Great Lakes Testing, Inc.

Industrial radiography is a method of non-destructive testing where many types of manufactured components can be examined to verify the internal structure and integrity of the specimen. Industrial Radiography can be performed utilizing either X-rays or gamma rays (we use gamma rays). Both are forms of electromagnetic radiation. The difference between various forms of electromagnetic energy is related to the wavelength. X and gamma rays have the shortest wavelength and this property leads to the ability to penetrate, travel through, and exit various materials such as carbon steel and other metals. Some examples of applications would be welding (fabrication welds, pipeline welds, pressure vessels), castings (cast iron ductile, gray iron, aluminum), and many other things to check internals of material.

Traditional Radiography is the use of film and cassettes to capture an image of the object. With this, we use chemicals to develop the film, and use a view light and densitometer to ensure we have a q uality shot

Strengths

Versatile - We have 4 darkroom trucks to bring on-site to our customers to perform radiography at their location.

Accuracy - We have the ability to see very fine internal defects within the material that we are checking.

Reporting and Evidence - You will receive both a report plus film to show proof of what is found within the material.

Weaknesses

Time - Radiography can sometimes take a while to complete depending on the thickness of the material and where the shots are located.

Distance - Depending on the activity of the gamma source we are bringing on-site, there will need to be an area cleared out to perform the work.

Computed Radiography is the use of phosphorus plates to capture an image of the object. Using this method, we x-ray castings in-house using a CR unit to scan the plate and transform the image to a DICONDE file format, which in turn allows us to view and alter the images pixel values to see any internal defects within the material.

Strengths

Time - We are able to save the images as JPEG file format and email results quickly. It also eliminates having to run film which in turn cuts down time to get the parts complete.

Accuracy - The program used (Rhythm Review) has filters that help show the internals of the casting

Reporting and Evidence - You will receive both a report plus a disc to show proof of what is found within the material. We also have the ability to put the images on a flash drive for our customers.

Weaknesses

Travel - Everything shot via Computed Radiography is done in-house. We cannot bring the unit on-site.