National Inspection & Consultants, Inc.
9911 Bavaria Rd. Fort Myers, FL 33913 (239) 939-4313 FAX (239) 334-8777

ISO 9001:2000 Certified

Non-Destructive Testing

NIC has over 30 years of experience in providing certified nondestructive testing and quality control services. Our full time staff of certified ASNT Level III examiners are ready to support your technical issues and provide expertise whenever necessary.

Our performance record is impressive and we are very proud of our reputation for providing demanding levels of support when trained, tested and certified technicians are required on short notice. We also take pride in remaining flexible, to tailor our services to meet ever changing business environments. No job is too big or too small.

Personnel are certified in accordance with our approved written practices and industry standards such as CP-189, SNT-TC-1A, NAS-410, API, ASME, EPRI, NACE, AWS-CWI and ANSI N45.2.6. Our full range of testing equipment is maintained, calibrated and ready for immediate dispatch to any project. Our testing procedures ensure that examinations are performed with the precision needed for repeatability of results which is imperative for the evaluation of indications. We provide detailed final reports of examination results for your records and future reference.

• Ultrasonic ( Contact & Immersion)
• Radiography (X-Ray & Gamma, Digital & Film)
• Liquid Penetrant ( Visible Dye & Fluorescent)
• Magnetic Particle (Wet or Dry, Color Contrast & Fluorescent)
• Eddy Current (Flaw Detection & Material Sorting),
• Visual Inspection (Direct and Remote)
• Paint & Coatings Inspections/Examinations

NIC's Lab Facility has one of the largest fully contained Radiography rooms in the industry. Our computed radiography (CR) services offer a process by which digital X-ray images are produced without the use of film or costly and hazardous film processing chemicals. Familiar X-ray producing devices such as isotopes, X-Ray tubes or pulsed equipment is used, but the image is captured on a flexible, reusable polyester coated phosphor “imaging plate” that can be rapidly scanned by a laser scanner producing a digital image and reused many times. Advantages to Computed Radiography (CR) include:

• Reduced exposure times (ALARA)
• Reduced exclusion zones due to lower x-ray energy levels
• Image is easily stored on CD or DVD (less space than film storage)
• Eliminate “double film loading” due to wider dynamic range of imaging plate which also reduced re-shots
• Computer equipment has a smaller footprint which conveniently fits on any desk (less space than traditional film viewing equipment and dark room needs)
• Software allows the user to take measurements, filter, zoom, adjust intensity, annotate directly on the image, and share directly with others electronically

NIC has complete CR Digital Mobile systems that can be dispatched with factory trained technicians to any job site. Our 8’x16’ mobile trailers contain all necessary equipment to capture images, review data and generate reports. The flexibility of this system allows our customers to either send us their items to be inspected in our state of the art 15’x 22’ (330 sq/ft) lead x-ray room or at their location.

What is Computed Radiography (CR)?

• A process by which digital x-ray images are produced without the use of film and chemicals
• Uses the same x-ray producing devices as for film (isotopes, x-ray tube, or pulse x-ray units)
• Image is captured on a flexible, re-usable, polyester sheet coated with a phosphor material called an imaging plate
• Imaging Plates are exposed using traditional film cassette and if required, lead screens
• Imaging plate is then scanned by a laser scanner producing a digital image
• Digital images can be enhanced, filtered, annotated, zoomed, shared and stored.
• Imaging plate is then erased and can be reused up to 2000 times

CR is a form of capturing x-ray images that have been used successfully in industrial applications. Some of the many uses are Flow Accelerated Corrosion (FAC), Verification of Valve Positioning, FOD inspections and assisting in removal of objects by locating there position. Using CR as an alternate to traditional film techniques has many benefits such as no hazardous film processing chemicals, reduced exposure times, and reduced exclusion zones due to lower x-ray energy levels or use of lower curie sources (ALARA).

The CR image data can be easily stored on DVD or CD disc’s which requires less space than film. Image data is reviewed on a 5 mega pixel monitor. The software allows the user to take measurements, filter, zoom, and annotate directly on the image, this information then can be easily shared or sent to other users electronically. CR also eliminates double loading due to wider dynamic range of phosphor material which also reduces reshots.

The CR digital system only requires 15 amps, 115 volt standard power. The equipment has a smaller footprint which fits on a desk which equates to less work space than traditional film technique dark rooms

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