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.

I fresh graduate in nuclear science, so all those radiation n radioactive thingy is really deep in my heart ...I'm keen on RT, especially CR and flash radiography...i did a final yr project on RT before....but then what i can see is, RT is not always a popular method of NDT even it's widely used..most company pefer UT, TOFD and phased array...haizz....but then i think RT is still a very important method..coz not all inspection can be done with UT only...

So nice that our neighbour down south banned Co-60...perhaps with using CR, and digital radiography then we don't need to use Co-60 or have to do exposure up to several hours...damn vry dangerous to do RT on site with Co-60 pig....But then, coz NDT=private sector=business, so they all prefer conventional and leceh screen film RT due to cost.

p.s. I'm going for RT level II course after CNY, is there any NDT coy taking freshies???

Thats coz of the limitations of RT, especiall the safety and health aspects of it in doing inspection.

Not many companies prefer TOFD or phased array due to the cost involved. Conventional UT is now pretty standard but phased array is in a league of its own in terms of the cost. The disadvantage of RT is that it cant accurately determine planar defects and theres a limit on thickness.

Phased array with TOFD was designed to complement conventional UT methods with the advantages of RT but without radiation safety issues. Plus with RT you need to process the film and then interpret it for the results. Phased array has digital storage and can be analyzed on the spot and the reading can be duplicated on either hard or softcopy for a surveyor to see it.

I thought malaysia dont use cobalt 60? If gamma radiation to dangerous, then digital RT uses x-ray in a cone pulsed housing for directed snapshots.

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...838&hl=ENGINEER

they are hiring fresh graduate

Anyone here know the cheapest way to stay around MINDT while taking a 2 weeks course? Interested to take a course there, but unfortunately the nearest friends/relatives from there is staying at PJ state area

Go look for Velosi, They're always looking for fresh candidates for them to be trained. Heck Velosi's a training ground for NDT ppl anyways. oh Also another advantage Velosi has is that they can also train you in Abseiling as well thus you will be an Abseiling NDT Tech. Although their rates are on the low side, think about the training you'll get. I'm nt sure if they've started their abseiling arm training centre yet but they can send you for the training if you show promise. Quite a number of plp i know who are abseiling ndt tech's have gone freelance from Velosi and are making shitloads of dough. But it all will depend on how well you can generate reports and also how well you can communicate with the client.

1 of the admin clerk at MINDT got renting apartment for students taking course there around Damansara Damai Apartment.

Wht course r u taking?? RI?? WI??

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Added on July 2, 2010, 11:58 amohh...seems nice...

So, wht method they normally provide apart from the 5 conventional method?

How's the pay rate for the freshies? for degree holder in physical science and 2 month of experience internship in NDT + 1 year experience conducting final yr project regarding NDT

This post has been edited by AhGuan: Jul 2 2010, 11:58 AM

im interested in taking a certificate... but how much the cost for taking a cert for UT for exmple?

Thx for the info dude, really appreciate it. I'm planning to take UT bro. Next will go for WI

You can always call those training centres up bro. Erm, for UT if you don't have any experience of UT, prepare 6k is OK la, because noobies are required to attend 5 days of revision classes. But iinm the charge for those revision classes are varied depending on the centre. Oh and the price is without SMIDEC discount of course .