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Elcometer SG80BDL Operating Instructions Manual

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Model SG80BDL
Sonic Gauge
Operating Instructions
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  • Page 1 Model SG80BDL Sonic Gauge Operating Instructions...
  • Page 2 M43 6BU. United Kingdom: All other trademarks acknowledged. © Elcometer Limited 2011. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored (in a retrieval system or otherwise) or translated into any language, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, manual or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Elcometer Limited.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents About your Gauge............3 The Keypad .

  • Page 4: About Your Gauge

    Thank you for purchasing this Elcometer NDT product. Welcome to Elcometer NDT. The Model SG80BDL Sonic Gauge is a world beating product. With the purchase of this gauge you now have access to the worldwide service and support network of Elcometer NDT. For more information visit our website at www.elcometerndt.com.

  • Page 5: The Keypad

    2 THE KEYPAD Activates the primary menu structure containing 7 menu tab groups. These tab groups then contain sub menu items, or functions. The sub menu items are organised in tab groups according to how closely they are related to the individual tab group names.

  • Page 6: Getting Started

    If you have not yet done so, refer to “Transducers” on page 30, which will help you identify the correct transducer type. Alternatively contact Elcometer NDT, your local Elcometer NDT supplier or visit www.elcometerndt.com 3.3 Fitting the transducer...

  • Page 7: The Menus

    3.4 Switching on/off To switch on or off, press the on/off key The gauge will switch off automatically after 5 minutes of inactivity. 4 THE MENUS Your gauge has two menu systems: • Full menu - displays all the functions and settings of the gauge (see also page 35). •...

  • Page 8: The Display

    4.3 Selecting menu language The menus can be displayed in English, Spanish, and German. 1. Press , scroll to the SETUP menu and then highlight the LANGUAGE function. 2. Use the arrows to scroll the language options. 3. Once the desired language is displayed, press to return to the measurement screen.

  • Page 9: Measurement - Modes

    Material Thickness The thickness of the material under the transducer - large digits. Value Scan Bar Provides a view of material thickness as a deflection style horizontal bar. This is a visual tool that shows thickness changes due to flaws and pits during high speed scans. If the user is scanning a cylinder wall, for instance, and passes over a porosity or internal flaw during the process, the scan bar will quickly deflect and alarm the user to go back and search for the...

  • Page 10: Setting Up The Gauge

    6.1 Pulse-Echo Mode (P-E) This mode measures from the initial pulse (sometimes referred to as an artificial zero) to the first echo (reflection). This mode only requires one reflection and it is therefore the most sensitive mode for measuring weak reflections (flaws) typically found when measuring heavily corroded metals. If this mode is used to measure a coated sample, then the thickness of the substrate plus coating will be measured.
  • Page 11 You now need to perform a probe zero before taking measurements. 7.2 Transducer - Zeroing Setting the zero point for the transducer is important for the same reason that setting the zero on a mechanical micrometer is important. If the zero point of the transducer is not set correctly, all of the measurements the gauge makes will be in error by some fixed number.
  • Page 12 7.3 Calibrating In order for the gauge to make accurate measurements, it must be calibrated to the sound-velocity of the material being measured. Different types of material have different sound-velocities. For example, the velocity of sound through steel is 5918 m/s (about 0.233 in/µs) and the velocity of sound through aluminium is 6350 m/s (about 0.248 in/µs).
  • Page 13 7.3.2 Known Thickness Calibration If the sound velocity of a material is unknown, a sample with one or two known thicknesses can be used to determine the sound velocity. Note: Known thickness calibration must be performed on material with the paint or coating removed. Failure to remove the paint or coating prior to calibration will result in a multi-material velocity calculation that may be different from the actual material velocity intended to be measured.
  • Page 14 3. Apply a drop of couplant on the transducer and place the transducer in steady contact with the sample or the material being tested. Be sure that the reading is stable and the repeatability indicator, in the top left corner of the display, is fully lit and stable. 4.

  • Page 15: Measurement - Taking Readings

    7.3.3 Known Material Calibration If the material velocity is unknown, and a sample thickness cannot be taken from the material, you can choose a material type from a list stored in the gauge. For each material stored in the list there is a corresponding velocity value.

  • Page 16: Display - Using The B-Scan View

    Before the transducer is placed on the surface, put a small amount of couplant on the surface of the material. Typically a single drop is sufficient. 2. Place transducer onto the surface of the material to be measured Press the transducer wearface into the couplant. Moderate pressure on the top of the transducer using the thumb or index finger is sufficient;...
  • Page 17 9.1 Starting depth (BSCAN START) The starting depth BSCAN START is the starting thickness value. Under normal circumstances this value will be set to zero in order to start measuring at 0.00 mm/inches. The only time BSCAN START needs to be set to something other than zero is if you need to zoom in on a specific measurement range.

  • Page 18: Gain - Adjusting

    10 GAIN - ADJUSTING The gain (the amplitude of the return echo) can be adjusted to suit a variety of applications. To obtain valid readings the gain must be set to the correct level to give reliable return echoes: • Too much gain may result in erroneous measurements by detecting noise rather than the material back wall itself.

  • Page 19: Measurement - Options

    that only the material thickness is measured. This feature saves you a great deal of time scraping and removing the coating from tanks and pipes during the inspection process. The primary purpose of ThruPaint™ measurement is to determine overall material thickness; ThruPaint™...

