| Ultrasonic C-Scan Inspection - an American Innovation in 1956 |
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These Ultrasonic C-Scan images shown above are the VERY FIRST
ever created by anyone- anywhere. The year was 1956 in Paramount, California at
the Automation Instruments Power Plant Inspection Division test lab. Cal Kammerer was the
Ultrasonic technician working with equipment developed by Lee Furon, Nat Jeffras and Don
Modispacher. It seems almost a turnabout in technology as we have gone from a CRT- to
paper recordings- back to a CRT. Present day C-Scan Images are recorded on Computer CRT-
whereas these early images were also recorded on a CRT- the Hughes Memotron tube, then
photographed to document the results. The Memotron was basically an early design of
storage tube technology, originally designed for radar applications. These C-Scan
recordings were made using immersion, pulse echo at a high frequency to determine unbonds
within the brazed honeycomb. As most people know- this honeycomb structure went on to
become a vital and integral part of modern aircraft structural design.
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Here is the first C-Scan "system"- the
Hughes Memotron, camera and pulser/receiver units are shown in the backround of this photo
and the immersion bridge/tank located on the right. |
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Both of these instruments were the first
American ultrasonic flaw detectors. On the left is a Sperry Reflectoscope and on the right
the Automation Instruments 424. Just imagine hauling one of these "Portable"
Flaw Detectors around!!!. Yes, these were used both in the lab and taken on
jobsites everywhere! |
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The first Ultrasonic C-Scan systems were
designed using the sonofax recorder and were transverse scan and longitudinal indexing
only. The 424 Immerscope is shown in the back. |
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