DeFelsko FHXS1, FXS3, FNGS1, FNDS1, FLS1 User manual

Coating Thickness Gages

Instruction Manual

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Introduction

The PosiTector 6000 hand-held, electronic instrument non-
destructively measures the thickness of coatings on metals,
quickly and accurately. It consists of a body (Standard or
Advanced) and probe.

Quick Start

Press the button to power up the Gage. To conserve battery
life, the gage will automatically go to sleep after 5 minutes of
inactivity. While in Sleep Mode, the gage powers up significantly
faster— convenient when moving between parts or locations. The
gage will completely power off after 4 hours of inactivity.
Alternatively, select Power Off from the main menu. All settings
are retained.

1. Remove the protective rubber cap (if supplied) from probe.

2. Power-up Gage by pressing the center navigation button .

3. Verify accuracy and adjust if necessary (pg. 3).

4. Place the probe FLAT on the surface to be measured.

HOLD STEADY. When a valid measurement is obtained,
the Gage BEEPS twice and the measurement is displayed.

5. Lift probe AT LEAST 2 INCHES (5 cm) from the surface
between measurements - OR - leave probe on the surface
in the same location for continuous measurements.

Menu Operation

To access the Menu, power-up the gage, then press the center
navigation button . Either the keypad or touch screen can be
used to navigate the menu. If desired, touch screen functionality
can be disabled within the Setup menu (See Touch, pg. 8).

Select a menu option by touching it, or use the and but­tons to highlight the desired option and press to select it.

On menus longer than one page, the current page number is dis­played below the menu name. Navigate between pages using

when the first menu item is selected, or when the last
menu item is selected. If using touch, navigate between pages
by touching or , or by swiping up or down.

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Press the button or swipe right to return to a previous screen.
Select Exit to close the Menu.

When a Menu option is highlighted, the
icon indicates on-gage help is available.
Press or touch the icon to display the
help.

NOTE:

Update your gage to ensure that you

have the latest on-gage help information.

indicates that a sub-menu exists for the
Menu option. Select the option to display its
sub menu.

Probes

When powered-up, the PosiTector automatically
determines which probe is attached and does a self­check.
To disconnect a probe from a body, slide the plastic
probe connector horizontally (in the direction of the
arrow) away from the body. Reverse these steps to
attach a different probe. It is not necessary to power­down the Gage when switching probes.

The PosiTector gage body accepts a wide variety of probe
types including magnetic, eddy-current, and ultrasonic coating
thickness, surface profile, environmental, hardness, salt
contamination, and ultrasonic wall thickness probes.

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Calibration, Verification, and Adjustment

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The PosiTector 6000 non-destructively measures the thickness
of coatings on metals.Three steps ensure best accuracy…

1. Calibration: typically performed by the manufacturer.
All probes include a Certificate of Calibration.

2. Verification of Accuracy: typically performed by the user on
known reference standards such as the included plastic shims
or optional coated thickness standards.

3. Adjustment: Adjustment, or Cal Adjustment is the act of
aligning the Gage’s thickness readings to match that of a
known sample in order to improve the accuracy of the Gage
on a specific surface or in a specific portion of its measurement
range. 1-point or 2-point Cal Adjustments are possible.

Probes are factory calibrated and perform an automatic self­check each time a measurement is taken. For many applications
no further adjustment is necessary after a Reset (pg. 6).
Just check ZERO on the uncoated substrate, then measure.
However, sometimes readings can be influenced by changes in
substrate, such as shape, composition, and surface roughness.
That is whyCal Adjustments are made possible. The symbol
disappears whenever a Cal Adjustment is made to the Gage.

Where a Cal Adjustment method has not been specified, use
a 1-point method first. If measuring the included shims on your
surface reveals inaccuracies, use the 2-point method. Factory
Cal settings can be restored at any time by performing a Reset
(pg. 6), creating a NEW Cal setting (See Cal Memory, pg. 5),
or by DELETING the adjustments made to the Cal 1 calibration
setting (pg. 5). The symbol appears on the display
whenever factory Cal settings are in use.

