ultrasound hardness tester

[skww]

I am looking a ultrasound hardness tester to test the hull and deck (made by fiber glass) to see if there is any air hole, water hole or something that is not acceptable for the hull. Do anyone know any good brand or model?

P.S. but someone told me buying an equipment like that is useless, because you need years of experience to proper use the ultrasound hardness tester. Is that true?

[Landlubber]

ultrasound is a thickness tester, it uses a comparative product to be able to distinguish different thickness es in a similar product, such as solid grp, or metals.

[skww]

I am gonna use it to test the fiberglass lay up (sandwich construction) to see if there is any air-bubble or holes that will cause water leak. So I think ultrasound is a good choice, and also I can use it to test if the hardness or thickness of the ply is equal distributed.

[Landlubber]

You will need different transducers to do that mate.

[skww]

like what kind of transducers?

[Landlubber]

Different frequencies for different mayerials.

Check out Ultrasonic thickness testers or such on Google, there are many companies making them now, and all of them required a different transducer for different materials.

[Fanie]

Hello Skww,

The way to detect cracks, holes, defects is to use a radio active source and a geiger meter. I'm sure the US is more lenient regarding equipment like that than here, where certain ethnic groups believe we will sterilize them with such equipment. Sad but true :D

The manufacturers of such sources should be able to advise you as to the type of source for the type of material you should use.

Here in SA you can hire the manufacturer to such testing.