How does one get into the NDT field? I know there are many branches but I'm intersted in Radiographic Testing.

why only RT?

Cos i've done RT. I dont mind UT

i heard NDT engineer in oil and gas company making quite a lot of money..

yes I've heard that too. I've also heard that they have hectic life. no time for themselves. I guess that's the sacrifice they take. I'm looking for something besides in the O&G industry. Not that I mind to work there for a while

depends on what sector. For the most part not really since the market is flooded with cheap labour, especially from india.

In india, you can get a guy with level 2 qualification for MPI, PT, UT and RT for only RM2500 which is bloody cheap.

If your an independent rope access level 3 fella, you can command minimum RM800 a day.

If you want 2 earn big bucks, usually NDT you have to go freelance since "most" company remunerations not has good as you may think.

One thing you may look into is either digital radiography or what im learning, phased array UT with TOFD. The charges for phased array is quite mad, minimum 300USD per hour with a minimum rate of 3 hours on any specific job. If you have a pipeline project, then its even better.

The machine i have is the olympus omniscan unit which cost around the price of a BMW 3 series, but the killer is not the machine itself but the various types of probe, wedges and misc equipment.

This post has been edited by crapp0: Jan 11 2010, 12:00 AM

when it comes to UT, don't companies want seasoned technicians as from what I've experienced handling the probe and analyzing the data is quite difficult

Which company doesnt want a seasoned technician?

RT u use iridium 192 rite? Hows the safety procedure in malaysia?

I heard you have to an area cordoned off and the radiation bomb has to be in a lead lined hole or something to that effect.

This post has been edited by crapp0: Jan 11 2010, 09:47 PM

what I mean want is really want and won't ever accept fresh grad.

RT can use X-ray machine and other radionuclide besides Ir-192

But safety procedure is the same as in other countries as well. pretty much standardized.

When conducting RT, the area has to be cordoned off. How much are is based on the levels of energy used. When you say radiation bomb, I assume you mean radionuclide. Something that gives off radiation. When not in use, they be put in a pit with radiation shielding.

In singapore you either called it the radiation bomb or radiation source. The only ones i know commercially popular for normal RT inspection is the widely used iridium 192, there is cobalt 60 but that banned in singapore since it very dangerous due to its penetration effect.

singapore doesnt require a pit, as long as you have a radiation shielded container is sufficient.

Depends on the company whether or not they would take a fresh grad or not, somebody has to start from somewhere. Quite alot of people lie that they have x amount of years in the field but actually they dont.

I see.

Well I'm looking for a company that does accept fresh grad

Most companies would accept fresh grads, those big ones, say like oceaneering prefer those who have at least 3 years in the field exp in all NDT methods, but they are now pursuing individuals who have phased array training and field exp or they will train you in phased array. They used to have a level 3 phased array instructor but i think that guy left them.

Phased array? that sounds new to me. I only heard of the common ones like RT, UT, Magnetic, Dye Pen used in industry.

I guess the rare ones are the honey pot since not many know about it. are there any organisations/bodies that teach those rare methods?

Phased array is quite common in high production pipeline environment. The prob is cost since it is quite costly unless you employ it in a high production sector or you need reduce total manpower hour. Thats where phased array is good for.

Unfortuantely, in the asia region, ppl look at cost vs real world benefit.

Both PCN and CSWIP has classes for phased array. Last i heard ASNT doesnt.

thanks a lot for the info. may I ask what other "rare" NDT methods used in the region?

Rare doesnt mean better since if its so rare, nobody will want 2 try it. So far its an evolution of ndt methods rather then revolution of it.

Just 2day had a exhibition demo on the phased array unit. When one fella asked how much my equipment on the table, i said you can buy a 5 room hdb in pasir ris.

I guess I should rephrase my question. What other NDT methods that are quite in high demand but low on trained workforce?

Phased array and TOFD.

Skilled Radiography ppl are also not bad but need to have radiographic interpretation as well.

Most of the really advanced stuff that are currently being explored for further enhancement is focused x-ray with digital film.

One such company i know of which supply them are an israeli company and their products are very impressive. With digital radiography interpretation, there is no waiting time for the development of film since its upload straight to a computer and you can manipulate the contrast to further enchance the image and such, even zooming in on a suspected defect with measurement tools auto adjusted according to the zoom ratio.

Unfortunately, most malaysians ndt firms, especially from you know "who" are so racist and religious nuts they wont accept their products.

There are some who import through a UK vendor so to mask that its from israel.



This post has been edited by crapp0: Jan 14 2010, 09:59 PM

FYI, I'm part of the "who" but I find it a shame just because a tech is from Israel, you can't accept the product even though it's really good.

anyway, I'm not gonna discuss politics and current issues. Thanks for your help. You given me a greater insight into the potential of NDT.

I plan to take RT lvl 1 after I grad. RPO for industrial while I'm studying (hope can). If I can't get a decent job with those, will go for RT lvl 2 and maybe if necessary, UT 1. I'll look into the phased array and TOFD, no doubt.

Oh yeah, please observer proper radiography safety protocol at all times and try not to "ali baba" just to save time and effort since its your health as well as the health and safety of others within the area of RT inspection.

I know quite a few radiographers who do an "ali baba" job and now they have all sorts of health problems which they never follow safety protocols, just to save themselves a couple of minutes. All of them were from india, and some of them do this shit not just with Ir 192 but cobalt 60 as well.

I just heard theres a company in iran which can produce a radiographic source at around 500 curie, alot of ppl in my industry suspect it would a by product of irans nuke test since you need fissionable material to create that kind of high energy source.