New system for in-service ultrasound inspection of railway axles

TECNATOM Within its line of railway products, Tecnatom has developed a new portable system for in-service maintenance of solid axles, named “SAIS” (Solid Axle Inspection System), which allows the ultrasonic inspection of the entire axle in a simple and reliable way. SAIS uses
a phased array probe that performs an angular sweep and an encoder that synchronizes acquisition with rotation, thus ensuring optimum coverage and detection. The evaluation of defects is performed automatically, identifying geometric echoes to avoid false positives. The inspection results are digitally signed and fully stored to ensure the traceability and auditability of the process. The equipment works on batteries and incorporates a tablet, from which the inspector carries out their work. The system has WiFi connectivity for connection to the workshop’s computer network or to the Internet.