(Ferndale, MI) -- Thermal Wave Imaging, Inc. (TWI) has introduced VoyageIR™, a breakthrough Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspection system that provides advanced thermography capability in a portable, low-cost package.

The system is self-contained in a single, ruggedized case, and incorporates TWI’s industry leading Thermographic Signal Reconstruction (TSR) processing technology.  A handheld inspection head incorporates an uncooled IR camera, heat source and a touchscreen, allowing an operator to perform an entire NDT procedure at the point of inspection.

VoyageIR is extremely flexible, and can use a wide array of heat sources and IR cameras tailored to specific application requirements.  The system is ideally suited for on-aircraft maintenance applications, such as the detection of trapped water and impact damage in composite structures, and in field situations where inspection speed and setup time are critical.   VoyageIR allows the inspector to set up the system and perform the complete inspection in minutes, compared to current NDT solutions that are often too large, costly and complex for field applications.

Data Fusion

In addition, VoyageIR also provides a unique data fusion capability.  In some situations, established user guidelines may require a specific NDT procedure such as A-scan ultrasound, eddy current, bond-master, or other technique, as the primary means of inspection.  Voyage IR may be used as a complementary NDT method for quickly identifying potential defect zones and combining data from the other techniques to establish a greater level of confidence.  This multi-prong approach can have a significant impact on lowering overall cost to maintain and operate critical equipment, and set a new paradigm for NDT in the field.

“We’ve applied our many years of experience in thermographic NDT for the aerospace and power generation industries to the development of the VoyageIR,” said Dr. Steven Shepard, President of Thermal Wave Imaging, Inc.  “Since we first started building systems in 1993, the Holy Grail that customers have asked for has been something smaller, simpler and cheaper that could provide the advanced TSR processing capability we’ve become known for.  For the first time, we believe that we’re finally able to deliver that system, and we’re doing it for less than the cost of many IR cameras.” 

World Leader

TWI is well established as the world leader in thermographic inspection systems and turnkey solutions to both military and civilian segments of the aerospace and power generation industries.  TWI’s systems are used in the most demanding manufacturing, in-service and research applications with clients including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Pratt and Whitney, Rolls-Royce, NASA, U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, Ford, General Motors and many others.  TWI systems are used in applications ranging from inspection of the wing leading edge of the NASA Space Shuttle to Quality Assurance of business jet engine components.