GE’s Spotchecker Offers A Truly Mobile Solution for Spot Weld Testing

Huerth, Germany — March 09, 2009.

The new Spotchecker from GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is a hand-held flaw detector with application-specific software which allows it to be used as a truly portable solution for spot weld testing, especially in the automotive sector. Contained within an environmentally-protected, easy-to-handle housing, the new instrument does not require intensive training but offers the advantage of an “expert” system for less qualified people in weld inspection. Spotchecker will allow inspection to be carried out at the place of welding, rather than having to move welded parts to dedicated inspection points. As such, it offers a potential for significant gains in productivity.

Spotchecker completes and complements GE’s industry-proven, USLT range of products, with an instrument that is sealed to IP65 and is lighter (3.5kg) and smaller than any other instrument in the product line. Its ergonomically-designed operator interface features an 8 inch LCD touch screen, six programmable function keys and twin track balls to allow ease of use, even in the most restricted of testing locations. The instrument can also be remotely wireless-operated if required. It is battery operated and batteries can be “hot swapped” to ensure continuous operation. Battery charging can be done with batteries inside or outside the instrument, using an external charger.

The new flaw detector can be connected to external periphery devices such as mouse, keyboard and printer either by USB or by WLAN. Data up- and download is wireless. The UltraLOG application software included with Spotchecker is a tried-and-tested database program for the systematic inspection of spot-welded joints. Combining ultrasonic expertise with electronic data processing, it provides a package solution for performing inspection, evaluation and documentation of results, meeting strict quality management requirements. By setting out inspection and test plans, specifying the number of welds to be inspected, and describing the test location material data, test diagrams and ultrasonic settings, UltraLOG allows Spotchecker to be used by relatively unskilled personnel.

As Stefan Frank, Spotchecker product manager at GE, says, “ The portability and the ease-of-use of the new Spotchecker means that inspections can now be carried out on the production line. There is now no need to transport components to designatedinspection stations. This means that it is now possible to carry out more inspections within the same time frame. Moreover, by transmitting test results immediately and wirelessly to a suitable database, it is possible to achieve accurate and reliable feedback to adjust welding parameters and eliminate weld defects.”

>>Learn more about SpotChecker

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