The Spider™

Currently in development, The Spider™ is a self-centering panoramic pipe crawler designed to simplify and standardize panoramic radiography setups on larger diameter pipe.

The system is designed to position the guide tube and source centrally within the pipe, helping improve shot consistency, image quality, and setup repeatability during panoramic exposures. Adjustable expanding arms allow the unit to securely centre itself inside a wide range of pipe diameters while maintaining stability throughout the exposure process.

Like all ProRad products, The Spider™ was born from real field frustrations. Traditional panoramic setups are often improvised, inconsistent, and time-consuming to assemble. The Spider™ aims to provide a cleaner, purpose-built solution that reduces setup time while improving professionalism and workflow efficiency on site.

A New Approach to Panoramic Radiography Setups

In industrial radiography, panoramic shots on larger diameter pipe have always come with a certain level of improvisation. Whether it’s makeshift spacers, bits of timber, cable ties, tape, magnets, or custom-built contraptions welded together in the workshop years ago, every radiographer seems to have their own way of centering a guide tube inside a pipe.

And just like many other aspects of RT, no two setups ever look the same.

Some radiographers have refined systems that work well enough after years of trial and error. Others are still relying on improvised setups that are inconsistent, awkward to install, and difficult to reproduce from shot to shot. The reality is that panoramic radiography has lacked a simple, purpose-built, standardized solution for a very long time.

That’s exactly why we started developing The Spider™.

What Is The Spider™?

Currently in development, The Spider™ is a self-centering panoramic pipe crawler designed to simplify and standardize panoramic radiography setups on larger diameter pipe.

The system is designed to position the guide tube and source centrally within the pipe, helping improve shot consistency, image quality, and setup repeatability during panoramic exposures. Adjustable expanding arms allow the unit to securely centre itself inside a wide range of pipe diameters while maintaining stability throughout the exposure process.

Unlike traditional improvised setups, The Spider™ is being designed from the ground up specifically for industrial radiography applications. Every component has a purpose. Every adjustment point is there to improve repeatability, usability, and efficiency in the field.

Why Panoramic Setup Consistency

Matters

One of the biggest issues with panoramic radiography is consistency.

A slightly off-centre source position may not seem like a major issue at first glance, but in practice it can create:

• Uneven exposure density

• Variations in image quality

• Increased geometric distortion

• Inconsistent sensitivity around the circumference

• Re-shoots and unnecessary delays

And more importantly, inconsistent setups often lead to inconsistent results.

Radiographers know this better than anyone. A setup that shifts halfway through positioning, or a guide tube that sits slightly low or off-centre, can quickly turn into frustration during processing and interpretation.

The problem is that many current methods rely heavily on:

• Tape

• Rubber straps

• Timber blocks

• Loose magnetic setups

• Makeshift spacers

• Welded homemade rigs

Most of these solutions were never actually designed for RT. They’re simply workarounds the industry adopted over time because there was nothing better available.

Built From Real Field Frustrations

Like all ProRad products, The Spider™ was born from real field frustrations.

After years of working shutdowns, fabrication jobs, and pipeline work, one thing became obvious:Radiographers spend an incredible amount of time improvising equipment that should already exist.

Panoramic setups are one of the clearest examples of this.

Some setups take longer to build than the actual exposure itself. Others require constant adjustment to keep the guide tube centred. And in many cases, every technician on site has their own completely different method.

The Spider™ aims to eliminate that inconsistency with a cleaner, more professional solution designed specifically for panoramic radiography work.

Designed for Repeatability

One of the biggest design focuses behind The Spider™ is repeatability.

In RT, repeatability matters.

Being able to recreate the same setup repeatedly across multiple welds, shifts, or technicians helps:

• Improve workflow efficiency

• Reduce setup time

• Improve image consistency

• Reduce exposure variables

• Minimize unnecessary adjustments

The Spider™ is being developed to provide a stable and repeatable central positioning system that removes much of the guesswork from panoramic setup work.

Instead of relying on improvised balancing methods or uneven support points, the adjustable arms expand evenly inside the pipe to maintain central alignment throughout the exposure process.

The result is a setup that is:

• Cleaner

• Faster

• More professional

• Easier to reproduce

• Easier to train with

  
  

A Purpose-Built RT Tool

One thing that separates RT from many other NDT methods is how little purpose-built tooling actually exists.

As discussed in our previous blog, radiography is one of the few trades where technicians are often expected to build their own solutions from scratch.

That culture has produced some incredibly creative setups over the years, but it has also created:

• Inconsistency

• Poor organization

• Time wastage

• Difficult training environments

• Unprofessional presentation to clients

At ProRad, we believe radiographers deserve better.

The Spider™ is part of a much larger vision to standardize and modernize RT tooling through equipment that is:

• Modular

• Purpose-built

• Field-ready

• Repeatable

• Professional

Rather than relying on “whatever works,” we want to create equipment specifically engineered around real RT workflows.

Designed for Real Field Conditions

The Spider™ isn’t being designed in a laboratory environment disconnected from reality.

It’s being developed around the actual conditions radiographers face every day:

• Dust

• Heat

• Shutdown environments

• Tight access

• Dirty pipe

• Time pressure

• Long shifts

• Rough handling

The design process focuses heavily on:

• Simplicity

• Durability

• Quick deployment

• Ease of adjustment

• Stability under real-world conditions

Because in RT, equipment only matters if it works reliably in the field.

Still in Development

The Spider™ is currently undergoing field testing and prototyping with working radiographers in real-world RT environments.

As with all ProRad products, development is heavily influenced by direct feedback from technicians actively using the equipment during real jobs.

That feedback is critical.

Sometimes a design that works perfectly in theory becomes frustrating during actual field use. Other times, a small adjustment completely changes workflow efficiency. That’s why ongoing testing and refinement are such a major part of the development process.

The current prototypes are already being used to evaluate:

• Pipe diameter compatibility

• Setup speed

• Stability

• Ease of transport

• Repeatability

• Durability

• Guide tube alignment consistency

And like every ProRad product, The Spider™ will continue evolving until it genuinely solves the problem it was designed for.

The Bigger Picture

The Spider™ is more than just another RT accessory.

It represents the direction we believe industrial radiography needs to move toward:

• Better organization

• Better tooling

• Better repeatability

• Better presentation

• Better workflow systems

For too long, RT has relied on improvised solutions and “good enough” setups simply because no dedicated alternatives existed.

We’re trying to change that.

From the G-Mag to the UG Block and now The Spider™, every ProRad product is being designed around one core idea:

Industrial radiography equipment should be purpose-built for radiographers.

Simple. Practical. Repeatable. Professional.