Olympus 38DL PLUS Basic Operation Manual

38DL PLUS

Ultrasonic Thickness Gage

Basic Operation Manual

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346] — Rev. D
November 2016

This instruction manual contains essential information on how to use this Olympus product safely and effectively.
Before using this product, thoroughly review this instruction manual. Use the product as instructed.

Keep this instruction manual in a safe, accessible location.

Olympus Scientific Solutions Americas, 48 Woerd Avenue, Waltham, MA 02453, USA

Copyright © 2010, 2011, 2016 by Olympus. All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, translated, or distributed without the express written permission of
Olympus.

This document was prepared with particular attention to usage to ensure the accuracy of the
information contained therein, and corresponds to the version of the product manufactured
prior to the date appearing on the title page. There could, however, be some differences
between the manual and the product if the product was modified thereafter.

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.

Part number: DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346]
Rev. D
November 2016

Printed in the United States of America

All brands are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners and third
party entities.

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................... vii

Labels and Symbols ........................................................................................... 1

Important Information — Please Read Before Use ..................................... 5

Intended Use .......................................................................................................................... 5

Instruction Manual ................................................................................................................ 5

Instrument Compatibility ..................................................................................................... 6

Repair and Modification ....................................................................................................... 7

Safety Symbols ....................................................................................................................... 7

Safety Signal Words ............................................................................................................... 7

Note Signal Words ................................................................................................................. 8

Safety ....................................................................................................................................... 9

Warnings ................................................................................................................................. 9

Battery Precautions .............................................................................................................. 10

Equipment Disposal ............................................................................................................ 11

CE (European Community) ............................................................................................... 11

WEEE Directive .................................................................................................................... 12

China RoHS .......................................................................................................................... 12

EMC Directive Compliance ................................................................................................ 13

FCC (USA) Compliance ...................................................................................................... 13

ICES-001 (Canada) Compliance ........................................................................................ 14

Regulatory Information ...................................................................................................... 14

Warranty Information ......................................................................................................... 14

Technical Support ................................................................................................................ 15

Introduction ...................................................................................................... 17

1. Instrument Description ............................................................................. 19

Table of Contents iii

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

1.1 Product Description .................................................................................................. 19

1.2 Environmental Ratings ............................................................................................. 22

1.3 Instrument Hardware Components ....................................................................... 23

1.4 Connectors ................................................................................................................. 24

1.5 Keypad Functions ..................................................................................................... 26

2. Powering the 38DL PLUS ......................................................................... 31

2.1 Power Indicator ......................................................................................................... 31

2.2 Using the AC Power ................................................................................................. 32

2.3 Using Battery Power ................................................................................................. 33

2.3.1 Battery Operating Time ................................................................................. 34

2.3.2 Charging the Battery ...................................................................................... 34

2.3.3 Replacing the Battery ..................................................................................... 36

3. Software User Interface Elements ........................................................... 39

3.1 Measurement Screen ................................................................................................ 39

3.2 Menus and Submenus .............................................................................................. 41

3.3 Parameter Screens ..................................................................................................... 42

3.4 Selecting the Text Edit Mode ................................................................................... 44

3.4.1 Editing Text Parameters Using the Virtual Keyboard .............................. 44

3.4.2 Editing Text Parameters Using the Traditional Method ........................... 46

4. Initial Setup ................................................................................................ 49

4.1 Setting the User Interface Language and Other System Options ...................... 49

4.2 Selecting the Measurement Units ........................................................................... 50

4.3 Setting the Clock ....................................................................................................... 50

4.4 Changing Display Settings ...................................................................................... 51

4.4.1 Color Schemes ................................................................................................ 52

4.4.2 Display Brightness ......................................................................................... 53

4.4.3 Waveform Rectification ................................................................................. 54

4.4.4 Waveform Trace .............................................................................................. 55

4.5 Range of the Waveform Display ............................................................................. 56

4.5.1 Selecting the Range Value ............................................................................. 57

4.5.2 Adjusting the Delay Value ............................................................................ 58

4.5.3 Activating the Zoom Function ..................................................................... 58

4.6 Adjusting the Measurement Update Rate ............................................................. 60

4.7 Changing the Thickness Resolution ....................................................................... 61

5. Basic Operation .......................................................................................... 63

5.1 Setting Up the Transducer ....................................................................................... 63

5.2 Calibration .................................................................................................................. 66

Table of Contents

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5.2.1 Calibrating the Instrument ........................................................................... 67

5.2.2 Test Blocks ....................................................................................................... 70

5.2.3 Transducer Zero Compensation .................................................................. 70

5.2.4 Material Sound Velocity and the Zero Calibrations ................................. 71

5.2.5 Entering a Known Material Sound Velocity .............................................. 72

5.2.6 Locked Calibrations ....................................................................................... 73

5.2.7 Factors Affecting the Performance and the Accuracy .............................. 73

5.3 Measuring Thicknesses ............................................................................................ 75

5.4 Saving Data ................................................................................................................ 76

5.5 Measurements with THRU-COAT D7906 and D7908 Transducers .................. 78

5.5.1 Enabling the THRU-COAT Function .......................................................... 78

5.5.2 Performing a THRU-COAT Calibration ..................................................... 79

5.6 Echo Detection Modes with Dual Element Transducers ..................................... 80

5.6.1 Blanking Adjustments in Manual Echo-to-Echo Detection Mode .......... 83

5.6.2 Dual Element Transducer Selection in Echo-to-Echo Modes .................. 84

5.6.3 Echo-to-Echo Mode Datalogger Flags ......................................................... 85

5.7 Using the VGA Output ............................................................................................ 86

Appendix: Technical Specifications ............................................................. 87

List of Figures ................................................................................................... 95

List of Tables ..................................................................................................... 97

Index ................................................................................................................... 99

Table of Contents

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Table of Contents

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DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

List of Abbreviations

AC alternative current

AEtoE automatic echo-to-echo

AVG average

DB database

DC direct current

EFUP environment-friendly use period

EMAT electromagnetic acoustic transducer

HI high

ID identification

Li-ion lithium-ion

LOS loss-of-signal

MB main bang

MEtoE manual echo-to-echo

MIL military

NiMH nickel metal hydride

P/N part number

PDF portable document format

PRF pulse repetition frequency

SP special

STD standard

TFT thin film transistor (liquid crystal display technology)

USB universal serial bus

VAC voltage alternative current

List of Abbreviations vii

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List of Abbreviations

viii

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

CAUTION

Top end view

Warning symbol

Direct current symbol

USB and RS-232

symbols

Labels and Symbols

Safety-related labels and symbols are attached to the instrument at the locations
shown in Figure i-1 on page 1 and Figure i-2 on page 2. If any or all of the labels or
symbols are missing or illegible, please contact Olympus.

Do not touch the inner conductor of the T/R 1 and T/R 2 connectors to avoid risks of
an electric shock. Up to 200 V can be present on the inner conductor. The warning
symbol between the Transmit/Receive (T/R) connector markings is shown in
Figure i-1 on page 1.

Figure i‑1 The warning symbol between the T/R connectors

Labels and Symbols

1

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

Serial number label

Side view

Back view

Patent label

Instruction label

(see Table 1 on page 3)

Serial number label

Labels and Symbols

2

Figure i‑2 Labels and symbols are attached to the instrument

Serial number

yynnnnnmm

label

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

Table 1 Label contents

Where:

yy: last two digits of the production year

nnnnn: 5-digit nonduplicated incrementing number

representing the n

th

production unit of this product

mm: production month

Instruction label

Labels and Symbols

3

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

Table 1 Label contents (continued)

Symbol Description

The CE marking is a declaration that this product conforms to
all the applicable directives of the European Community. See
the Declaration of Conformity for details. Contact your Olympus
representative for more information.

The regulatory compliance mark (RCM) label indicates that
the product complies with all applicable standards, and has
been registered with the Australian Communications and
Media Authority (ACMA) for placement on the Australian
market.

This symbol indicates the location of the membrane vent.

The WEEE symbol indicates that the product must not be
disposed of as unsorted municipal waste, but should be
collected separately.

Labels and Symbols

4

The China RoHS mark indicates the product’s Environment­Friendly Use Period (EFUP). The EFUP is defined as the
number of years for which listed controlled substances will not
leak or chemically deteriorate while in the product. The EFUP
for the 38DL PLUS has been determined to be 15 years. Note:
The Environment-Friendly Use Period (EFUP) is not meant to
be interpreted as the period assuring functionality and
product performance.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation
is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.