  • Page 20: Measurement - Recording Your Readings

    12.2 Alarm Mode Your gauge includes an Alarm Mode. You set the limits, and if a measurement falls outside of these limits your gauge will signal an alarm (a red light on the front panel of the instrument and/or an audible beep).
  • Page 21 13.1 About the data logger With a data file open, as you take measurements, the measurement data is stored in files in the gauge memory. Data logger file format: Measurements are stored in a file which has a grid format (similar to the format of a spreadsheet) in which each cell of the grid is used to store a reading.
  • Page 22 13.3 Creating a New Data logger File To create a GRID or ENGINE log data file: NAM E : NOTE : NUM COL: NUM ROWS : E AST INC R.DIR 1. Press , scroll to the DATA menu and then highlight the NEW function. CREATE NE W FILE? SET UP DATA...
  • Page 23 Note: In this illustration, the MEM FORMAT is set to GRID. However, if the ENGINE format was selected, the COL would be displayed as CYL#, and the ROW would be displayed as CLK#. 13.4 Opening an Existing Data Logger File 1.
  • Page 24 13.6 Viewing and Deleting readings With a data file open: 1. Use the arrows to scroll through the cells in the data file. As the cursor is moved to a different cell, the display is updated with the display view saved with the reading.

  • Page 25: Gauge Setups

    14 GAUGE SETUPS Your gauge contains 64 configurable preset locations in which you can store custom gauge setups, each one optimised for a specific measuring application. These gauge setups can save time when conducting routine inspections of the same job or project. This feature also helps to eliminate error between two or more users during the setup and calibration process.
  • Page 26 The following procedures outline the necessary steps for saving and editing a setup: 1. Press , scroll to the SETUP menu and then highlight the SAVE function. 2. Press to display the Save Setup edit box. 3. Scroll to NAME and then press to edit its value: •...

  • Page 27: Data Transfer Software

    15 DATA TRANSFER SOFTWARE Software is available which allows data to be transferred from your gauge to a PC. Presently Elcometer supplies NDT Link software for this purpose. To set-up other types of communications software: 1. Start the communications software.

  • Page 28: Storage

    The gauge does not contain any user-serviceable components. In the unlikely event of a fault, the gauge should be returned to your local Elcometer NDT supplier or directly to Elcometer NDT. The warranty will be invalidated if the instrument has been opened.

  • Page 29: Technical Specification

    Dragging the transducer along the surface will reduce the life of the transducer. Replacement transducers are available from your local Elcometer NDT supplier or directly from Elcometer NDT. 18 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION...

  • Page 30: Warranty

    Additionally, Elcometer NDT warrants transducers and accessories against such defects for a period of 90 days from receipt by the end user. If Elcometer NDT receives notice of such defects during the warranty period, Elcometer NDT will either, at its option, repair or replace products that prove to be defective.

  • Page 31: Spares

    Your gauge is complete with all the items required to get started and take measurements (transducers must be ordered separately). Over the life of the gauge replacement items may be required. The following replacement and optional items are available from your local Elcometer NDT supplier or directly from Elcometer NDT.
  • Page 32 Additionally, care must be taken when performing a ‘Calibration to Known Thickness’ with a high temperature application. 21.5 Selecting the correct transducer Elcometer have a complete range of transducers to meet your requirements, including: • A range of frequencies and sizes •...
  • Page 33 The smallest diameter restricted access uses 3/16" crystals with a contact area of .250" For full details of the Elcometer NDT range of transducers contact your local Elcometer NDT supplier, or visit the Elcometer NDT website www.elcometerndt.com...

  • Page 34: Condition And Preparation Of Surfaces

    22 CONDITION AND PREPARATION OF SURFACES The shape and roughness of the test surface are of paramount importance when carrying out ultrasonic thickness testing. Rough, uneven surfaces may limit the penetration of ultrasound through the material, and result in unstable, and therefore unreliable, measurements. The surface being measured should be clean, and free of any small particles, rust, or scale.
  • Page 35 temperatures above 100°C (~200°F), the change in sound-velocity of the material being measured starts to have a noticeable effect upon the accuracy of ultrasonic measurement. At such elevated temperatures, it is recommended that the user perform a calibration procedure on a sample piece of known thickness, which is at, or near, the temperature of the material to be measured.

  • Page 36: Sound Velocities Of Common Materials

    24 SOUND VELOCITIES OF COMMON MATERIALS Sound velocity Sound velocity Material Material (m/s) (in/µs) (m/s) (in/µs) Aluminium 6350 0.250 Paraffin 2210 0.087 Bismuth 2184 0.086 Platinum 3962 0.156 Brass 4394 0.173 Plexiglas 2692 0.106 Cadmium 2769 0.109 Polystyrene 2337 0.092 Cast Iron 4572 0.180 (Approx.)
  • Page 37 Menu Function Description UNITS Toggle between Metric (millimetres) or English (inches) (CALIBRATION) units. VELOCITY This function calibrates your gauge to a specific material type by entering a material velocity. ONE POINT Performs a single point calibration. This function allows you to automatically calculate the velocity by entering a known sample thickness.
  • Page 38 RESTORE GRID Allows you to restore grid files saved on a computer to your gauge via the RS232 port. ABOUT Provides Elcometer NDT contact information and your gauge software version. Refer to the help section of your gauge NDT Link software...

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