The Sonic CircumTrack M4 PAUT Scanner – TS-CTM4-48

The Sonic CircumTrack M4 PAUT Scanner – TS-CTM4-48

Motorized Four-Probe PAUT / UT Scanner for Pipe Weld, Vessel Weld, Circumferential Weld, and Flat Surface Inspection

The The Sonic CircumTrack M4 PAUT Scanner – TS-CTM4-48 is a fully motorized four-probe PAUT / UT scanner designed for pipeline girth weld inspection, vessel circumferential weld inspection, tank shell weld inspection, flat weld scanning, corrosion mapping, and encoded ultrasonic inspection applications.

The scanner is equipped with an in-built motorized drive system and supplied with a joystick control unit for controlled scanner movement. The motorized drive helps deliver smooth, repeatable, and consistent scanning performance, while the four-probe holder system allows wider inspection coverage and higher productivity.

The TS-CTM4-48 is suitable for carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, duplex steel, non-magnetic pipes, vessels, tanks, and flat plate surfaces. It can be supplied with magnetic wheels for ferromagnetic materials and a chain / rope-link holding arrangement for stainless steel and non-magnetic pipe applications.

Product Overview

The CircumTrack M4 PAUT Scanner is developed for advanced ultrasonic inspection applications where motorized movement and multi-probe coverage are required. It combines controlled scanner travel, encoded position feedback, and up to four probe holder assemblies in one modular scanner platform.

Compared with a manual scanner, the motorized version reduces operator movement variation and improves scan consistency. Compared with a two-probe scanner, the four-probe system increases inspection coverage and can reduce repeated scan passes.

The scanner can be configured for pipe sizes from 3 inch up to 24 inch, with an extended configuration available up to 48 inch. It can also be used on flat surfaces with suitable guide configuration.

Key Features

• Fully motorized PAUT / UT scanner for advanced weld inspection

• In-built motorized drive system for controlled scanner movement

• Joystick control unit supplied with the scanner

• Supports up to four probe holder assemblies

• Suitable for single-probe, dual-probe, and four-probe inspection configurations

• Suitable for pipe weld, vessel weld, circumferential weld, and flat surface scanning

• Configurable pipe range from 3 inch to 24 inch

• Extended configuration available up to 48 inch

• Suitable for flat surface inspection

• Compatible with carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, duplex steel, and non-magnetic materials

• Magnetic wheel configuration for carbon steel and ferromagnetic surfaces

• Chain / rope-link holding arrangement for stainless steel and non-magnetic pipe applications

• Adjustable four-probe holder arrangement for different probe and wedge sizes

• Suitable for A32 series probes and standard weld inspection wedge assemblies

• Encoder integration available for scan-distance tracking

• Smooth forward and reverse scanner movement

• Controlled scan speed for repeatable inspection

• Heavy-duty scanner frame for stable multi-probe scanning

• Cable management provision for multiple probe, encoder, and motor cables

• Rugged industrial construction for field inspection use

• Custom scanner frame and mounting options available as per inspection requirement

Working Principle

The TS-CTM4-48 CircumTrack M4 PAUT Scanner uses a motorized drive mechanism to move the scanner along the required scan path. During pipe or vessel inspection, the scanner travels around the circumference of the component. During flat surface inspection, the scanner moves along the weld or inspection line.

The joystick control unit allows the operator to control scanner movement, including forward movement, reverse movement, stop function, positioning, and speed adjustment depending on the selected motor control configuration.

When supplied with an encoder, the scanner converts movement into distance-based position signals. These signals are transmitted to the ultrasonic inspection system, allowing PAUT / UT data to be synchronized with the actual scanner position.

The four-probe configuration allows multiple probes to scan simultaneously, improving inspection coverage, increasing productivity, and supporting advanced weld inspection techniques.

Technical Specifications

Available Models and Variants

Motorized Drive System

The TS-CTM4-48 is equipped with an in-built motorized drive system for controlled scanner movement. The motorized drive helps maintain smooth travel during ultrasonic scanning and reduces variation caused by manual movement.

Motorized scanning is useful for:

• Circumferential pipe weld scanning

• Vessel weld scanning

• Long weld inspection

• Multi-probe encoded scanning

• Controlled scan speed applications

• Repeatable weld inspection

• Reduced operator fatigue during long scanning jobs

• Improved inspection consistency and data quality

Joystick Control Unit

The TS-CTM4-48 is supplied with a joystick control unit for scanner operation. The joystick allows the operator to control scanner movement during inspection and setup.

Joystick control functions may include:

• Forward movement

• Reverse movement

• Start / stop control

• Speed adjustment

• Fine positioning

• Controlled scanner movement during setup and scanning

The control configuration can be customized based on final scanner design and customer inspection requirements.

Four-Probe Holder System

The main advantage of the TS-CTM4-48 is its motorized four-probe holder system. The scanner can hold up to four probe and wedge assemblies, depending on the inspection technique and weld geometry.

Four-probe configuration is useful for:

• Multi-angle PAUT weld inspection

• Dual-side weld inspection coverage

• Wide weld zone coverage

• High-productivity encoded scanning

• PAUT and TOFD-support combined configurations

• Inspection of thicker welds and larger components

• Reducing repeated scan passes

• Advanced weld inspection setups

• Simultaneous multi-probe data acquisition

Each probe holder can be adjusted based on probe size, wedge size, probe offset, and required inspection position.