For “FN” gages, calibration adjustments are made independently
to the “F” or “N” modes, and are stored together within a particu­lar Cal.

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Cal Settings Menu

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2

1 Pt Adjust

A 1-Pt Cal Adjustment, also known as an offset or correction
value, can be performed in five ways

(i) Simple Zero Adjustment- Measure the uncoated part. Lift the
probe and adjust to "0" using the and buttons.

NOTE:

Calibration Lock is enabled (default). Disable Calibration
Lock (pg. 5) to perform this adjustment.

(ii) Average Zero Adjustment A preferred method
to (i) is to average 3 to 10 measurements on the uncoated part.

(iii)

of known thickness placed on the uncoated part. Lift the probe
and adjust to the shim thickness using the and buttons.

be performed when Calibration Lock is enabled (default).
Disable Calibration Lock (pg. 5) to perform this adjustment.

(iv)

A preferred method to (iii) is to average 3 to 10 measurements
of a shim of known thickness placed on the uncoated part.

(v) Zero Offset- Useful when measuring coating thickness over
rough or blasted substrates without access to the uncoated
representative substrate. Predefined Zero Offset values can be
selected according to the blast profile height in accordance with
ISO 19840. Alternatively, a custom Zero Offset can be entered.
The Zero Offset value is subtracted from each reading.

performing an Average Adjustment to a Known Thickness
(above) is recommended for best accuracy.

A Simple Zero Adjustment cannot be performed when

Simple Adjustment to a Known Thickness-

NOTE:

NOTE:

A Simple Adjustment to a Known Thickness cannot

Average Adjustment to a Known Thickness

If the uncoated representative substrate is available,

:

Zero

Measure a shim

1 Pt Adjust

2 Pt Adjust

Provides greater accuracy within a limited, defined range.
Measure known coating thicknesses that are thinner (often zero)
and thicker than the expected thickness range.

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Cal Lock

C

N

When enabled (default), the Calibration Lock icon will
appear on the display. This prevents an adjustment from
being performed inadvertently if the or buttons are
pressed.

Cal Memory

The current Cal Setting (ex. Cal 3) is displayed in the upper right
corner of the display. A stored Cal Setting can be selected when
returning to a particular part. Cal 1 can be adjusted but never
deleted, and is always made active with factory settings after a
Reset (pg. 6). A new Cal Setting cannot be created if a batch is
open with readings present.

Edit

Create meaningful Cal Memory names directly on the Gage
using the onscreen QWERTY touch keyboard — helpful when
storing multiple Cal Memory adjustments.

(Advanced models only)

N Lock

Use when operating regularly on non-ferrous substrates.
The icon appears and the probe will only use the eddy current
principle to shorten measurement time and extend battery life.
Also useful when measuring coatings over plated or partially
magnetic grades of stainless steel.

(FN ferrous/non-ferrous combination probes only)

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Setup Menu

Units

Converts the display from metric to imperial and vice versa.

Reset

Reset (menu Reset) restores factory settings and returns the

Gage to a known condition. The following occurs:

- All batches, stored measurements, batch names and screen
captures are erased.

- Calibration adjustments are returned to factory settings.

- Menu settings are returned to the following:

Memory = OFF
Hi Res = OFF
Statistics = OFF
Hi Lo Alarm = OFF
Scan Mode = OFF
Auto Dim = ON
Cal Lock = On

Perform a more thorough Hard Reset as follows:

1. Power down the Gage and wait 5 seconds.

2. Simultaneously press and hold the and buttons

until the Reset symbol appears.
This returns the Gage to a known, “out-of-the-box” condition.
performs the same function as a menu Reset with the addition of:

- Bluetooth Pairing info is cleared.

- Menu settings are returned to the following status:

Units = Metric
Touch = ON
Flip Lock = OFF
Auto Sync .net = ON

Bluetooth & Stream = OFF
WiFi & Access Point = OFF
USB Keyboard & Stream = OFF
BLE Keyboard = OFF
Display = None
N Lock = OFF

Fast Mode = OFF
Sound = Medium
Language = English
Backlight = Normal

Battery Type = Alkaline
Bluetooth Smart = OFF
USB Drive = ON

It

NOTES:

- Keep the gage away from metal during a Reset.

