Dakota Ultrasonics ZX-2 Operating Manual

OPERATION MANUAL

DAKOTA ULTRASONICS

ZZXX--22

Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge

P/N P-301-0002 Rev 1.10, March 2019

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 1

DISCLAIMER ......................................................................................................................... 1

1.1

CHAPTER TWO KEYPAD, MENU, DISPLAY & CONNECTORS ..................... 2

2.1

ON/OFF/ENTER KEY…. .................................................................................................... 2

2.2

PRB 0 KEY…. ...................................................................................................................... 2

2.3

VEL KEY…. ......................................................................................................................... 3

LIGHT KEY…. ..................................................................................................................... 3

2.4

2.5

UNITS KEY…. ..................................................................................................................... 3

2.6

+/- INCREMENT/DECREMENT KEY’S…. .................................................................................. 3

2.7

MATL KEY… ....................................................................................................................... 3

2.8

THE DISPLAY ....................................................................................................................... 4

2.9

THE TRANSDUCER ................................................................................................................ 5

TOP END CAP .................................................................................................................... 7

2.10

CHAPTER THREE PRINCIPALS OF ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT ........... 8

3.1

TIME VERSUS THICKNESS RELATIONSHIP ............................................................................... 8

3.2

SUITABILITY OF MATERIALS ................................................................................................... 8

3.3

RANGE OF MEASUREMENT AND ACCURACY ............................................................................ 8

COUPLANT ........................................................................................................................... 8

3.4

3.5

TEMPERATURE ..................................................................................................................... 9

3.6

MEASUREMENT MODES ........................................................................................................ 9

CHAPTER FOUR SELECTING THE MEASUREMENT MODE ....................... 11

4.1

WHICH MODE & TRANSDUCER DO I USE FOR MY APPLICATION? ............................................ 11

CHAPTER FIVE MAKING MEASUREMENTS ................................................. 13

5.1

PROBE ZERO ...................................................................................................................... 13

5.2

VELOCITY CALIBRATION ...................................................................................................... 14

5.3

BASIC MATERIAL TYPE ....................................................................................................... 15

CHAPTER SIX ADDITIONAL FEATURES ....................................................... 18

6.1

UNITS ................................................................................................................................ 18

LIGHT ................................................................................................................................ 18

6.2

6.3

LOCK ................................................................................................................................. 19

6.4

FACTORY DEFAULTS .......................................................................................................... 20

APPENDIX A - VELOCITY TABLE .................................................................. 22

APPENDIX B- APPLICATION NOTES ........................................................... 24

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

The Dakota Ultrasonics model ZX-2 is a basic dual element thickness gauge with the

ability to locate blind surface pitting and internal defects/flaws in materials. Based on

the same operating principles as SONAR, the ZX-2 is capable of measuring the

thickness of various materials with accuracy as high as  0.001 inches, or  0.01
millimeters. The principle advantage of ultrasonic measurement over traditional
methods is that ultrasonic measurements can be performed with access to only one
side of the material being measured.

Dakota Ultrasonics maintains a customer support resource in order to assist users
with questions or difficulties not covered in this manual. Customer support may be
reached at any of the following:

Dakota Ultrasonics Corporation

1500 Green Hills Road, #107

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

www.dakotaultrasonics.com

1.1 Disclaimer

Inherent in ultrasonic thickness measurement is the possibility that the instrument will
use the second rather than the first echo from the back surface of the material being
measured. This may result in a thickness reading that is TWICE what it should be.
Responsibility for proper use of the instrument and recognition of this phenomenon
rest solely with the user of the instrument. Other errors may occur from measuring
coated materials where the coating is insufficiently bonded to the material surface.
Irregular and inaccurate readings may result. Again, the user is responsible for
proper use and interpretation of the measurements acquired.

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CHAPTER TWO
KEYPAD, MENU, DISPLAY & CONNECTORS

The Keypad

2.1 ON/OFF/ENTER Key

The ON/OFF/ENTER key powers the unit ON or OFF. Since the same key is also
used as an ENTER key, the gauge is powered off by pressing and holding down the
key until the unit powers off.

Once the gauge is initially powered on, this key will function as the ENTER key,
similar to a computer keyboard. This key will be used to select or set a menu option.

Note: Unit will automatically power off when idle for 5 minutes. All current settings
are automatically saved prior to powering off.

