Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and events from TWI:

Subscribe >
Skip to content

AMI Lend Equipment to TWI for Stainless Steel NDT Research

Tue, 29 January, 2019

TWI Member company, Arc Machines Inc. (AMI) have lent TWI a Model 415 WDR computer controlled TIG welding power supply and a Model 52 heavy-duty precision automated orbital weld head for use on a core research project investigating defects in stainless steel welds.

The project, which has applications in the power industry, is looking to link the performance of ultrasonic inspection with the parameters of the weld in order to mitigate the effect of material properties on inspection.

This involved purposely placing defects in material that is representative of welded stainless steel blocks. These blocks will then be examined in order to improve and validate NDT inspection techniques.

The project examined different welding processes, including narrow gap TIG welds, which are in line with processes used by industry.

AMI’s equipment was loaned to TWI and is currently being used on the project at our base in Middlesbrough.

The outcome of the research should provide useful information for a number of TWI Member companies going forward.

TWI has built up a great deal of experience over our long history of defect implantation in welded calibration blocks for inspection. Please contact us for advice or assistance with the manufacture of blocks.

TWI has been at the forefront of arc welding development over the decades - find out more about our arc processes and welding engineering here

Narrow gap TIG welding/ Model 52 heavy-duty precision automated orbital weld head in use
Narrow gap TIG welding/ Model 52 heavy-duty precision automated orbital weld head in use
TIG welding of narrow gap stainless steel
TIG welding of narrow gap stainless steel

For more information please email:


contactus@twi.co.uk