The direct current symbol.

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

WARNING

Important Information — Please Read Before Use

Intended Use

The 38DL PLUS instrument has been designed to measure thicknesses of industrial
and commercial materials.

Do not use the 38DL PLUS for any purpose other than its intended use. It must never
be used to inspect or examine human or animal body parts.

Instruction Manual

This instruction manual contains essential information on how to use this Olympus
product safely and effectively. Before using this product, thoroughly review this
instruction manual. Use the product as instructed.

Keep this instruction manual in a safe, accessible location.

Important Information — Please Read Before Use

5

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

IMPORTANT

CAUTION

Some of the details of components and/or software images in this manual may differ
from your instrument’s components or software display. However, the principles
remain the same.

The other 38DL PLUS documents are:

38DL PLUS Ultrasonic Thickness Gage — Getting Started (P/N: DMTA-10010-01EN

[U8778357])

A short leaflet containing essential information on how to quickly start operating
the 38DL PLUS instrument.

38DL PLUS Ultrasonic Thickness Gage — User’s Manual (P/N: DMTA-10004-01EN)

A document in PDF format containing the detailed description of the instrument
as well as the setup and operation procedures for all instrument features. The
PDF file can be found on the GageView CD (P/N: Gageview [U8147006]).

GageView Interface Program — User’s Manual (P/N: 910-259-EN [U8778347])

The 38DL PLUS also works with the GageView interface program. Refer to this
document for detailed information on GageView. The document is available in
PDF format on the GageView CD and as online help in GageView.

Instrument Compatibility

Refer to the User’s Manual for information on accessories that are compatible with the
38DL PLUS instrument.

Always use equipment and accessories that meet Olympus specifications. Using
incompatible equipment could cause equipment malfunction and/or damage, or
human injury.

Important Information — Please Read Before Use

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DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

CAUTION

Repair and Modification

Apart from the battery, the 38DL PLUS does not contain any user-serviceable parts.
Opening the instrument might void the warranty.

In order to prevent human injury and/or equipment damage, do not disassemble,
modify, or attempt to repair the instrument.

Safety Symbols

The following safety symbols might appear on the instrument and in the instruction
manual:

General warning symbol

This symbol is used to alert the user to potential hazards. All safety messages that
follow this symbol shall be obeyed to avoid possible harm or material damage.

Shock hazard caution symbol

This symbol is used to alert the user to potential electric shock hazards. All safety
messages that follow this symbol shall be obeyed to avoid possible harm.

Safety Signal Words

The following safety symbols might appear in the documentation of the instrument:

Important Information — Please Read Before Use

7

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

DANGER

WARNING

CAUTION

IMPORTANT

NOTE

The DANGER signal word indicates an imminently hazardous situation. It calls
attention to a procedure, practice, or the like that if not correctly performed or
adhered to will result in death or serious personal injury. Do not proceed beyond a
DANGER signal word until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

The WARNING signal word indicates a potentially hazardous situation. It calls
attention to a procedure, practice, or the like that if not correctly performed or
adhered to could result in death or serious personal injury. Do not proceed beyond a
WARNING signal word until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

The CAUTION signal word indicates a potentially hazardous situation. It calls
attention to a procedure, practice, or the like that if not correctly performed or
adhered to may result in minor or moderate personal injury, material damage,
particularly to the product, destruction of part or all of the product, or loss of data. Do
not proceed beyond a CAUTION signal word until the indicated conditions are fully
understood and met.

Note Signal Words

The following symbols could appear in the documentation of the instrument:

The IMPORTANT signal word calls attention to a note that provides important
information, or information essential to the completion of a task.

The NOTE signal word calls attention to an operating procedure, practice, or the like,
which requires special attention. A note also denotes related parenthetical
information that is useful, but not imperative.

Important Information — Please Read Before Use

8

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

TIP

WARNING

The TIP signal word calls attention to a type of note that helps you apply the
techniques and procedures described in the manual to your specific needs, or
provides hints on how to effectively use the capabilities of the product.

Safety

Before turning on the instrument, verify that the correct safety precautions have been
taken (see the following warnings). In addition, note the external markings on the
instrument, which are described under “Safety Symbols.”

Warnings

General Warnings

• Carefully read the instructions contained in this instruction manual prior to
turning on the instrument.

• Keep this instruction manual in a safe place for further reference.

• Follow the installation and operation procedures.

• It is imperative to respect the safety warnings on the instrument and in this
instruction manual.

• If the equipment is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the
protection provided by the equipment could be impaired.

• Do not install substitute parts or perform any unauthorized modification to the
instrument.

• Service instructions, when applicable, are for trained service personnel. To avoid
the risk of electric shock, do not perform any work on the instrument unless
qualified to do so. For any problem or question regarding this instrument, contact
Olympus or an authorized Olympus representative.

• Do not touch the connectors directly by hand. Otherwise, a malfunction or electric
shock may result.

Important Information — Please Read Before Use

9

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

WARNING

CAUTION

CAUTION

• Do not allow metallic or foreign objects to enter the device through connectors or
any other openings. Otherwise, a malfunction or electric shock may result.

Electrical Warnings

• Before operating this instrument using mains electricity, you must connect the
protective earth terminal of the instrument to the protective conductor (mains) of
the power cord. The mains plug shall only be inserted into a socket outlet
provided with a protective earth contact. Never negate the protective action by
using an extension cord (power cable) without a protective conductor
(grounding).

• If there is any possibility that the ground protection could be impaired, you must
make the instrument inoperative and secure it against any unintended operation.

• The instrument must only be connected to a power source corresponding to the
type indicated on the rating label.

If an unauthorized power supply cord is used to power the instrument or charge the
batteries, Olympus cannot guarantee the electrical safety of the equipment.

Battery Precautions

• Before disposing of a battery, check your local laws, rules, and regulations, and
follow them accordingly.

• Transportation of lithium-ion batteries is regulated by the United Nations under
the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. It is
expected that governments, intergovernmental organizations, and other
international organizations shall conform to the principles laid down in these
regulations, thus contributing to worldwide harmonization in this field. These
international organizations include the International Civil Aviation organization

Important Information — Please Read Before Use

10

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

(ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International
Maritime Organization (IMO), the US Department of Transportation (USDOT),
Transport Canada (TC), and others. Please contact the transporter and confirm
current regulations before transportation of lithium-ion batteries.

• Do not open, crush, or perforate batteries; doing so could cause injury.

• Do not incinerate batteries. Keep batteries away from fire and other sources of

extreme heat. Exposing batteries to extreme heat (over 80 °C) could result in an
explosion or personal injury.

• Do not drop, hit, or otherwise abuse a battery, as doing so could expose the cell

contents, which are corrosive and explosive.

• Do not short-circuit the battery terminals. A short circuit could cause injury and

severe damage to a battery making it unusable.

• Do not expose a battery to moisture or rain; doing so could cause an electric

shock.

• Only use the 38DL PLUS unit or an external charger approved by Olympus to

charge the batteries.

• Only use batteries supplied by Olympus.

• Do not store batteries that have less than 40 % remaining charge. Recharge

batteries to between 40 % and 80 % capacity before storing them.

• During storage, keep the battery charge between 40 % and 80 %.

• Do not leave batteries in the 38DL PLUS unit during instrument storage.

Equipment Disposal

Before disposing of the 38DL PLUS, check your local laws, rules, and regulations, and
follow them accordingly.

CE (European Community)

This device complies with the requirements of both directive
2014/30/EU concerning electromagnetic compatibility and directive
2014/35/EC concerning low voltage. The CE marking indicates
compliance with the above directives.

Important Information — Please Read Before Use 11

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

WEEE Directive

In accordance with European Directive 2012/19/EU on Waste Electrical
and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), this symbol indicates that the
product must not be disposed of as unsorted municipal waste, but
should be collected separately. Refer to your local Olympus distributor
for return and/or collection systems available in your country.

China RoHS

China RoHS is the term used by industry generally to describe legislation
implemented by the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) in the People’s Republic
of China for the control of pollution by electronic information products (EIP).

The China RoHS mark indicates the product’s Environment­Friendly Use Period (EFUP). The EFUP is defined as the number of
years for which listed controlled substances will not leak or
chemically deteriorate while in the product. The EFUP for the
38DL PLUS has been determined to be 15 years.