2.2 PRB 0 Key

The PRB 0 key is used to “zero” the ZX-2 in much the same way that a mechanical

micrometer is zeroed. If the gauge is not zeroed correctly, all of the measurements
that the gauge makes may be in error by some fixed value. Refer to page 13 for a
further explanation of this important feature.

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ZX-2 Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge

2.3 VEL Key

The VEL key is used to enter and exit the ZX-2's calibration mode. This mode is
used to adjust the sound velocity value that the ZX-2 will use for a given material

type. Enter a known velocity value for specific material type, or manually continue

adjusting the value until the ZX-2 displays the correct thickness value using a test

sample or calibration block with a known thickness. Refer to page 15 for an
explanation of calibration.

2.4 LIGHT Key

The LIGHT key accesses the backlight setting of the LCD display. The backlight has
three setting options; ON, OFF, AUTO. The auto option will only illuminate the

display when the ZX-2 is measuring, or receiving an echo. If either ON or AUTO are

selected, there are three brightness options, LO, MED, HI, to select a preferred
overall brightness of the display. Refer to page 18 for an explanation on how to
enable and set the brightness.

2.5 UNITS Key

The UNITS key is used to select either English or Metric units. Refer to page 18 for
an explanation of how to select the units.

2.6 +/- Increment/Decrement Key’s

The +/- Keys are used to increment/decrement values, navigate menus, and select
menu options.

2.7 MATL Key

The MATL Key is used to select a common basic material type from a short list of 9
materials and 2 programmable custom materials for calibration. Refer to page 15 for
an explanation on selecting a basic material type.

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Dakota Ultrasonics

2.8 The Display

The ZX-2 uses a custom glass LCD backlit low temperature display for use in a

variety of climate conditions. It contains graphic icons, as well as both 7 and 14
segment display areas. Let’s take a closer look and what all these things are telling
us:

Note: This display is used for multiple gauge models in the ZX & PZX series. As a
result, some of the icons and segments that are illuminated during boot up, may not
be applicable to your specific model, and will never be illuminated during operation.
The icons and segments that will be used with the ZX-2 are shown in the diagram
above.

A. Edit: This icon will be displayed, and blinking, to let a user know when they

are in an edit mode to change a value or setting.

B. Large 7 segment:

will be displayed in this area.

C. Measurement Modes: This icon indicates the measurement mode. The ZX-

2 operates exclusively in pulse-echo (P-E) mode only.

D. Stability/Repeatability Indicator:

thickness measurement as a reference for the validity of the measurement.

The ZX-2 takes multiple measurements per second, and when all the vertical

bars are illuminated, it’s a reference that the same thickness value is reliably
being measured multiple times per second.

E. Battery: Indicates the amount of battery life the ZX-2 has remaining.

F. Backlight :

When this icon is illuminated, it indicates the backlight is on.

The thickness measurement, velocity or alpha message

This is used in conjunction with the

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ZX-2 Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge

G. Small 7 Segment: The material velocity, speed the sound wave travels

through a given medium/material, is displayed in this area, informing the user

what material the ZX-2 is currently calibrated too. This area is also used for

alpha messages in the menu and edit modes.

H. Units:

inform the user what measurement units are currently being displayed in the
small 7 segment area.

I. Units:

inform the user what measurement units are currently being displayed in the
large 7 segment area.

J. Small 14 Segment: The material type is displayed in this area. If it is set to a

value of one of the materials in our material list, it will be displayed in alpha
characters indicating the material type. Otherwise it will be set to CUST,
indicating custom material type.

K. Features: The ZX-2 can be locked once calibrated, to avoid accidently

changing the calibration. When this icon is illuminated, the ZX-2 is in lock
mode. Refer to page 19 for an explanation on locking the ZX-2.

This combination of icons are illuminated in different sequences to

This combination of icons are illuminated in different sequences to

2.9 The Transducer

The Transducer is the “business end” of the ZX-2. It transmits and receives
ultrasonic sound waves that the ZX-2 uses to calculate the thickness of the material
being measured. The transducer connects to the ZX-2 via the attached cable, and

two coaxial connectors. When using transducers manufactured by Dakota
Ultrasonics, the orientation of the dual coaxial connectors is not critical: either plug

may be fitted to either socket in the ZX-2.

The transducer must be used correctly in order for the ZX-2 to produce accurate,

reliable measurements. Below is a short description of the transducer, followed by
instructions for its use.

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