A flaw detector - what is this profession?

Vehicles, gas facilities, pipelines and various critical parts, components and assemblies require careful monitoring to avoid serious accidents.

Diagnostics of the state of technical equipment is carried out by a specially trained professional - a flaw detector specialist. This article will be dedicated to this employee.

Who is a flaw detector

And now we will tell in more detail who such a flaw detector is. To understand this, it is advisable to start with the words "defect" and "scop." The first term means malfunction, lack of integrity. They are:

• chips;
• cracks;
• potholes;
• dents;
• gas inclusions;
• impurities in the subject;
• lack of fusion;
• kinks and so on.

Under the word "osprey" refers to inspection, which can be carried out in various ways. Thus, the flaw detector is a specialist, a worker, studying the condition of parts, components and systems in technology. This person is responsible not only for serviceability, but also for life, human health, and the environment.

All methods for diagnosing the condition of a technical tool / element are described in the job description of the flaw detector.

How to get a profession

To become a professional, it is enough to have a secondary specialized education, for example, a technologist. But it is desirable that the profile be appropriate. Suppose a person goes to work by profession as a flaw detector specialist at a railway enterprise - a car repair plant. Therefore, it is desirable to have a specialty related to the operation and repair of rolling stock.

The defectoscopist, as mentioned earlier, is a responsible employee, therefore, upon admission to the position you need to go through a medical commission, an interview with the management of the enterprise. In addition, you need to undergo training in a specialized training center, successfully pass exams and obtain admission to work.

The employee is checked annually by the commission, auditors, and also once every 2-3 years attends classes at the training center with the aim of further training.

A flaw detectorist, depending on the scope of the enterprise, has several categories. The smaller it is, the less types of control it can carry out. With the highest discharge, the flaw detector must know absolutely everything about the work.

Areas of activity

We list the areas of activity in which there is a flaw detection:

• railway transport (rolling stock, rail tracks);
• gas supply (gas pipeline, pipes);
• aviation and astronautics (airplanes, helicopters, rockets);
• military equipment;
• water transport;
• road transport (cars, buses, trailers);
• buildings, bridges and structures;
• heat engineering.

You can choose the sphere that is most to your liking. But it should be remembered that a flaw detector is a very responsible profession that requires attention from a person in the first place.

Principal duties

Each enterprise must have appropriate profession instructions. Without study, their employee does not have the right to begin their activities. In addition, there should be a conclusion on the suitability of a professional pathologist.

And now we will consider the main provisions of the manual flaw detector, which states that the employee should:

• to get qualified and have access to work;
• have knowledge on non-destructive testing;
• be able to use special devices;
• be able to recognize and find defects both visually and with the help of instruments;
• fix the found faults;
• treat the provided equipment and technology with care;
• check the condition of devices on special samples with defects before starting work;
• inform management of any malfunctions;
• in the presence of dirt, paint on the surface of the part, clean with special means.

The employee must also be extremely careful when in the workplace and follow general safety precautions.

How to evaluate the work of a flaw detector

Management is responsible for each employee, including a flaw detector operator. He has the right to carry out not only scheduled, but also unscheduled inspections. For example, a senior foreman may approach the employee at any time and ask about the condition of a particular part. The flaw detector must assess the condition and take stock. In addition, management can ask theoretical questions.

Certification of flaw detectors is carried out, as a rule, at a strictly scheduled time in the presence of the commission. Questions can be completely different:

• practical;
• theoretical;
• labor protection.

Regardless of whether an inspection should be carried out in the near future, the employee must know his job perfectly.

Types of control

There are several ways to check the details. First of all, a visual inspection can be carried out. It is enough if the defect is large and visible to the naked eye.

There is also destructive and non-destructive testing. The first practically does not apply due to the fact that the part must be subjected to sawing, compression or kink. As a rule, integrity is violated, and the element cannot be restored.

Non-destructive testing is constantly used in flaw detection and is one of the most reliable methods. Modern devices clearly detect defects, have high sensitivity and penetration. The main task of the flaw detectorist is the ability to use instruments and decrypt testimonies. In addition, a person should understand in which places cracks are most likely to form.

Flaw detection methods

There are several non-destructive testing methods:

• eddy current;
• ultrasonic;
• radiography;
• magnetic powder.

The first three are carried out using special electronic devices with sensors (converters). The latter is an inspection using an installed magnet with two poles and a suspension (kerosene and magnetic particles).

You learned that a flaw detector is a very serious profession. It is necessary not only to have knowledge, but also to have excellent vision, attentiveness. In addition, a person must love his job.