Note: The Environment-Friendly Use Period (EFUP) is not meant
to be interpreted as the period assuring functionality and product
performance.

“ 中国 RoHS” 是一个工业术语，一般用于描述中华人民共和国信息工业部 （MII）针
对控制电子信息产品 （EIP）的污染所实行的法令。

中国 RoHS 标识是根据 “ 电器电子产品有害物质限制使用管理办
法 ” 以及 “ 电子电气产品有害物质限制使用标识要求 ” 的规定，适
用于在中国销售的电气电子产品上的电气电子产品有害物质限制使

用标识。

电气电子产品

有害物质

限制使用标识

Important Information — Please Read Before Use

12

注意：电气电子产品有害物质限制使用标识内的数字为在正常的使
用条件下有害物质不会泄漏的年限，不是保证产品功能性的年限。

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

产品中有害物质的名称及含量

有害物质

部件名称 铅及其

化合物

(Pb) (Hg) (Cd)

机构部件

主体 光学部件

电气部件

附件

本表格依据 SJ/T 11364 的规定编制。

○：表示该有害物质在该部件所有均质材料中的含量均在 GB/T26572 规定的限量要求以下。
×：表示该有害物质至少在该部件的某一均质材料中的含量超出 GB/T26572 规定的限量要求。

× ○○○○○

× ○○○○○

× ○○○○○

× ○○○○○

汞及其
化合物

镉及其
化合物

六价铬及
其化合物

(Cr( Ⅵ ))

多溴联苯 多溴

(PBB) (PBDE)

EMC Directive Compliance

This equipment generates and uses radio-frequency energy and, if not installed and
used properly (that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions), may
cause interference. The 38DL PLUS has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for an industrial device in accordance with the specifications of the EMC
directive.

二苯醚

FCC (USA) Compliance

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference.

2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that

may cause undesired operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is

Important Information — Please Read Before Use 13

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, might cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference, in which case you will be required to correct the interference at your own
expense.

ICES-001 (Canada) Compliance

This Class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-001.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe A est conforme à la norme NMB-001 du Canada.

Regulatory Information

The 38DL PLUS may display a regulatory screen that lists the specific regulation with
which it complies.

To view the REGULATORY screen

1. In the measurement screen, press [2nd F], [SETUP MENU] (SP MENU).

2. In the SP MENU, select REGULATORY to display the REGULATORY screen.

3. Use the up and down arrow keys to scroll through the different REGULATORY
screens.

4. Press [MEAS] to return to the measurement screen.

Warranty Information

Olympus guarantees your Olympus product to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for a specific period, and in accordance with conditions specified in the
Olympus Scientific Solutions Americas Inc. Terms and Conditions available at
http://www.olympus-ims.com/en/terms/.

The Olympus warranty only covers equipment that has been used in a proper
manner, as described in this instruction manual, and that has not been subjected to
excessive abuse, attempted unauthorized repair, or modification.

Important Information — Please Read Before Use

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DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

Inspect materials thoroughly on receipt for evidence of external or internal damage
that might have occurred during shipment. Immediately notify the carrier making the
delivery of any damage, because the carrier is normally liable for damage during
shipment. Retain packing materials, waybills, and other shipping documentation
needed in order to file a damage claim. After notifying the carrier, contact Olympus
for assistance with the damage claim and equipment replacement, if necessary.

This instruction manual explains the proper operation of your Olympus product. The
information contained herein is intended solely as a teaching aid, and shall not be
used in any particular application without independent testing and/or verification by
the operator or the supervisor. Such independent verification of procedures becomes
increasingly important as the criticality of the application increases. For this reason,
Olympus makes no warranty, expressed or implied, that the techniques, examples, or
procedures described herein are consistent with industry standards, nor that they
meet the requirements of any particular application.

Olympus reserves the right to modify any product without incurring the
responsibility for modifying previously manufactured products.

Technical Support

Olympus is firmly committed to providing the highest level of customer service and
product support. If you experience any difficulties when using our product, or if it
fails to operate as described in the documentation, first consult the user’s manual, and
then, if you are still in need of assistance, contact our After-Sales Service. To locate the
nearest service center, visit the Service Centers page at: http://www.olympus­ims.com.

Important Information — Please Read Before Use 15

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

Important Information — Please Read Before Use

16

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

IMPORTANT

Introduction

This manual provides basic operating instructions for the 38DL PLUS ultrasonic
thickness gage. The information in this manual is organized to explain the technology,
safety details, hardware, and software. Practical measurement examples help the user
become familiar with the instrument’s capabilities.

For advanced instructions on instrument configuration, use, troubleshooting, and
maintenance, refer to the 38DL PLUS User’s Manual. The list of other 38DL PLUS
documents is provided in “Instruction Manual” on page 5.

Figure i‑3 The 38DL PLUS instrument

Introduction 17

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18

Introduction

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

IMPORTANT

1. Instrument Description

This chapter describes the main features and the hardware components of the
38DL PLUS instrument.

The 38DL PLUS Ultrasonic Thickness Gage — User’s Manual (P/N: DMTA-10004-01EN)
contains the information found in the present document as well as other sections
describing the more advanced features of the instrument such as using special
transducers, managing custom transducer setups, using software options, using the
datalogger, and communicating with external devices.

You can find the PDF file of the 38DL PLUS Ultrasonic Thickness Gage — User’s Manual
(P/N: DMTA-10004-01EN) on the GageView CD (P/N: Gageview [U8147006]) that is
included with the 38DL PLUS kit.

1.1 Product Description

The 38DL PLUS by Olympus is a hand-held ultrasonic thickness gage designed for a
wide variety of thickness measurement applications. With the 38DL PLUS, you only
need access to one side of a part to measure, in a nondestructive manner, the thickness
of corroded, pitted, scaled, granular, and other difficult materials (see Figure 1-1 on
page 20).

Instrument Description 19

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

Figure 1‑1 Measuring thicknesses with the 38DL PLUS

The 38DL PLUS simultaneously displays a thickness readout and an A-scan view for
waveform verification. The microprocessor of the 38DL PLUS continuously adjusts
the receiver setup so that every measurement is optimized for reliability, range,
sensitivity, and accuracy. An advanced internal datalogger can store up to
475000 thickness measurements and 20000 waveforms.

The 38DL PLUS operates with a full line of single element and dual element
transducers to measure material thicknesses between 0.08 mm and 635 mm (0.003 in.
and 25 in.). The temperature range of measured materials can be between −20 °C and
500 °C (−4 °F and 932 °F) depending on the material characteristics, the transducer,
and the measurement mode. You can also use single element or dual element
transducers for echo-to-echo measurements.

You can connect the 38DL PLUS to a printer and to a computer using the bidirectional
serial USB/RS-232 communication ports.

Advanced Measurement Features

• THRU-COAT measurement

• Temperature-compensated measurement

•Min/Average mode

Chapter 1

20

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

•EMAT transducer capability

• Measurement-related status flags and alarms

• Full VGA color transflective LED back-lite display

• Automatic probe recognition for the standard D79X and MTD705 series

transducers

• Dynamic default gain optimization

• V-path calibration to build custom V-path correction tables for any dual element

transducer

• Warning against calibration doubling

• Calibration for unknown material sound velocity and/or transducer zero

• Echo-to-echo measurements

• Fast scan mode with 30 readings per second

• Manual gain adjustment in 1-dB steps

• Hold or blank thickness display during loss-of-signal (LOS) conditions

• Hold minimum, maximum, or both minimum and maximum functions

• Differential thickness display relative to the set point in absolute or percentage

ratio

• Selection of password-protected lockout functions

• Selectable resolution: low of 0.1 mm (0.01 in.), standard of 0.01 mm (0.001 in.), or

high (optional) of 0.001 mm (0.0001 in.) [option not available for all transducers]

A-Scan and B-Scan Display Options

• Real-time A-scan waveform display for verification of critical measurements

• Manual freeze mode with post processing

• Manual zoom and range control of waveform display

• Auto hold on LOS and auto zoom (measured echo centering)

• Extended blank

• Blank after first received echo in echo-to-echo mode

• Receiver gain readout

• Ability to capture and display waveform associated with minimum thickness

during scanned measurements

• Display stored and downloaded waveforms

Instrument Description 21

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Internal Datalogger Functions

• Internal data storage and possibility to export data to a removable microSD
memory card

• Capacity to store 475000 fully-documented thickness readings or
20000 waveforms with thickness readings

• Database enhancements include 32-character file naming and 20-character ID
naming

• Automatic ID number increments following a preset sequence, or manual ID
numbering using the keypad

• Save reading/waveform to an ID number

• Simultaneously show ID number, stored comments, and stored reference
thickness while displaying active thickness and waveform

• Nine file formats available

• Erase selected data or all stored data

• Save or send an held or frozen reading to the thickness display

• Transmit selected data or all stored data

• Keypad-programmable communication parameters

• Standard USB and RS-232 directional communication

1.2 Environmental Ratings

The 38DL PLUS is a rugged and durable instrument that you may use in harsh
environments. The 38DL PLUS was designed to meet the requirement of the IP67
standard (Ingress Protection).