Magnetic Wheel Configuration

For carbon steel and ferromagnetic surfaces, the scanner can be supplied with magnetic wheels. The magnetic wheels help hold the scanner on the inspection surface and support stable motorized movement during circumferential or linear scanning.

Recommended for:

• Carbon steel pipe weld inspection

• Pressure vessel weld inspection

• Tank shell weld inspection

• Structural steel weld inspection

• Horizontal, vertical, or inclined ferromagnetic surfaces

• Applications where magnetic holding improves scanner stability

Chain / Rope-Link Holding Configuration

For stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, aluminium, and other non-magnetic materials, magnetic wheels will function only as guide wheels and will not provide magnetic holding. For these applications, the TS-CTM4-48 can be supplied with a chain / rope-link holding system.

The chain / rope-link arrangement wraps around the pipe circumference and supports scanner movement around the pipe. This helps maintain scanner positioning and surface contact even on non-magnetic pipe materials.

Recommended for:

• Stainless steel pipe weld inspection

• Duplex stainless steel pipe inspection

• Non-magnetic pipe materials

• Alloy pipe weld inspection

• Large-diameter pipe inspection

• Applications where magnetic holding is not effective

Probe and Wedge Compatibility

The TS-CTM4-48 scanner is designed to support multiple probe and wedge configurations. The four-probe holder system can be customized based on inspection method, probe size, wedge size, probe offset, and required scan coverage.

Suitable for:

• A32 series PAUT probes

• Standard weld inspection PAUT probes

• Single-probe PAUT inspection

• Dual-probe PAUT inspection

• Four-probe PAUT inspection

• UT probe and wedge assemblies

• TOFD-support configurations

• Custom probe holder requirements

• Curved wedge and flat wedge applications

Applications

The Sonic CircumTrack M4 PAUT Scanner – TS-CTM4-48 is suitable for:

• Motorized PAUT weld inspection

• Multi-probe PAUT weld inspection

• Pipeline girth weld inspection

• Circumferential pipe weld inspection

• Pressure vessel circumferential weld inspection

• Tank shell weld inspection

• Plate and flat weld inspection

• Flange-adjacent weld inspection

• Nozzle and branch connection weld inspection

• Fabrication weld inspection

• Power plant piping inspection

• Refinery and petrochemical piping inspection

• Marine and offshore pipe inspection

• Stainless steel pipe weld inspection

• Carbon steel pipe weld inspection

• Large-diameter pipe weld inspection

• Encoded PAUT weld scanning

• Conventional UT encoded scanning

• TOFD-support scanner applications

Inspection Advantages

Using the TS-CTM4-48 CircumTrack M4 PAUT Scanner helps improve inspection quality and productivity by providing:

• Motorized scanner movement

• Four-probe inspection capability

• Wider inspection coverage in a single scan

• Reduced repeated scanning passes

• Controlled scan speed

• Reduced manual scanning variation

• Better scan repeatability

• Stable probe and wedge positioning

• Accurate scan-distance tracking when encoder is used

• Better defect location accuracy

• Improved defect length sizing

• Reliable weld mapping

• Better B-scan and C-scan documentation

• Better report traceability

• Reduced operator fatigue

• Suitability for both magnetic and non-magnetic pipe materials

• Flexible configuration for different pipe diameters and weld geometries

Scanner Configuration Options

Standard Pipe Scanner Configuration

Suitable for motorized pipe weld scanning from 3 inch to 24 inch diameter.

Extended Pipe Scanner Configuration

Suitable for pipe and vessel scanning up to 48 inch diameter using extended frame / holding arrangement.

Flat Surface Configuration

Suitable for plate welds, tank shell welds, structural welds, and flat surface scanning.

Four-Probe Configuration

Suitable for applications requiring up to four PAUT probes or wedge assemblies for wider weld inspection coverage.

Encoded Configuration

Suitable for encoded PAUT / UT scanning where distance-based data acquisition and scan mapping are required.

Non-Magnetic Pipe Configuration

Suitable for stainless steel and other non-magnetic pipe materials using chain / rope-link holding arrangement.

Standard Supply Scope

• 1 No. TS-CTM4-48 CircumTrack M4 PAUT Scanner assembly

• 1 Set heavy-duty adjustable scanner frame

• 1 Set in-built motorized drive system

• 1 No. joystick control unit

• 4 Nos. adjustable probe holder assemblies

• 1 Set wedge holder / probe mounting hardware

• 1 Set magnetic wheel assembly, if selected

• 1 Set chain / rope-link holding kit, if selected

• 1 No. encoder with cable and connector, if selected

• 1 Set motor / controller cable assembly

• 1 Set cable management accessories

• 1 Set diameter adjustment / guide arrangement

• 1 Set basic tools

• 1 No. carrying case

• 1 No. user instruction sheet

• Functional test certificate, if required

Optional Accessories

Compatibility Statement

The The Sonic CircumTrack M4 PAUT Scanner – TS-CTM4-48 is designed for integration with standard industrial PAUT, UT, and TOFD-support inspection systems. Probe holder design, encoder configuration, cable length, connector type, wheel type, holding system, motor control arrangement, and scanner frame size can be customized based on the customer’s inspection requirement.