The practical visual inspection part of the AWS-CSWIP examination consists of the following categories:

AWS-CSWIP 3.1 Welding Inspector

Exam: Time allowed Practical butt welded pipe (specification supplied) 1 hour 45 minutes. *Practical assessment of 1 macro (code provided) 20 minutes. To successfully attempt the practical inspection elements of these examinations the inspector will require a number of important tools: 1 2 3 4 Good eyesight. Specialist gauges. Hand tools, ie magnifying glass, torch, mirror, graduated scale, etc. Pencil/pen, report forms, acceptance criteria and a watch.

Good eyesight To effectively carry out your scope of work as a CSWIP qualified Welding Inspector it is important that you have a current eyesight certificate for close vision and a colour blindness test is also required. This must be provided before your CSWIP Welding Inspection examination, as per the CSWIP-WI-6-92 document. All candidates for CSWIP examinations must be tested by a qualified optician. Holders of CSWIP Welding Inspection certificates should thus make every effort to have their vision professionally tested twice yearly. It is important to maintain this level of eyesight. Note: Your close vision ability may decay over time.

Rev 1 January 2010 Practical Visual Inspection Copyright TWI Ltd 2010

Specialist gauges
A number of specialist gauges are available to measure the various elements that need to be measured in a welded fabrication including: Hilo gauges for measuring mismatch and root gap. Fillet weld profile gauges for measuring fillet weld face profile and sizes. Angle gauges for measuring weld preparation angles. Multi-functional weld gauges for measuring many different weld measurements.

Hi-lo gauge used to measure linear misalignment.

Hi-lo gauge can also be used to measure the root gap.

Rev 1 January 2010 Practical Visual Inspection Copyright TWI Ltd 2010

Adjustable fillet gauge Measures fillet welds from 3-25mm (-1 inch) with 0.8mm (1/32 inch) accuracy. It uses an offset arm, which slides at a 45 angle to make fillet weld length measurements. This gauge also measures weld throat thickness to 1.5mm (1/16 inch).

Fillet weld gauge Measures weld sizes from 3mm ( inch) up to 25mm (1 inch).

Multi-purpose welding gauge This rugged gauge, fabricated in stainless steel, will measure the important dimensions of weld preparations and of completed butt and fillet welds. It is intended for general fabrication work and rapidly measures angle of preparation, excess weld metal, fillet weld leg length and throat size, and misalignment in both metric and imperial.

Digital multi-purpose welding gauge This digital gauge will measure the important dimensions of weld preparations and completed butt and fillet welds. It is intended for general fabrication work and rapidly measures angle of preparation, excess weld metal, fillet weld leg length and throat size in both metric and imperial.

Rev 1 January 2010 Practical Visual Inspection Copyright TWI Ltd 2010

TWI Cambridge multi-purpose welding gauge

Angle of preparation This scale reads 0 to 60o in 5o steps. The angle is read against the chamfered edge of the plate or pipe.

Linear misalignment The gauge can be used to measure misalignment of members by placing the edge of the gauge on the lower member and rotating the segment until the pointed finger contacts the higher member.

Excess weld metal/root penetration The scale is used to measure excess weld metal height or root penetration bead height of single-sided butt welds, by placing the edge of the gauge on the plate and rotating the segment until the pointed finger contacts the excess weld metal or root bead at its highest point.

Pitting/mechanical damage, etc The gauge can be used to measure defects by placing the edge of the gauge on the plate and rotating the segment until the pointed finger contacts the lowest depth. The reading is taken on the scale to the left of the zero mark in mm or inches.

Rev 1 January 2010 Practical Visual Inspection Copyright TWI Ltd 2010

Fillet weld actual throat thickness The small sliding pointer reads up to 20mm ( inch). When measuring the throat it is supposed that the fillet weld has a nominal design throat thickness, as an effective design throat thickness cannot be measured in this manner.

Fillet weld leg length The gauge may be used to measure fillet weld leg lengths up to 25mm (1 inch), as shown on the left.

Excess weld metal can be easily calculated by measuring the leg length, and multiplying it by 0.7 This value is then subtracted from the measured throat thickness = excess weld metal. Example: For a measured leg length of 10mm and a throat thickness of 8mm 10 x 0.7 = 7 (throat thickness 8) - 7 = 1mm of excess weld metal.

Rev 1 January 2010 Practical Visual Inspection Copyright TWI Ltd 2010