Are you in an industry working with large solid components, but are using too much time, effort and money when doing thickness testing?
Imagine a testing instrument that can help you check the thickness of a solid item, be it metal or a non-metal, without breaking up the material. A device that is easy to use yet portable. A high accuracy device that saves you time and money. These are all the benefits you will get from using an ultrasonic thickness gauge for all your material thickness testing.
In this write up, we will look at the technology that makes ultrasonic thickness gauge important for material thickness testing. We will also highlight the different applications, and advantages of using an ultrasonic thickness gauge for your day to day material testing. Are you ready to know more? Let’s get to it.
What is ultrasonic thickness gauge?
An ultrasonic thickness gauge is an instrument used for measuring the thickness of materials by utilizing high frequency sound waves and ultrasonic calibration blocks. How this instrument works is by using a probe known as a transducer which is placed on the material being tested.
The transducer produces sound waves which travel through the material, reach the end and then reflect back to the transducer. The time it takes for this whole process is what is then converted to material thickness and is displayed on the instrument screen. Simple, right?
Applications of ultrasonic thickness gauge
The main use for ultrasonic thickness gauge is in material thickness and quality testing in manufacturing industries. An ultrasonic thickness gauge apart from thickness testing can also check for defects that are otherwise not visible to the naked eye. These applications are
- Wall thickness determination. Ultrasonic thickness measurement is used to check wall depth or of materials. Wall thickness monitoring is important especially in industries where materials are subjected to high heat and pressure.
In the petroleum industry, for example, high standards of wall thickness has to be maintained to avoid accidents and losses by explosion or leakages.
- Corrosion checking. Corrosion in simple terms is rusting. Frequent testing of metal surfaces for rust using an ultrasonic thickness gauge helps ensure structures meet expected standards, and minimizes safety risks. Constant monitoring for corrosion also helps reduce the need for frequent repairs saving you money and time.
- Material defect testing. One of the reasons that make an ultrasonic thickness gauge stand out from other thickness testing equipment is the ability to detect defects on solid materials.
But how is this possible? You may be wondering. Let’s explain it. Ultrasonic waves move in a predicted pattern inside a solid. However, if this pattern is disturbed it points out a flaw in the structure and will show on the instrument’s display.
Advantages of an ultrasonic thickness gauge
The advantages that ultrasonic thickness gauge has over other material thickness testing instruments are
- Measurement can be done from only one side of the sample material.
- Gives accurate measurements with readings as low as 0.1mm or less.
- Portable and easy to use and allows more measurements to be done within a short time.
- Settings can be done to manage testing on different metal coatings and linings.
- Have a wide measurement range
Conclusion
In conclusion, the importance of ultrasonic thickness measurement and thus ultrasonic thickness gauge cannot be stressed enough. It saves you time, energy and money. It is also fast and able to detect flaws that might have otherwise been missed if using a different testing instrument.
Choosing a good quality and reliable ultrasonic thickness gauge requires some level of technical know-how and that is where NDT-KITS comes in. With over 40 years’ experience in the manufacture of ultrasonic thickness detectors, you will get a wealth of valuable information about which ultrasonic thickness test instrument is most suitable for you.
What’s more, NDT-KITS has a variety of ultrasonic thickness gauges that have high accuracy, multiple wave check methods and of course, are easy to operate. You will be spoilt for choice.
