Method for adjustment of transducer position to compensate for ultrasonic testing beam alignment errors

A method for adjustment of transducer position to compensate for ultrasonic testing beam alignment errors, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a manipulator of an ultrasonic immersion testing system having a pointing direction and supporting a transducer generating an ultrasonic beam;
• providing a calibration body having a top surface, a bottom surface and a target in the form of a recess defined in the bottom surface of the calibration body, the recess having a flat bottom;
• immersing the transducer of the manipulator and the calibration body in a coupling fluid in an immersion tank of the ultrasonic immersion testing system;
• setting the manipulator initially at a first position such that the pointing direction of the manipulator is aligned with the target of the calibration body at known coordinates;
• and
• adjusting the manipulator subsequently to a second position by scanning the calibration body with the ultrasonic beam of the transducer to align the ultrasonic beam of the transducer with the target of the calibration body at the known coordinates for initiating an inspection of a test object after replacing the calibration body with the test object.

A method for adjustment of transducer position to compensate for ultrasonic testing beam alignment errors, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a manipulator of an ultrasonic immersion testing system having a pointing direction and supporting a transducer generating an ultrasonic beam;
• providing a calibration body defining a target thereon;
• immersing the transducer of the manipulator and the calibration body in a coupling fluid in an immersion tank of the ultrasonic immersion testing system;
• setting the manipulator initially at a first position such that the pointing direction of the manipulator is aligned with the target of the calibration body at known coordinates, the first position being defined by a first angle and a second angle, the first angle being defined between the manipulator pointing direction and a positive Z axis of the ultrasonic immersion testing system, the second angle being defined between the manipulator pointing direction and an X axis of the ultrasonic immersion testing system in the plane of the X axis and a Y axis of the ultrasonic immersion testing system;
• and
• adjusting the manipulator subsequently to a second position such that the ultrasonic beam of the transducer brought into alignment with the target of the calibration body at the known coordinates for initiating an inspection of a test object after replacing the calibration body with the test object, the second position now being defined by the first angle and the second angle.