Amigo is a new instrument to find cracks in metal structures, including cranes. It is a smaller and lighter version of the ACFM crack microgauge from Technical Software Consultants (see Crack test Aug99, p32). It claims all the advantages of ACFM inspection, available on other TSC instruments, with added benefits of longer battery life and support for simple array probes.
The system allows rapid scanning using a hand-held probe to detect cracks and sizes them by length and depth. There is a dual frequency option of 5kHz (for optimum performance on ferritic steel) or 50kHz (for improved sensitivity on non-ferrous metals). Operating time per charge of the IP 54-rated unit is claimed to be at least five hours.
The electromagnetic inspection technique has reduced cleaning requirements, with no need to clean back to bare metal. Inspection can be made through thin metallic coatings, or through non-conducting coatings several millimetres thick.
The unit measures 206mm by 292mm by 127mm and weighs 4.5kg.