- Date, Time and WiFi settings are not affected by either Reset.

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Hi Res

Increases the displayed resolution. Accuracy is not affected.

Fast

Increases measurement speed. Useful for quick inspection or
when measuring large areas with thick coatings where proper
probe positioning is not critical. Swift up/down probe movement is
required. Reduced accuracy may be noted.

NOTE:

Fast Mode.

By default, the PosiTector 6000 takes approximately 1 reading
per second. Scan mode allows the user to take multiple readings
in rapid succession (3 readings per second) without lifting the
probe. Choose from 3 Scan modes:

When Memory is on (pg.9), Scan measurement data is
recorded. However, in Statistics and Limited # Avg. Scan
modes, only the statistics and/or avergage is saved, not
individual readings. Note that performing a scan may reduce the
life of the probe and is recommended for smooth surfaces only.

Adjusts the volume of built-in speaker (Off, Low, Medium, High).

Disables the Auto Rotate feature by locking the display in its
current orientation.

For FN probe models, the N mode is disabled in

Scan

•Normal - continuously measures when placed on the surface

•Statistics - displays real-time scan statistics when placed on the

surface. Average, max., min., and standard deviation are displayed.

•Limited # Avg. - continuously measures until user-specified number

of readings is reached, then displays the average for the scan.

Sound

Flip Lock

(Advanced models only)

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X

X

Touch

Allows the touch screen functionality to be disabled. All gage
functions can also be controlled using the navigation buttons.

Set Clock

All measurements are date and time stamped (24-hour format)
when stored into memory. It is therefore important to set the
correct date and time. Use the and buttons to select a
value, and the and buttons to adjust it. The current date
and time setting can also be viewed at the top of the main menu.

Battery Type

Selects the type of batteries used in the Gage from a choice of
“Alkaline”, “Lithium” or “NiMH” (nickel-metal hydride rechargeable).
The battery state indicator symbol is calibrated for the selected
battery type. No damage will occur if the battery type used in the
Gage does not match the selected battery type.

Statistics Mode

Statistics

A statistical summary will appear on the display. Remove the last
reading by pressing the button. Press to clear statistics.

– Average
– Maximum Value

HiLo Alarm

Allows Gage to visibly and audibly alert the user when readings
exceed user-specified limits.

– Standard Deviation
– Minimum Value

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Memory Management

The PosiTector 6000 has internal memory storage for recording
measurement data. Stored measurements can be reviewed on­screen or accessed via computers, tablets and smart phones. All
stored measurements are date and time-stamped. The symbol
appears when the Gage is set to store measurement data.

Standard models store up to 1,000 readings in one batch.
Advanced models store 250,000 readings in up to 1,000

batches. “New Batch” closes any currently opened batch and
creates a new batch name using the lowest available number.
New batch names are date-stamped when they are created.

Scroll through display
modes (Advanced only)

Delete last reading

Access the Menu

Screen Capture

Press both and buttons simultaneously to save an image of
the current display. The last 100 screen captures are stored in
memory and can be accessed when connected to a computer
(see PosiSoft USB Drive pg. 10).

New PA2

Helps determine if film thickness over a large area conforms
to user specified min/max levels.

New 90/10

Helps determine if a coating system complies with the IMO
performance standard for protective coatings.

New 19840

Helps

determine if a protective coating system complies with the
ISO 19840 acceptance criteria for measuring coating thickness
on rough substrates.

Create a new batch
(Advanced only)

Restore brightness
after dimming

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Accessing Stored Measurement Data

DeFelsko offers the following free solutions for viewing, analyzing
and reporting data:

PosiSoft USB Drive - Connect the Gage to a PC/Mac using the
supplied USB-C cable. View and print readings and graphs using
universal PC/Mac web browsers or file explorers. No software or
internet connection required.

PosiSoft Desktop - Powerful desktop software (PC/Mac) for
downloading, viewing, printing and storing measurement data.
Includes a customizable, templated PDF Report Generator. No
internet connection required.

