Valve inspection

Measuring Systems: NOVACAMTM OPTICAL 3D PROFILOMETERTM system, BOREINSPECTTM system, or TUBEINSPECTTM system
Keywords: non-contact, valve inspection, inside diameter, ID

Trend towards non-contact in valve inspection

Conventional contact methods of valve inspection are making way for newer, non-contact methods.  While international standards for surface roughness are still set as per observations by contact profilometers, the convenience and speed associated with state-of-the-art non-contact technologies are obvious reasons why more and more experts are opting for non-contact.

Unique advantages with NOVACAMTM 3D metrology systems

Inspecting valves with NOVACAM 3D metrology systems provides clients with:

  • Micron-precision 3D measurements and exceptional measurement repeatability of up to 0.0625 µm on roughness and 0.5 µm for diameter measurements
  • Ability to measure–with the same instrument–valve dimensions (GD&T parameters), roughness, and/or defects
  • High speed surface acquisition: up to 100,000 3D points per second
  • Ability to acquire long profiles
  • Surface measurement in hard-to-reach spaces such as small-diameter valves
  • Ability to measure high-aspect-ratio features inside valves, such as O-ring grooves, channels, threads, cross-holes, splines, etc.

GD&T parameter measurements and deviation map of a valve body cylinder acquired by the BOREINSPECT system in one automated scanning sequence

Watch a demo of a fully-automated digital inspection of valve body bores with NOVACAMTM BOREINSPECTTM system. Here, the system rotational scanner (RS2) advances a small-diameter optical probe inside bores to measure their inside diameters (IDs) down to the micron.

Facilitated automation

NOVACAM 3D metrology systems are based on low-coherence interferometry technology. They are also modular and fiber-based, meaning that their small-sized probes (or rotational scanners) are connected to the signal-processing interferometric detector with an optical fiber.  As such,

  • The measuring probe (or rotational scanner) is easily integrated in a variety of valve inspection stations in automated or semi-automated systems on the plant floor, and,
  • If the valve is located in a hostile environment,(i.e. radioactive, very hot or very cold), the measurements can still be made.

See a more complete list of advantages of NOVACAM fiber-based LCI systems.

Off-the-shelf or customized valve inspection solutions

NOVACAM BOREINSPECT and TUBEINSPECT systems offer off-the-shelf inspection solutions to most valve inspection needs:

  • The BOREINSPECT system uses a spinning optical scanning probe (called RS2) to measure the insides of stationery valves
  • The TUBEINSPECT system uses a small-diameter side-looking probe to measure interiors of valves mounted on a rotational stage.

Customized inspection stations are also available.  Pictured is a custom inspection station with NOVACAM OPTICAL 3D PROFILOMETER that provides a surface roughness check of an extra-large valve.

Inspection of valve interior walls with fiber-based optical probe mounted on a custom-built inspection station

Roughness measurement of valve interior walls

Related links

 Contact us or request free sample analysis to see if our 3D metrology systems are suitable for your valve inspection application