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CAUTION

Connector rubber seal

Protective rubber boot

(shown in blue)

Stand

Hand strap

Strap rings

(at the four corners)

Color display

Keypad

I/O door protecting more
connectors

Connectors

[ON/OFF] key

Olympus cannot guarantee any level of ingress protection performance once the
instrument seals have been manipulated. You must use sound judgment and take
proper precautions before exposing the instrument to harsh environments.

To maintain the original level of ingress protection, you are responsible for the proper
care of all routinely exposed membrane seals. Additionally, you are responsible for
returning the instrument to an authorized Olympus service center each year to ensure
that the instrument seals are properly maintained.

1.3 Instrument Hardware Components

The 38DL PLUS front panel features a color display and a keypad. The instrument
comes with a hand strap. A protective rubber boot includes a dust flap seal for the DC
power and serial communication connectors, strap rings at the four corners, and a
stand at the back (see Figure 1-2 on page 23).

Figure 1‑2 The 38DL PLUS hardware components

Instrument Description 23

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USB/RS-232

USB

VGA

Transducer

AC power cord

EP-MCA

microSD

CAUTION

1.4 Connectors

Figure 1-3 on page 24 illustrates the possible connections of the 38DL PLUS with
external devices.

Figure 1‑3 The 38DL PLUS connections

24

To avoid the risk of injuries or equipment damage, use only the AC power cord
supplied with the 38DL PLUS. Do not use this AC power cord with other products.

The DC power, USB/RS-232 communication, and Transmit/Receive probe connectors
are located on the top end of the 38DL PLUS (see Figure 1-4 on page 25).

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DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

DC power connector

USB/RS-232 serial

communication connector

Transmit/Receive
transducer connector 2

Transmit/Receive
transducer connector 1

USB client connector

VGA output connector

microSD external memory card slot

I/O door

Figure 1‑4 The top end connectors

The USB client connector, the VGA output connector, and the external microSD
memory card slot are located on the right side of the instrument, hidden behind the
I/O door (see Figure 1-5 on page 25).

Figure 1‑5 The connectors behind the I/O door

Instrument Description 25

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English keypad International keypad

Chinese keypad

Japanese keypad

1.5 Keypad Functions

The 38DL PLUS comes either with the English, international, Chinese, or Japanese
keypad (see Figure 1-6 on page 26). The functions are the same for all keypads. On the
international keypad, the text labels on many keys are replaced by pictograms. In this
document, keypad keys are referred to using the English label in bold and within
brackets (ex.: [MEAS]).

Figure 1‑6 The 38DL PLUS keypads

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Each key indicates its primary function. The area just above some of the keys indicates
a secondary key function that you can activate by first pressing [2nd F]. Throughout
this document, references to a secondary function are written as follows: [2nd F],
[Primary] (Secondary). For example, the instruction to activate the clear memory
function is written as follows: “Press [2nd F], [FILE] (CLR MEM)”.

The [], [], [], and [] keys, together with the [ENTER] key, are used to select
menu items or screen parameters and to change parameter values. Use the [MEAS]
key at any time to return to the measurement screen. The yellow keys are related to
calibration. The blue keys are related to the display configuration.

Table 2 on page 27 lists the key functions available from the 38DL PLUS keypad.

Table 2 Keypad functions

English International Functions

Measurement — Completes the current operation
and returns to the measurement screen.

Identification number — Accesses several
functions related to the ID numbers for the
thickness measurement location.

Note — Allows you to create or select comments
to store at an ID number location.

File — Opens the file menu to access file
commands (open, review, create, copy, edit,
delete, send, import, export, note-copy, memory,
and report).

Clear memory — Acts as an alternative method to
erase an entire file. Also erases a range of data in a
file or a single ID number location.

Secondary function — Needs to be pressed prior
to a key to activate the secondary function of the
key.

Save or send — Stores a measurement and
optionally the corresponding waveform in the
datalogger at the current ID number.

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Table 2 Keypad functions (continued)

English International Functions

Save waveform — Stores a measurement and the
corresponding waveform in the datalogger at the
current ID number.

Freeze — Causes the displayed waveform to
immediately hold until the key is pressed again.

Gain — Initiates the adjustment of the gain value
when using dual element transducers.

Wave adjustment — Toggles the display of a
selectable waveform parameter with an editable
value.

Enter — Selects an highlighted item or accepts an
entered value.

Up arrow

• In a screen or a list, moves to the previous

• For some parameters (ex.: Gain), increases the

Down arrow

• In a screen or a list, moves to the next

• For some parameters (ex.: Gain), decreases

Left arrow

• Selects the previous available value for the

• In text edit mode, moves the cursor one

element.

value.

element.

the value.

selected parameter.

character position to the left.

28

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Table 2 Keypad functions (continued)

English International Functions

Right arrow

• Selects the next available value for the
selected parameter.

• In text edit mode, moves the cursor one
character position to the right.

Transducer recall — Recalls default or custom
transducer (XDCR) setups.

Reference value — For some functions (ex.:
differential mode or temperature compensation)
opens a screen allowing you to enter a reference
value.

Velocity calibration

• Switches to the semi-automatic step block
calibration mode.

• When using THRU-COAT mode,
[CAL VEL] twice to view and set the coating
velocity.

• With the traditional text edit mode only,
deletes the character at the cursor position.

Velo city

• Opens a screen allowing you to view and
manually change the sound velocity.

• In THRU-COAT mode or with the internal
oxide option, pressing the keys a second time
allows you to view/adjust the velocity for the
coating or the oxide layer.

Zero calibration

• Compensates for transducer zero or enables
the step block zero calibration.

• With the traditional text edit mode only,
inserts a character at the cursor position.

Do zero — Compensates for transducer delay for
dual element transducers and for the M2008
transducer.

press

Instrument Description 29

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Table 2 Keypad functions (continued)

English International Functions

Setup menu — Provides access to instrument
parameters (measurement, system, alarm,
differential mode, communication, B-scan, DB
grid, avg/min, temperature correction, multilayer
[optional], oxide [optional], password set,
instrument lock).

Special menu — Provides access to special gage
parameters (clock, language, options, resets, tests,
software diagnostics, instrument status).

Display — Provides access to display parameters
(color scheme, brightness, waveform rectification,
waveform trace, and VGA output).

Range — Changes the waveform display range to
the next available value.

Delay — Allows editing the value for the
beginning of the waveform display.

Zoom — Dynamically changes the waveform
display range so that the region immediately
surrounding the measured echo is shown at
maximum magnification.

Echo-to-Echo — With dual element transducers,
opens a menu to select the measurement mode
(standard, auto echo-to-echo, or manual echo-to­echo).

On/Off — Turns the instrument power on or off.

30

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AC power operation while charging the battery
(flashing)

Fully charged battery
(with or without AC power operation)

Battery operation (75 % remaining charge)
Flashes when empty

AC power operation
(no battery in the instrument)

2. Powering the 38DL PLUS

This chapter describes how to operate the 38DL PLUS using different power supply
options.

2.1 Power Indicator

The power indicator is always present on the right side of the screen. It shows the
level of the battery charge and on which type of power the instrument operates (see
Figure 2-1 on page 31).

Figure 2‑1 The power indicator for battery and AC operation

When the instrument operates on the battery, the vertical black bar in the power
indicator indicates the remaining battery charge. Each graduation mark represents

12.5 % of the charge.

