Using the workbench

Getting started

The side rail on the workbench opens the set-up dialogs: Probe / wedge and beamsets, Part, weld and calibration block, Indications (reflectors) and Workspace files. The viewer shows the part in section with the probes and beams; it redraws as you change a value. Use the display options button above the viewer for rulers, units and what is drawn.

Without an account you can set up a part, probes and beamsets and read all the calculated results. Opening and saving workspaces, custom parts and file exports need a signed-in account with an active subscription.

Probes and beamsets

Pick a transducer and a wedge from the catalogue (or enter their dimensions), place the probe on the part, then add a beamset: single beam, linear scan, sectorial scan, spread or a reference beamset. Each beam shows its refracted angle, path lengths, beam spread, near field and the calculated focal-law delays. Conventional (single-element) probes and time-of-flight diffraction pairs are set up in the same dialog.

The results pane offers the focal laws as .law files (versions 5.0 and 5.2) and as XML (.fxml) and text files for OEMPA-type instruments.

Part and weld

Enter the thickness, material and velocities, and describe the weld with its bevel regions (cap, fills, hot pass, root). Zones for coverage are generated from the weld either by length or by count. Warnings appear when a setting is outside the supported range or a beam does not do what the set-up expects, for example when it misses the weld. The calibration-block section lists the targets used for calibration and for zone-targeted solving.

Custom parts

For shapes that are not flat plates or pipes, switch the part to Custom and open the drawing editor. It supports lines, arcs, circles, ellipses and polylines on layers, trim and extend, snaps (including tangent and quadrant), dimensions that follow the geometry, a right-click menu, and a set of starter templates. You can import and export DXF, export SVG, and convert a custom part to a plate of a chosen thickness with one click (Undo brings the custom part back). The first time you open the editor a short key-and-mouse reference is shown; the ? button brings it back.

Analysis panels

The panels under the viewer cover beam quality maps for phased-array beamsets, the zonal solver, full-matrix capture with A-scan simulation, high-temperature wedge tracing, and the ultrasonic and time-of-flight diffraction side views. Quality maps and the zonal solver are calculated in your browser and can take a few seconds for fine grids.

Indications

Add reflectors to the part to see how the beams meet them, and set their position, size, type and status in the table. Export .ebi saves the list as a file and Import .ebi replaces the list with a saved one. Report templates include the indications table.

Files and exports

Item	Where	Format
Workspace	Workspace files: open, export	.ebwk
Instrument configuration	Workspace files: export instrument config	.icex
Image of the current view	Workspace files: export image	.png
Focal laws	Results pane	.law, .fxml, text
Calibration block	Part dialog	.btcb
Indications	Indications dialog	.ebi
Report	Ctrl+R, then choose a template	print or save as PDF from the browser; Word .docx download; custom layouts saved as .btr
Wedge and transducer	Probe dialog	.ebw, .ebt
Scene drawing	Workspace files: drawing export	.svg, .dxf
Custom part drawing	Drawing editor	.dxf, .svg

All topics

• Probe and wedge — Choosing and editing the transducer and wedge.
• Beamsets — Single, linear, sectorial, spread and reference beams.
• Part and weld — Thickness, material, velocities and weld bevels.
• Calibration blocks — Using a block instead of the part.
• Custom parts — The drawing editor for non-standard geometry.
• Indications — Reflectors in the part.
• Pressure map, delay view and wave animation — How the Fields dialog is calculated.
• Wedge designer — Dual-element wedges, inset and groove depth.
• Zonal coverage — Checking that beams cover the weld zones.
• Reports — Templates, sections and export.
• Files and exports — All supported file types.
• Workspace files — Opening, saving and exporting workspaces.
• Results pane — Reading the numbers for the selected beam.
• Focal laws — Element delays and how to export them.
• Focus types — None, depth, half path and projection.
• Near field — The transition from near field to far field.
• Beam spread — The −6 dB beam edges.
• Weld editor — Describing the weld preparation.
• Zone naming — Names and limits for weld zones.
• Pipes and curved parts — Axial and circumferential scanning.
• Calibration templates — The standard 19, 38, 76 and 125 mm blocks.
• Drawing editor basics — Drawing and selecting.
• Snaps — Snapping to exact points.
• Layers — Organising geometry.
• Trim and extend — Cleaning up corners.
• Part templates — Plate, T joint, lap joint and nozzle section.
• Quality maps — Where the beamset detects reflectors well.
• Full-matrix capture and A-scans — Simulating the signal.
• Time-of-flight diffraction — Setting up a TOFD pair.
• High-temperature wedges — Tracing through a temperature gradient.
• Drawing export — SVG, DXF and PNG.
• Probe, wedge and transducer files — Moving hardware definitions between systems.
• View controls — Pan, zoom and display options.
• Options — Colours, dimension text and prompts.
• Units — Millimetres and inches.
• Report templates — Editing and saving layouts.
• Layout editor — Drawing caption blocks and title frames.
• Word export — Saving a report as .docx.
• Accounts and access — What needs a subscription.
• Keyboard shortcuts — Quick keys.
• Transducer fields — Frequency, elements, pitch and widths.
• Indication types — Reflector shapes and statuses.
• Warnings — What the workbench is telling you.
• Technician guide: from part to plan — Six steps to a printable PA and TOFD inspection plan.

Accounts

Manage your subscription, payment details and password under Account. If you forget your password, ask the administrator of this site to reset it: a temporary password is issued and you choose a new one at the next sign-in.