Minelab F144 User Manual

F1A4 Metal Mine Detector

Issue: 1st June, 2005

NOTES AND SYLLABUS

OPERATOR INSTRUCTORS

F1A4 Operator Training Course includes lectures and practical sessions.

SLIDE DESCRIPTION

INSTRUCTORS NOTES

These Instructor Notes are produced to assist instructors in preparing for the F1A4
Operator Training Course. They are provided as a guide and are not intended to be
prescriptive. They should be used in combination with the information contained in the
F1A4 Operations Manual and Field Guide.

Personnel attending the course will be required to pass an Evaluation to qualify as a
proficient operator on the equipment.

One

Two

INTRODUCTION

The instructor will provide a short welcome and brief the students on the course. This
can include some background information on the Minelab F1A4.

Students will complete course registration administration as required.

If applicable, students will be asked to stand and introduce themselves to include a
short description of any experience in demining.

Students will be organized into pairs and issued an F1A4 per pair (or one per student if
numbers permit).

COURSE OUTLINE

The Minelab
The course is conducted over two to three days (depending on student numbers and
language translation requirements) and consists of the following lessons:

• Introduction

• LESSON 1 – Description of the F1A4

• LESSON 2 – Assembly of the F1A4

• LESSON 3 – Principle of Operation

• LESSON 4 – Operation of the F1A4

• LESSON 5 – Operator Maintenance and Care

• Operator Evaluation

1 F1A4 Operator Instructor Notes and Syllabus

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SLIDE DESCRIPTION

Three

Three

Four

LESSON 1 – DESCRIPTION OF THE F1A4

Aim. Correctly describe and identify the F1A4.

Classroom Instruction. The training aids required are:
Chalk board or white board.
F1A4 Training PowerPoint Presentation.
One F1A4 in its Compact Bag inside the Hard Case.
F1A4 detectors - one per two students.

The major teaching points of this lesson are as follows:
Safety.
Equipment specifications.
Description of all F1A4 components.

TEACHING POINTS

Safety.

Emphasize the need to become very familiar with the equipment and the need to be
able to identify all parts. Relate this to safety issues during the demining process. All
components should be checked for correct operation before using the equipment. If a
fault develops, an operator must be able to correctly name the faulty part of the
detector. Explain the importance of the Test Piece.

Equipment Specifications.

List the basic specifications for the F1A4. Explain that the Control Box is not
waterproof, but water resistant. All other parts of the detector are waterproof including
the Coil. Explain the need to use good quality alkaline batteries and not carbon
batteries.

Five

Description of the Compact Bag and Hard Case.

Using the Compact Bag and Hard Case cover the following points:

• Rugged zippered Compact Bag, protected when closed

• Tear resistant cordura material in Compact Bag

• Reinforcement to protect Coil when packed

• Ease of adjusting the shoulder strap

• Ability to stack transport cases

• Ability to lock latches

• Avoid sitting on transport cases

• Hard Transport Case is designed to protect the F1A4 during transit

• It is recommended to keep the F1A4 secured in the Hard Case when not in use.

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detector. Foam Handgrip is easily replaced and absorbs sweat in hot climates.

Six

Main Components

Using the assembled detector identify the following components. Avoid giving detailed
descriptions of the function of each component, as this will be covered in Lesson 4.

Arm Rest.

Designed to ensure a comfortable fit for the operator’s arm and adjustable when fitted to
the detector. Note the strength of the material.

Upper shaft.

Identify Upper shaft pointing out:

• Made of aluminium for ruggedness.

• Upper and Lower Camlocks (both different internal components).

• Ability to slide and lock Handle up and down.

Handle.

Designed for comfort. Note Hand Strap to add further ease of use when operating the

3 F1A4 Operator Instructor Notes and Syllabus

Seven

Includes a Camlock for locking onto the Upper shaft and is adjustable to various arm
lengths. Made of glass filled nylon and is very tough. Identify the Locking Pin for
connection of Control Box to the students.

Lower Shaft.

Explain that Lower Shaft cannot contain any metal components and is made of glass
filled nylon. Identify:

• Yoke.

• Nut, Bolt and Friction Washers.

• Cable groove to protect cable when in use.

Coil and Cable.

Referring to the slide showing a photo of a training monoloop Coil. It is important to
mention that part of the F1A4’s superior capability is due to its Coil design. Give a brief
description on the monoloop coil design explaining that no separate transmission and
reception windings exist, just one winding performing both roles. Emphasize that the
closed Coil stops vegetation from sticking up between any potential gaps and adds to
the toughness of the design. Other points:

• Waterproof design.

• Strain relief.

• Design permits edge detection (explained in Lesson 4).

• Extremely tough.

• Cable connector – explain, as with any electrical piece of equipment, the

connector is the weakest link.

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Eight

Nine

Skid Plate.

The Skid Plate provides protection for the Coil. It has no effect on the sensitivity of the
Coil even when wet and is easy to replace.

Earsets.

Identify where the Earsets are stowed in the Compact Bag. Demonstrate attachment to
ear. Emphasize:

• Comfort and durability.

• Ease of fit underneath helmet.