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CAUTION

EP-MCA

DC power
plug

AC power cord

To power outlet

2.2 Using the AC Power

You can operate the 38DL PLUS with the AC power using the charger/adaptor (P/N:
EP-MCA [U8767042]). The EP-MCA has a universal AC power input that operates
with any line voltage from 100 VAC to 120 VAC or 200 VAC to 240 VAC and with
50 Hz to 60 Hz line frequency.

To use AC power

1. Connect the AC power cord to the charger/adaptor (P/N: EP-MCA [U8767042]),
and to an appropriate power outlet (see Figure 2-2 on page 32).

To avoid the risk of injuries or equipment damage, use only the AC power cord
supplied with the 38DL PLUS. Do not use this AC power cord with other products.

32

Figure 2‑2 Connecting the charger/adaptor

2. On the 38DL PLUS, lift the rubber seal covering the DC adaptor connector on top
of the 38DL PLUS (see Figure 2-3 on page 33).

Chapter 2

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

DC power plug

Connector rubber seal

DC adaptor connector

NOTE

Figure 2‑3 Connecting the DC power plug

3. Connect the DC power plug from the charger/adaptor to the DC adaptor

connector (see Figure 2-3 on page 33).

4. Press [ON/OFF] to turn on the 38DL PLUS.

2.3 Using Battery Power

The 38DL PLUS comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery (P/N: 38-BAT
[U8760054]). The 38DL PLUS automatically recharges the 38-BAT battery when you
connect the instrument to the AC power.

You can also operate the 38DL PLUS using four AA-size Alkaline or nickel metal
hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries using the AA battery holder (P/N: 38DLP/AA
[U8780290]). The 38DL PLUS does not recharge NiMH batteries. You must recharge
AA batteries with an external battery charger (not included).

The 38DL PLUS battery is not fully charged when shipped. You must fully charge the
battery before operating the instrument from the battery power.

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DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

WARNING

WARNING

2.3.1 Battery Operating Time

The battery operating time depends on the type of battery being used, the age of the
battery, and the instrument settings. To provide realistic battery operating times, the
38DL PLUS has been tested with mid-level operating parameters (update rate set to
4 Hz and display brightness set to 50 %).

The nominal battery operating times for new batteries are:

• Rechargeable Li-ion: 12 to 14 hours

• AA NiMH: 4 to 5 hours (externally recharged)

• AA Alkaline: 2 to 3 hours (nonrechargeable)

2.3.2 Charging the Battery

The 38DL PLUS charger/adaptor (P/N: EP-MCA [U8767042]) is designed to charge
38DL PLUS batteries only (P/N: 38-BAT [U8760054]). Do not attempt to charge any
other battery types (such as alkaline or NiMH) or use any other chargers/adaptors to
charge the 38DL PLUS batteries (P/N: 38-BAT [U8760054]). Doing so may cause an
explosion and injury.

Do not attempt to power or charge other electronic equipment with the 38DL PLUS
charger/adaptor (P/N: EP-MCA [U8767042]) as this may cause death or serious
personal injury as the result of the explosion while charging a battery.

To charge the internal battery

 Connect the 38DL PLUS using the AC power (see “Using the AC Power” on

page 32).
The battery charges when the instrument is ON or OFF, but the rate of charge is
slower when the instrument is ON.

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NOTE

NOTE

When the battery is fully charged, the battery charging symbol (lighting bolt) is
replaced with a “full battery” symbol (battery with all bars full). This is the indication
that the battery is fully charged (see “Power Indicator” on page 31). It takes
approximately 2 to 3 hours to fully charge a battery depending on its initial
conditions.

It may take several cycles of complete charging and discharging of the battery to bring
the battery to full capacity. This conditioning process is normal for this type of
rechargeable batteries.

Battery Usage Instructions

• If the battery is used daily (or frequently), connect the instrument to the

charger/adaptor when not in use.

• Whenever possible, the instrument should remain connected to the EP-MCA

charger/adaptor (overnight or over a weekend), so that the battery reaches a full
charge.

• The battery must reach full charge on a regular basis for proper capacity and

cycle-life maintenance.

• Fully recharge discharged batteries as soon as possible after use.

Battery Storage Instructions

• Never store discharged batteries without a full recharge.

• Store batteries in a cool, dry environment.

• Avoid long-term storage under sunlight or in other excessively hot places such as

the trunk of an automobile.

• While in storage, fully recharge batteries at least once every two (2) months.

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Battery compartment

door

Screws (4)

Battery compartment

Battery compartment
gasket

Battery (P/N: 38-BAT

[U8760054])

CAUTION

2.3.3 Replacing the Battery

The battery is located in a compartment that is accessible from the back of the
38DL PLUS (see Figure 2-4 on page 36).

Figure 2‑4 Opening the battery compartment

Do not attempt to replace the battery while the instrument is ON and/or connected to
charger/adaptor. Dispose of used battery promptly. Keep away from children. The
battery used in this device may present a risk of fire or chemical burn if mishandled.
Do not disassemble, heat above 50 °C, or incinerate the battery. Replace the battery
only with an Olympus battery (P/N: 38-BAT [U8760054]).

To replace the battery

1. Disconnect the instrument from the charger/adaptor.

2. Ensure that the 38DL PLUS power is off.

3. Disconnect any other cable connected to the 38DL PLUS.

4. Remove the hand strap.

5. Remove the protective rubber boot.

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DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

NOTE

6. At the back of the instrument, unscrew the four screws of the battery

compartment cover (see Figure 2-4 on page 36).

7. Remove the battery compartment cover.

8. Remove the battery and carefully disconnect the battery connector.

9. Connect the new battery in the battery compartment.

10. Ensure that the gasket of the battery compartment cover is clean and in good

condition.

11. Reinstall the battery compartment cover at the back of the instrument, and then

tighten the four screws.

12. Reinstall the protective rubber boot and the hand strap.

13. Press [ON/OFF] to turn on the 38DL PLUS.

14. To answer the question appearing at the bottom of the screen (see Figure 2-5 on

page 37):
 Select Li‑ion when using a 38-BAT battery.

OR

Select NiMH or Alkaline when using four NiMH AA batteries or four
Alkaline AA batteries with the AA battery holder.

Figure 2‑5 Selecting the new battery type

When replacing the rechargeable 38-BAT battery, fully charge the battery to ensure
the accuracy of the estimated remaining battery charge shown by the power indicator
(see “Power Indicator” on page 31).

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38

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Rectification indicator

Delay

Thickness value

Power indicator

Gain value

Range

Waveform display

(A-scan)

ID bar

Measurement units

3. Software User Interface Elements

The following sections describe the main elements of the 38DL PLUS software screens
and menus.

3.1 Measurement Screen

The 38DL PLUS starts with the measurement screen where you can see the ultrasonic
echo on the waveform display and read the measured thickness value (see Figure 3-1
on page 39). The measurement screen is the main screen of the 38DL PLUS software.
From anywhere in the 38DL PLUS software, simply press [MEAS] to return to the
measurement screen. The power indicator is always present on the right side of the
38DL PLUS screen (see “Using Battery Power” on page 33 for details).

Figure 3‑1 The main elements of the measurement screen

Software User Interface Elements 39

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

ID number

External microSD
memory card indicator

Comment notes

Previously stored thickness value

Download indicator

The waveform trace, called the A-scan, allows a skilled operator to verify that the
signal used to make a thickness measurement is the correct back-wall echo and not
noise, material anomaly, or the second multiple echo. The A-scan can also allow you
to observe indications that may be too small to be measured by the instrument.

The ID bar, located at the top of the measurement screen, contains the ID for the actual
thickness measurement location, the previously stored value, and comment notes

indicators (see Figure 3-2 on page 40). The download indicator ( ) appears when the
previously stored thickness measurement comes from a file rather than from a newly
acquired value.

Figure 3‑2 The ID bar

The external microSD memory card indicator appears in the top-right corner of the
screen when a microSD memory card is inserted in its slot under the I/O door on the
right side of the instrument (see Figure 1-5 on page 25). The 38DL PLUS recognizes an
external microSD memory card when you start the instrument.

Depending on the context and on the available functions and options, various
indicators and numeric values appear around the waveform display and around the
main measurement value (see Figure 3-3 on page 41). A help text bar, at the bottom of
the screen, indicates the keys that you can use to navigate and make a selection in the
menu structure.

