NM01QC170CT

The GE Inspection Technologies (now Baker Hughes) QUICK CHANGE WEDGE, 1/4", 70°, CAST-TECH is a highly specialized and durable ultrasonic angle beam wedge designed for demanding non-destructive testing (NDT) applications, particularly on rough, attenuating, or cast materials. Part of GE's innovative quick-change wedge system, it offers both performance and efficiency in the field.

Key Features & Benefits:

• "CAST-TECH" Proprietary Material/Design: This is the defining feature of this wedge. GE's CAST-TECH wedges are specifically engineered from a proprietary polymer or composite material that provides:

  • Exceptional Wear Resistance: Highly durable, making it ideal for scanning on abrasive, rough, or irregular surfaces often found in castings, without rapid degradation of the wedge's contact face.

  • Improved Signal Transmission: Designed to minimize acoustic noise and maximize signal penetration on highly attenuating materials like coarse-grained castings (e.g., cast iron, cast stainless steel, cast aluminum), which are notoriously difficult to inspect ultrasonically. This results in clearer signals and more reliable flaw detection.

• Quick Change System Compatibility: This wedge is designed to seamlessly integrate into GE's (Baker Hughes') quick-change transducer and wedge system. This allows NDT technicians to rapidly swap out wedges with different angles or compatible transducers without cumbersome disassembly, significantly enhancing inspection speed and flexibility.

• 70° Refracted Angle: When used with a compatible straight beam transducer (typically a 1/4" element), this wedge generates a nominal 70-degree shear wave in steel. This steep angle is critical for:

  • Detecting flaws that are oriented at a high angle to the inspection surface.

  • Inspecting thinner sections or components where a steep entry angle is required for optimal beam path.

  • Examining specific weld configurations or root areas.

  • Identifying near-surface defects.

• 1/4" (0.250") Compatible Transducer Size: This wedge is designed to acoustically couple with 1/4-inch (0.250" or 6.35 mm) diameter or square ultrasonic transducers. This smaller element size is often preferred for applications requiring higher resolution, better near-surface resolution, and access into confined or intricate geometries.

• Precision Machined Angle: Manufactured with high precision to ensure accurate and repeatable refracted angles, which is essential for accurate defect localization and characterization during ultrasonic inspection.

• Applications Focused on Castings and Rough Surfaces: While versatile, its CAST-TECH designation highlights its optimized performance for challenging materials and surface conditions.

Specifications:

• Manufacturer: GE Inspection Technologies (now part of Baker Hughes)

• Type: Quick Change Angle Beam Wedge

• Series/Material: CAST-TECH

• Nominal Refracted Angle (in steel): 70°

• Compatible Transducer Element Size: 1/4 inch (0.250" or 6.35 mm diameter/width)

• Wave Type Generated: Shear Wave

• Wedge Material: Proprietary CAST-TECH polymer/composite (designed for wear resistance and improved signal on rough surfaces)

• Application: Angle beam ultrasonic flaw detection, especially on castings and rough/attenuating materials.

• Couplant Compatibility: Designed for use with standard ultrasonic couplants.

Typical Applications:

• Casting Inspection: Primary application for detecting flaws such as porosity, shrinkage, hot tears, and cracks in various types of metal castings (e.g., cast iron, steel castings, aluminum castings), even with rough or uneven surfaces.

• Forging Inspection: Similar to castings, for inspecting rough forged surfaces.

• Weld Inspection: Particularly useful for welds with rough caps or in materials where acoustic attenuation is a concern, for detecting cracks, lack of fusion, and slag.

• Component Integrity Assessment: Used in heavy industries, automotive, aerospace (for specific cast components), and general manufacturing for quality control and in-service inspection of challenging materials.