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Finding "BLOWS" in Plywood panels is how we got our start. One could easily ask why did the American Plywood Association come to Clyde Steffens and C.R. Cushman for help in finding delaminations in Plywood panels? Simple, their reputation in the non-destructive testing community led the APA to our door. The APA wanted a defect detector that could reliably find "BLOWS" in panels on-line. Thirty plus years later the need is the same.

An important note to our customers: Neither the 506QAS nor the 5600QAS are sold as "Bond Analyzers". To do so would infer that we can defy the laws of physics! Some companies like to use their marketing savvy to develop buzzwords that hit hot spots in the customer's psyche. Our position is that non-contact Air coupled Ultrasound is not able to RELIABLY detect dry-out or marginal bonds! For more information on a test to verify this statement click on the links provided to order our CD " Technical Aspects of in Process Control"

The model 506 Quality Assurance System (QAS) is our entry-level defect detector. The gauge is designed to be simple and affordable. The 506QAS is a stand-alone internal defect detector Operational at line speeds up to 600fpm Thickness range (plywood) up to one (1) inch Line widths up to twelve (12) feet Maximum scan zones twenty-four (24) Alarm output standard Marker System optional FORM, FIT and FUNCTION based continuing support PROOF of PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE Optional Continuing Support Services available Prices start at $34,000.00 (USD)

Control Station Click on Photo to Enlarge

For Budgetary Quote click here

Click here for a free copy of our CD "Technical Aspects of In-Process Control"

Earlier in our web page we referred to the 5600QAS as "the big brother" of the 506QAS. We should have said, really big brother. The 5600QAS has at least six times the transmitter power and thirty times the signal to noise ratio as the 506QAS. The 5600QAS Ultrasound transducer is so powerful we have yet to find the upper limit of their abilities in many materials. Because we don't have to pair weak transducers together to inspect thicker stock, we can produce results that are accurate and free from areas misidentified as defects. The defect size is user defined and extremely accurate. Our competitors regularly pair two or even three transmitter/receiver pairs together to find defects. This causes a large area of uncertainty as to whether a defect really exist or not and what size it actually might be (for more details order our CD with the link below).