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DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

Zoom indicator

Rectification indicator

Echo detection marker

Delay value

Minimum/Maximum

Echo detection mode

and update rate

Freeze indicator
Alarm indicator

Gain

Range value

[WAVE ADJ]
parameter value

Help text bar

Loss-of-signal (LOS) indicator

No thickness value

Figure 3‑3 Example of other elements appearing on the measurement screen

The loss-of-signal (LOS) appears and the thickness value is cleared when the
38DL PLUS no longer detects ultrasonic echoes (see Figure 3-4 on page 41).

3.2 Menus and Submenus

Figure 3‑4 The loss‑of‑signal (LOS) indicator

The 38DL PLUS displays menus and submenus when you press some of the front
panel keys. The menu appears at the top-left corner of the screen (see Figure 3-5 on
page 42). If applicable, a submenu also appears, conveniently showing the parameters
available for the highlighted menu command.

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Menu

Submenu for the
highlighted menu
command

NOTE

Figure 3‑5 Menu and submenu example

To select a menu or a submenu command

1. Press one of the front panel keys to display a menu.

2. Use the [] and [] keys to highlight the desired menu command.

3. If applicable and needed, use the [] key to move the highlight to the submenu,
and then use the [] and [] keys to highlight the desired submenu command.

4. Press [ENTER] to select the highlighted menu, or submenu command.

In the remainder of this document, the above procedure is summarized by simply
stating to select a specific menu or submenu command. For example: “In the menu,
select MEAS.”

3.3 Parameter Screens

The 38DL PLUS parameters are logically grouped in parameter screens that you
access using front panel keys or menu commands. Figure 3-6 on page 43 shows the
MEAS parameter screen as an example.

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Help text bars

Parameters

Title bar

Menu from which the

screen is accessed

Figure 3‑6 Parameter screen example

The title bar, located at the top of the parameter screen, indicates the parameter
subject. When you access a parameter screen from a menu, a menu button appears on
the left side of the title bar. You can select this menu button to easily return to the
original menu. One or two help text bars, appearing at the bottom of the screen,
indicate the keys to use to select a parameter and edit its value.

To select a parameter and edit its value

1. Use the [] and [] keys to highlight the desired parameter.

2. For parameters with predefined values, use the [] and [] keys to select the

desired value.

3. In parameter screens containing lists or alphanumeric parameters:

— In a list, use the [] and [] keys to highlight the desired list item.
— For an alphanumeric parameter, use the [] and [] keys to enter the desired

characters (see “Selecting the Text Edit Mode” on page 44 for details).

—Press [2nd F], [] or [2nd F], [] to leave a list or an alphanumeric parameter,

and respectively go to the next or previous screen element.

4. To exit the parameter screen:

 Press [MEAS] to return to the measurement screen.

OR
When a menu button appears in the left corner of the title bar, use the [] key

to highlight the menu button, and then press [ENTER] to reopen the menu.

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NOTE

In the remainder of this document, the above procedure is summarized by simply
stating to select a specific parameter or list, and its value. For example:
“In the MEAS screen, set MEASUREMENT MODE to THICKNESS.”

3.4 Selecting the Text Edit Mode

The 38DL PLUS offers two methods to edit the value of alphanumeric parameters.
You can either use the virtual keyboard or the traditional method. The virtual
keyboard appears on the screen to show all the available characters that you can use
(see “Editing Text Parameters Using the Virtual Keyboard” on page 44 for details).
With the traditional method, you select each character from a hidden list of standard
sorted letters, numbers, and special characters (see “Editing Text Parameters Using
the Traditional Method” on page 46 for details).

To select the text edit mode

1. From the measurement screen, press [SETUP MENU].

2. In the menu, select SYSTEM.

3. In the SYSTEM parameter screen, highlight TEXT EDIT MODE, and then select
the desired mode (VIRTUAL or TRADITIONAL).

4. Press [MEAS] to return to the measurement screen.

3.4.1 Editing Text Parameters Using the Virtual Keyboard

When the text edit mode is set to VIRTUAL, the virtual keyboard appears when you
select an alphanumeric parameter (see Figure 3-7 on page 45).

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44

To edit an alphanumeric parameter value using the virtual keyboard

Help text bars

Title bar

Selected alphanumeric

parameter

Virtual keyboard

Parameter value text
box

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

Figure 3‑7 Example of the virtual keyboard

1. Select an alphanumeric parameter.

The virtual keyboard appears.

2. Use the [], [], [], and [] keys to highlight the character that you wish to

enter, and then press [ENTER].
The selected character appears in the parameter value text box and the cursor
moves to the next character position.

3. Repeat the previous step to enter other characters.

4. If you need to move the position of the cursor in the value text box, on the virtual

keyboard, highlight either the left or right arrow button (below DONE), and then
press [ENTER].
The cursor moves by one character position.

5. When you need to delete a character:

a) Move the cursor to the character you wish to delete.

b) On the virtual keyboard, highlight DELETE, and then press [ENTER].

6. When you need to insert a character:

a) Move the cursor to the character in front of which you wish to insert a

character.

b) On the virtual keyboard, highlight INSERT, and then press [ENTER].

c) Enter the desired character in the inserted space.

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NOTE

[]

Cycling begins at “A” when the

original character is a letter

Cycling begins at “0” when the

original character is a digit

[]

7. If you want to cancel the editing operation and return to the original parameter
value, on the virtual keyboard, highlight CANCEL, and then press [ENTER].

8. To complete the editing of the parameter value, on the virtual keyboard, highlight
DONE, and then press [ENTER].

When editing a multiple line parameter value, highlighting DONE and pressing
[ENTER] moves the cursor to the next line. You can also press [2nd F], [] to accept
the text and move the cursor to the next line.

3.4.2 Editing Text Parameters Using the Traditional Method

When the text edit mode is set to TRADITIONAL, you select each character from a
hidden circular list of standard sorted letters, numbers, and special characters (see
Figure 3-8 on page 46). Only upper case letters are available.

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46

Figure 3‑8 The character cycle of the traditional text edit method

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

To edit an alphanumeric parameter value using the traditional method

1. Select an alphanumeric parameter.

2. Use the [] and [] keys to select the character that you wish to enter. Hold down

the key to quickly cycle through the letters, numbers, and special characters.

3. Use the [] keys to move to the next character.

4. Repeat the steps 2 and 3 to enter other characters.

5. If you need to move the position of the cursor in the value text box, use the [] or

[] key.

6. To insert a character at the cursor position, press [CAL ZERO].

The character at the cursor and all those to the right moves one position to the
right, making a space for a new character.

7. To delete the character at the cursor position, press [CAL VEL].

The character at the cursor is deleted and any characters to the right move to the
left by one position.

8. Press [ENTER] to accept the character string and move to the next parameter.

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4. Initial Setup

The following sections describe basic system configurations.

4.1 Setting the User Interface Language and Other System Options

You can configure the 38DL PLUS to present the user interface in the following
languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Swedish,
Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Czech, and a customized interface. You can also set
the character delimiting the radix of a number.

The 38DL PLUS includes a beep tone generator to confirm when a key is pressed and
to notify you of an alarm condition. You can set the beeper on or off.

To save battery while you do not use the instrument, you can enable the inactive time
function so that the instrument automatically turns off when no key has been pressed
and no measurement has been made within about six minutes.

To change the user interface language and other system options

1. Press [SETUP MENU].

2. In the menu, select SYSTEM.

3. In the SYSTEM screen (see Figure 4-1 on page 50):

a) Set BEEPER to ON or OFF.

b) Set INACTIVE TIME to ON or OFF.

c) Set LANGUAGE to the desired language.

d) Set RADIX TYPE to the desired character (period or comma) to separate the

integer and the decimal digits.

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Figure 4‑1 Selecting the user interface language

4. Press [MEAS] to return to the measurement screen.

5. Turn off the 38DL PLUS, and then turn it back on to activate the language change.

4.2 Selecting the Measurement Units

You can set the 38DL PLUS to show thickness measurements in inches or millimeters.

To set the measurement units

1. Press [SETUP MENU].

2. In the menu, select MEAS.

3. In the MEAS screen, set UNIT TYPE to INCH or MILLIMETER.

4. Press [MEAS] to return to the measurement screen.

4.3 Setting the Clock

The 38DL PLUS has a built-in date and time clock. You can set the date and the time
and select their format. The 38DL PLUS saves all measurements value with their
acquisition date.

