NM01QC270CT

QUICK CHANGE WEDGE, 1/2", 70°, CT "1/2", 70° ONLY" 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: The "CT" designation, in the context of GE Inspection Technologies/Baker Hughes, refers to their proprietary CAST-TECH line of wedges. These are specifically engineered from a 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 1/2" 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.

• 1/2" (0.500") Compatible Transducer Size: This wedge is designed to acoustically couple with 1/2-inch (0.500" or 12.7 mm) diameter or square ultrasonic transducers. This larger element size is often chosen for applications requiring:

  • Deeper Penetration: The larger area can transmit more energy into the material.

  • Wider Coverage: Provides a broader sound beam, which is useful for scanning large areas or for covering a wider weld zone per scan pass.

  • Less Attenuation: The larger element can be a better choice for highly attenuating materials where a smaller element might struggle.

• 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 (CT)

• Nominal Refracted Angle (in steel): 70°

• Compatible Transducer Element Size: 1/2 inch (0.500" or 12.7 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, even with rough or uneven 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, and general manufacturing for quality control and in-service inspection of challenging materials.