• Military connector for connection to Control Box.

• Strength of Earset cable.

• Ease of clipping earphone back into moulding if required.

• Various earsets are available:

o Earset Speaker On which (when connected) allows the F1A4’s Loudspeaker

to continue to operate (for humanitarian demining).

o Earset Speaker Off, identifiable by a short length of green heatshrink on the

cable, shuts the detector Loudspeaker off when connected.

o Both Earset above are also available with an in-built volume control.

Batteries.

The F1A4 comes with four ‘D’ cell batteries as standard, either Alkaline or
Rechargeable.

Test Piece.

The Test Piece is used to simulate the sound of a Type 72A minimum metal mine
buried to a depth of 15 cm. The Test Piece is a vital piece of equipment to ascertain
whether the F1A4 is working to its optimum performance. Make sure the Test Piece is
carried by each deminer on their person.

Control Box.

Key points:

• Houses all electronics, batteries and controls.

• Is IP65 water-resistant.

• Includes Battery Lid and Battery Carrier.

• Identify all buttons, switches and ID Plate.

• Identify Battery Lid locking pins.

• Identify RS232 port.

• Internal Loudspeaker.

• Should always be handled with care.

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Ten

Eleven

Stowing the detector.

Use the packed Compact (carry) Bag to indicate the locations of the stowed F1A4
components. Mention the following:

• Check for damage/cleanliness.

• Have students be able to name each item.

• Stow away correctly.

Other Components.

• Operations Manual – waterproof paper.

• Field guide – abbreviated and pictorial instructions, waterproof.

• Control Box Bag – shoulder straps and belt clips.

QUESTIONS

Students shall be able to correctly identify all components of the F1A4.

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SLIDE DESCRIPTION

Twelve

Thirteen

LESSON 2 – ASSEMBLY OF THE F1A4

Aim. Correctly assemble and disassemble the F1A4.

Classroom instruction. The training aids required are:
Chalk or white board.
F1A4 Training PowerPoint Presentation.
F1A4 detectors - one per pair of students (minimum).
One set (four size “D” cells) of fresh batteries per F1A4.

The major teaching points of this lesson are as follows:
Review.
Assembly and disassembly of the F1A4.

TEACHING POINTS

Review. Review the description and identification of components of the F1A4.

Shaft Assembly.

Using a packed F1A4 demonstrate the Shaft assembly procedure in the following
manner:

• Secure the Handle. As you take the F1A4 out of the Compact Bag secure the
Handle in one place by locking the Handle Camlock. This will prevent it from
sliding up and down the Upper shaft while you are presenting.

• Orient Shafts. Ensure that the cable is completely embedded in the Lower Shaft
cable guide (demonstrate this by using all four fingers of your right hand feeling
the cable as they run up the length of the Lower Shaft) and that excess cable is
not protruding between the Lower and Upper shafts. Place the Coil on the
ground and gently hold in position using a foot. When orienting the shafts
ensure the Coil is facing forward on the Lower Shaft and the Handle is facing
forward on the Upper shaft.

• Unlock Lower Camlock.

• Prior to connecting the shafts once again ensure that the Cable is securely in the

guide.

• Connect Shafts.

• Lock Lower Camlock.

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•

• Secure Grommet. Show both Grommets and explain the reason for their

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

••

existence (reduces stress on cable) and ability to shaft or hip mount the Control
Box. Stress the importance of the selected Grommet being properly locked into
the Keyway opening located at the top of the Upper shaft.

• Unlock Upper Camlock.

• Insert Armrest. Explain the correct orientation needed to ensure the cable does

not interfere with the insertion of the Armrest. Demonstrate how the Armrest can
be adjusted.

• Lock Upper Camlock. Conduct final check to ensure Grommet is correctly
located.

Present to the students the difference in ‘hip mounting’ the Control Box by using the
Lower Grommet on the Coil cable. Follow the same procedure for ‘shaft mounting’ the
Control Box as discussed above.

Battery Installation.

Using the 4 ‘D’ Cell Batteries demonstrate the correct procedure for inserting batteries.
Note the following:

• Control Box should be placed in the Compact bag when fitting/removing
batteries (stops dirt and debris from getting on Control Box).

• The batteries should be inserted from the centre outwards in accordance with
the Battery Map.

• The batteries should be gently placed inside the Battery Carrier and not forced.

• The negative end (flat end) of the battery should be inserted first.

• There is no need to remove the Battery Carrier from the Control Box when

inserting batteries.

• Demonstrate the ease with which to lock the Battery Lid Clips into place (they
should not be forced).

Connection of the Control Box to the Upper shaft.

Demonstrate the correct attachment of the Control Box to the Upper shaft ensuring that
the Locking Pin is turned all the way to the stop.

Connection of the Coil Cable and Earset to Control Box.

Connect the Cable Connector and Earset to the Control Box ensuring:

• Both connectors ‘click’ into the locked position.

• Ensure both Cable Connectors are held by their base when connecting and

disconnecting.

Once assembled, adjustments can be made to the handle to ensure the weight of
the detector is balanced evenly as the detector is swept from side to side.

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