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To set the clock

1. Press [2nd F], [SETUP MENU] (SP MENU).

2. In the menu, select CLOCK.

3. In the CLOCK screen (see Figure 4-2 on page 51):

a) Set parameters to the current date and time and to the desired date and hour

modes.

b) Select SET.

Figure 4‑2 Selecting clock parameters

4.4 Changing Display Settings

You can change the appearance of some display elements such as colors, brightness,
waveform rectification, and waveform trace.

To change the display setting

1. From the measurement screen, press [DISPLAY].

2. In the DISPLAY SETTINGS screen (see Figure 4-3 on page 52), select the desired

parameter and value for the following parameters:

— COLOR SCHEME to either select the INDOOR or OUTDOOR optimized

visibility (see “Color Schemes” on page 52 for details).

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— DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS to select one of the predefined brightness levels

(see “Display Brightness” on page 53 for details).

— WAVEFORM RECTIFICATION to select one of the rectification modes (see

“Waveform Rectification” on page 54 for details).

— WAVEFORM TRACE to select one of the trace types (see “Waveform Trace”

on page 55 for details).

— VGA OUTPUT to turn ON or OFF, the VGA signal for the VGA output (see

“Using the VGA Output” on page 86 for details).

Figure 4‑3 The DISPLAY SETTINGS screen

3. Press [MEAS] to return to the measurement screen.

4.4.1 Color Schemes

The 38DL PLUS offers two standard color schemes designed to provide best display
visibility in indoor or outdoor lighting conditions (see Figure 4-4 on page 53). From
the measurement screen, press [DISPLAY] to access the COLOR SCHEME
parameter.

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Outdoor color schemeIndoor color scheme

NOTE

Figure 4‑4 Example of the indoor and the outdoor color schemes

The indoor scheme gives the best visibility when you use the instrument indoors or in
low lighting conditions. The indoor scheme presents green characters and waveform
trace on a black background.

The outdoor scheme gives best visibility when you use the instrument in direct
sunlight. The outdoor mode presents black characters and waveform trace on a white
background. For best readability, in this document, most screen captures are shown
with the outdoor color scheme.

Colored measurement values corresponding to specific alarm conditions only appear
when the indoor color scheme is selected.

4.4.2 Display Brightness

You can adjust the 38DL PLUS display brightness by selecting the backlight intensity.
The display brightness can be set at 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 %. Choosing a high
percentage increases the brightness of the display. By default, the display brightness is
set to 25 %. From the measurement screen, press [DISPLAY] to access the DISPLAY
BRIGHTNESS parameter.

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NOTE

Full Half–

Half+ RF

The 38DL PLUS uses a transflective color display that reflects ambient light and
becomes brighter in direct light. With brighter ambient conditions, you can set the
display brightness to a lower percentage.

Reducing the display brightness percentage increases the battery life. Battery life
specifications are based on backlight brightness set to 50 %.

4.4.3 Waveform Rectification

The rectification mode is the way in which the ultrasonic echoes are represented on
the waveform display (see Figure 4-5 on page 54). The rectification mode does not
affect the thickness measurement in any way. The rectification indicator (FULL, POS,
NEG, or RF) appears on the left edge of the waveform display. From the measurement
screen, press [DISPLAY] to access the WAVEFORM RECTIFICATION parameter.

54

Figure 4‑5 Examples of the rectification modes

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NOTE

The available rectification modes are:

FULL

Shows the negative portion of the echo folded around the baseline so that both
positive and negative waveform lobes are displayed. Gives the best overall
representation of position and magnitude for most thickness measurement
applications. FULL is the default mode for dual element transducers.

HALF– (NEG indicator)

Shows negative waveform lobes as positive and does not show the positive lobes.

HALF+ (POS indicator)

Shows positive waveform lobes and does not show the negative waveform lobes.

RF

Shows negative and positive lobes on either side of the baseline. RF is the default
mode for single element transducers.

4.4.4 Waveform Trace

The 38DL PLUS can display the waveform trace as a line (OUTLINE) or as a FILLED
area (see Figure 4-6 on page 56). From the measurement screen, press [DISPLAY] to
access the WAVEFORM TRA C E parameter.

A filled waveform trace is only possible when the waveform rectification is set to
FULL, HALF+, or HALF–.

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Outline waveform

Filled waveform

Figure 4‑6 Examples of waveform trace modes

4.5 Range of the Waveform Display

The range of the waveform display is the distance spanned by the horizontal axis of
the waveform display. The left end of the horizontal axis, the delay, is generally set to
zero. You can manually adjust the delay value to change the starting point of the
range (see “Adjusting the Delay Value” on page 58) and select the end point of the
range (see “Selecting the Range Value” on page 57). You can also activate the zoom
function to automatically set the delay and the range values to best see the echo (see
“Activating the Zoom Function” on page 58).

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Selectable range value

Adjustable delay value

Units

Figure 4‑7 The range of the waveform display

4.5.1 Selecting the Range Value

There are fixed ranges available for each transducer frequency. The available ranges
are also dependent on material sound velocity. These selectable ranges let you adjust
the thickness span of the waveform display to only show the thickness range being
measured and thus, obtain maximum waveform resolution for each application. The
range setting affects the waveform display only. You can still make measurements
even when the display range does not show the detected echo from which the
thickness is measured. You cannot manually set the range while the zoom is active.

To select the range value

1. From the measurement screen, press [RANGE].

The waveform range changes to the next higher available range.

2. Continue to press [RANGE] until you obtain the desired range.

The range value recycles to the minimum range value following the maximum
value.

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TIP

4.5.2 Adjusting the Delay Value

The delay of the waveform display adjusts the beginning of the horizontal span. You
can adjust the delay to display the waveform of interest in the center of the waveform
display. This function is very useful when using delay line or immersion transducers,
or when measuring thick material so that the measured echoes can be seen in greater
detail.

To adjust the delay value

1. Press [2nd F], [RANGE] (DELAY).

2. Use the arrow keys to adjust the delay value.

3. Press [2nd F], [RANGE] (DELAY) again to stop editing the delay value.

Press and hold the [RANGE] key to reset the delay to zero.

4.5.3 Activating the Zoom Function

The zoom function automatically and dynamically sets the delay and the range values
to optimally track and show the detected echo in the waveform display.

To activate the zoom function

1. From the measurement screen, press [ZOOM].

The zoom flag ( ) appears on the right side of the waveform display, below the
power indicator.

2. Press [ZOOM] again to turn off the zoom function.

The resulting zoomed waveform depends on the current measurement mode. The
zoom for D79X dual element transducers and mode 1 single element transducers
centers the first back-wall echo on the screen (see Figure 4-8 on page 59).

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Normal display Zoomed display

Normal display Zoomed display

Figure 4‑8 Comparing normal and zoomed display in mode 1

The zoom with single element transducers in mode 2 adjusts the waveform range and
delay so that the interface echo and the first back-wall echo appear on the waveform
display (see Figure 4-9 on page 59).

Figure 4‑9 Comparing normal and zoomed display in mode 2

The zoom with single element transducers in mode 3 adjusts the waveform range and
delay so that the interface echo and the second measured back-wall echo appear on
the waveform display (see Figure 4-10 on page 60).

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Normal display Zoomed display

Measurement update

rate indicator

Figure 4‑10 Comparing normal and zoomed display in mode 3

4.6 Adjusting the Measurement Update Rate

You can select a predefined measurement update rate (4Hz, 8Hz, 16 Hz, 20 Hz, or
MAX). The measurement update rate indicator is always present on the left of the

thickness measurement (see Figure 4-11 on page 60).

The MAX update rate is up to 30 Hz and is dependent on measurement type. This
option is useful when making high temperature thickness measurements to help limit
the transducer contact time or for applications where you scan the transducer over an
area to find the minimum thickness.

60

Figure 4‑11 The measurement update rate indicator

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NOTE

The 38DL PLUS automatically uses the fastest update rate when entering the
Minimum or Maximum mode.

To adjust the measurement update rate

1. From the measurement screen, press [SETUP MENU].

2. In the menu, select MEAS.

3. In the MEAS screen, set the MEASURE RATE to the desired value.

4. Press [MEAS] to return to the measurement screen.

4.7 Changing the Thickness Resolution

You can change the thickness measurement resolution, meaning the number of digits
shown to the right of the decimal point. The resolution selection affects all displays
and data output of values with thickness units. This includes measured thickness,
differential reference value, and alarm set points. The highest thickness resolution
with dual element transducer is 0.01 mm (0.001 in.). The velocity is always reported
with full four-digit resolution.

