Easier inspections with new thickness gauge
Tritex NDT Ltd has launched an ultrasonic metal thickness gauge designed for mounting onto drones to carry out high level inspections.
Launched at Seawork 2018, the Tritex Multiguage 6000 Drone Thickness Gauge take measurements while it’s mounted on a drone, which negates the need for having rope access or scaffolding etc. It is designed to be used for anyone interested in measuring metal thickness at height, for example in bridge structure works, storage tanks, wind farms and with cranes at harbours.
Tritex’s sales manager Jon Sharland said: “Its very lightweight. It takes the power from the drone battery which is 10-35V DC and then the probe is held in a cone section which has a flexible head on it so it allows the drone to come in at an angle.
“When it actually touches it pushes the probe forward to ensure that you get the contact with the surface and then measurements are displayed on a connected laptop in real time.”
Metal thickness measurements can be taken that ignore coatings completely, said Tritex. These measurements can then be transmitted wirelessly up to 500m away.
The technology allows for data logging of the readings and data can be stored on templates “in a grid or a string or a combination of both.”
Prior to the launch prototypes have been sold, but Seawork marks the official entrance of the gauge on the market.
Rebecca Jeffrey