PosiSoft.net - Web-based application offering secure, centralized
storage of measurement data. Access your data from any web­connected device.

PosiTector App - (
and Android smart devices. Permits users to create, save and
share professional PDF reports. Add images and notes using the
smart device’s camera and keyboard.

Advanced models only) App for compatible iOS

Connect Menu

WiFi

Allows connection to your local wireless network or mobile
hot spot. Ideal for using your network’s internet connection for
synchronizing stored measurements with PosiSoft.net (above).

(Advanced models only)

USB

When USB Drive is enabled , the PosiTector uses a USB
mass storage device class which provides users with a simple
interface to retrieve stored data in a manner similar to USB flash
drives and digital cameras. USB Drive is also required to import
stored measurements into PosiSoft Desktop software (above).

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NOTE:

USB-C cable. The batteries are not used and the body will not
automatically power down.

While connected, power is supplied through the included

Keyboard

When enabled and connected to a computer, the PosiTector will be
recognized as a Keyboard. Readings are sent to the computer as
they are taken, emulating keystrokes, followed by a carriage return.

Stream

Stream individual readings to a
serial protocol. Ideal for use with serial compatible SPC data
collection software.

Sync .net Now

The above WiFi and USB menus contain a Sync .net Now
option. When selected, the Gage immediately synchronizes
stored measurement data via its respective communication
method (internet connection required). Alternatively, select Auto
Sync .net from within the USB connect menu to automatically
synchroniz e upon connection to a PC. Additional measurements
added to memory while connected are synchronized only when
the USB cable is disconnected and reconnected, or when the
Sync.net Now option is selected. WiFi connected gages
automatically attempt synchronization upon power-up.

NOTE:

synchronize measurements with PosiSoft.net.

Allows individual readings to be sent to a computer, printer or
compatible device as they are taken using Bluetooth wireless
technology.

PosiSoft Desktop is required when using USB to

Bluetooth

(Advanced models only)

(Advanced models only)

USB connected computer via a

(Advanced models only)

Bluetooth Smart

Allows communication with a smart device running the
PosiTector App (pg. 10) via auto-pairing Bluetooth Smart
(BLE) wireless technology.

(Advanced models only)

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Sync Batches

Select batches to flag them for synchronization to the PosiTector
App. Sync Batches is useful when connecting a new device to a
gage with pre-existing batches, since only batches created while
Bluetooth Smart is enabled are automatically selected.

Selected batches are synchronized when the next reading is
taken in a batch flagged for synchronization, or when the Sync
Batches option is selected at the bottom of the list of selected
batches.

NOTE:

from batches selected in the Sync Batches menu are held in a
queue until communication with the PosiTector App is re­established.

Transfers selected batches to the PosiTector App. Send Batches
is useful when switching between devices, as only readings and
batches that have yet to be synchronized with any smart device
are synchronized automatically.

The Send Batches option is visible in the menu when the Gage
is connected to a smart device running the PosiTector App.

If Bluetooth Smart is disabled or disconnected, data

Send Batches

BLE Keyboard

When enabled and connected to a computer, the PosiTector will
be recognized as a wireless Keyboard. Readings are sent to the
computer as they are taken, emulating keystrokes, followed by a
carriage return.

Updates

Determine if a software update is available for your Gage.

WARNING:

an update. All stored measurements will be erased from memory.

The Gage will perform a Hard Reset (pg. 6) after

(Advanced models only)

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Returning for Service

Before returning the instrument for service…

1. Install new or newly recharged batteries in the proper

alignment as shown within battery compartment.

2. Examine the probe tip for dirt or damage. The probe should

move up and down freely.

3. Perform a Hard Reset (pg. 6).

4. Place a plastic shim onto bare metal (steel or non-ferrous

metal, depending upon whether you have an “F ” or “N” probe)
and attempt a measurement. (see Verification, pg. 3)

5. If issue is not resolved, Update (pg. 12) your PosiTector

gage body and re-attempt measurements.

IMPORTANT:

If these steps do not resolve the issue and the Gage must be
returned for service, please follow the instructions provided at

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