access to all the commands of the main operating program.   

The Dantec dynamics Q-810 vacuum Hood with fold out LCD result screen allows  direct access to the operating ‘Istra’ Program so that all commands

The Q-810 Vacuum Hood  system  complete with control unit and padded travel case fold out LCD result screen allows  direct access to the operating ‘Istra’ Program so that all commands can be

The vacuum hood holds on to any surface with a ‘lock -on’ reference pressure. A reference set images of the laser speckle pattern is taken and compared with the final set taken at a lower pressure setting

The ends of the two handles provide handy locations for the operating switches, housed to prevent inadvertent operation

The Dantec Dynamics Q-800 system showing the small CCD Shearography camera with the double diode illumination system
The use of multiple low power lasers has many advantages over single high power laser illumination both in laser safety, area illumination and the adjustable coverage.

Advanced Materials Require Advanced Inspection

Results of laser shearography inspection on Composite panel revealing impact damage in seconds