You can reduce the resolution in some applications where the extra precision of the
last digit is not required, or where extremely rough outside or inside surfaces make
the last thickness display digit unreliable.

The high resolution software option (P/N: 38DLP-HR [U8147015]) allows to increase
the resolution to 0.001 mm (0.0001 in.). The high resolution is available for measured
thickness smaller than 102 mm (4 in.). The high resolution is not active with low­frequency transducers and when the high penetration software option is activated.

To change the thickness measurement resolution

1. Press [SETUP MENU].

2. In the menu, select MEAS.

3. In the MEAS screen, set RESOLUTION to the desired option:

— STANDARD: 0.01 mm or 0.001 in. (default)

— LOW: 0.1 mm or 0.01 in.

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— Optional HIGH: 0.001 mm or 0.0001 in.

4. Press [MEAS] to return to the measurement screen.

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5. Basic Operation

The following sections describe the basic operation for the 38DL PLUS ultrasonic
thickness gage.

5.1 Setting Up the Transducer

The 38DL PLUS operates with a full line of single element and dual element
transducers. The 38DL PLUS automatically recognizes standard D79X dual element
transducers and automatically loads the appropriate predefined setup. The
predefined setup contains ultrasonic velocity for the stainless steel step block
supplied with the instrument. With dual element transducers, you need to perform a
transducer zero compensation.

For a single element transducer, or other dual element transducers, you need to
manually load an appropriate setup. The 38DL PLUS ships from the factory set up
with default conditions for the purchased transducers using an approximate sound
velocity for the stainless steel test block provided with the instrument. The default
conditions are selected to facilitate instrument usage for your applications.

To set up the transducer

1. Plug the transducer into the transducer connector(s) at the top of the 38DL PLUS

case (see Figure 5-1 on page 64). Use T/R 1 for a single element transducer.

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T/R 1 connector for a
single element transducer

Standard dual element
transducer connector

Figure 5‑1 Plugging the transducer

2. Press [ON/OFF] to start the instrument.
The measurement screen appears. With a standard D79X dual element
transducer, the “Do‑‑” message appears in the measurement screen (see
Figure 5-2 on page 64).

Figure 5‑2 Initial screen with a standard D79X dual element transducer

3. For dual element transducers, perform the transducer zero compensation:

a) Wipe couplant off the tip of the transducer.

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D E F M 1 - 2 0 . 0 / M 1 1 6

Probe part number (ex: M116)

Probe frequency (ex: 20.0 MHz)

Mode: 1, 2, 3

Material: M

-Metal, P-Plastic

DEF: Default

Default setup naming convention:

b) Press [2nd F], [CAL ZERO] (Do ZERO).

4. For a single element transducer, or other dual element transducers, load an

appropriate setup:

a) Press [XDCR RECALL].

b) In the menu, select the default choice for the probe type that you use (ex.:

DEFAULT SINGLE ELEMENT).

c) In the DEFAULT screen for the type of probe that you are using (see the

example shown in Figure 5-3 on page 65), in the list of available default
setups, highlight the setup for the transducer that you are using.

Figure 5‑3 Selecting a default single element transducer setup

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NOTE

You can rename the setups listed as USER-1 through USER-35 for special applications.

d) Press [MEAS] to automatically recall the setup parameters for the chosen

setup and return to the measurement screen.

5.2 Calibration

The calibration is the process of adjusting the instrument to accurately measure on a
particular material, using a known transducer at a given temperature. Calibrating the
instrument is always necessary before inspecting a specific material. The
measurement accuracy is only as good as the calibration that you perform.

You need to perform the following three calibration types:

Transducer zero compensation ([Do ZERO])

For dual element transducer only, calibrate for the sound transit time in each of
the dual transducer delay lines. This compensation varies in each transducer unit
and with temperature. You must perform the transducer zero compensation
procedure when the unit is powered on, when the transducer is changed, and
when the transducer temperature changes significantly (see “Setting Up the
Transducer” on page 63 and “Transducer Zero Compensation” on page 70).

Material sound velocity calibration ([CAL VEL])

Perform a velocity calibration using a thick test block of the measured material
with known thickness or by manually entering a previously determined material
sound velocity. You must perform this procedure for each new measured material
(see “Calibrating the Instrument” on page 67 and “Material Sound Velocity and
the Zero Calibrations” on page 71).

Zero Calibration ([CAL ZERO])

Perform a zero calibration using a thin test block of the measured material with
known thickness. Unlike the transducer zero compensation and the material
sound velocity calibration, this procedure is not required unless you need the best
absolute accuracy (better than ± 0.10 mm or ± 0.004 in.). You only need to do it
once for each new transducer and material combination. You do not have to
repeat the zero calibration when the transducer temperature changes; Transducer
zero compensation is responsible for that task (see “Calibrating the Instrument”
on page 67 and “Material Sound Velocity and the Zero Calibrations” on page 71).

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5.2.1 Calibrating the Instrument

When you want to make accurate measurements, you need to perform the following
calibrations:

• Material sound velocity calibration

•Zero calibration

You must perform the calibrations using a thick and a thin sample of precisely known
thicknesses. The sample must be made of the same material as the parts to be
inspected (see “Test Blocks” on page 70 for details on test blocks).

The following procedure is illustrated using a dual element probe and a 5-step test
block. Refer to “Calibration” on page 66 for more details on the calibration process.

To calibrate the instrument

1. To perform the material sound velocity calibration (see Figure 5-4 on page 68):

a) Place a drop of couplant on the surface of the thick part of the test block.

b) Couple the transducer to the thick part of the test block using moderate to

firm pressure.
The waveform and the thickness reading appear on the screen.

c) Press [CAL VEL].

d) When the thickness reading is stable, press [ENTER].

e) Using the arrow keys, edit the thickness value to match the known thick

thickness of the test block.

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12.7 mm
(0.500 in.)

Figure 5‑4 Performing the material sound velocity calibration on a 5‑step test block

2. To perform the zero calibration (see Figure 5-5 on page 69):

a) Place a drop of couplant on the surface of the thin part of the test block.

b) Couple the transducer to the thin part of the test block, and then press

[CAL ZERO].

c) When the thickness reading is stable, press [ENTER].

d) Using the arrow keys, edit the thickness value to match the known thin

thickness of the test block.

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2.54 mm

(0.100 in.)

IMPORTANT

NOTE

Figure 5‑5 Performing the zero calibration on a 5‑step test block

3. Press [MEAS] to complete the calibration and return to the measurement screen.

If you turn off the instrument before pressing [MEAS], the velocity is not updated to
the new value; instead the instrument retains the previous value.

When the 38DL PLUS detects an error in the calibration procedure, it successively
displays the following messages in the help text bar before returning to the
measurement screen:
“Potential wrong echo detected!”
“Invalid calibration results!”
In this case, the velocity is not changed. The probable case is that an incorrect
thickness value was entered.

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5.2.2 Test Blocks

The 38DL PLUS comes with a cylindrical stainless steel test block with two
thicknesses. You can use the two precisely known test block thicknesses to perform
the material sound velocity and the zero calibrations.

Precision step test blocks are also often used when more than two known thicknesses
are needed (see Figure 5-6 on page 70).

Figure 5‑6 Example of a 5‑step test block

When performing the material sound velocity and zero calibration, you must use a
test block with the following characteristics:

• Made from the same material as the parts to be tested.

• Have two or more precisely known thicknesses

• Have one part as thin as the thinnest section of the parts to be tested to perform
the zero calibration. The surface condition should be similar to that of the tested
parts. Rough surfaces generally reduce the accuracy of measurements, but
simulating actual surface conditions on the calibration block can help to improve
results.

• Have one part as thick as the thickest section of the parts to be tested, to perform
the material sound velocity calibration. The front and back surfaces should be
smooth and parallel.

• Be at the same temperature as the samples to be measured.

5.2.3 Transducer Zero Compensation

Perform a transducer zero compensation by pressing [2nd F], [CAL ZERO]
(Do ZERO) whenever the message “Do—” or the zero indicator appear. You should
also perform this procedure when the dual element transducer temperature has
changed.

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NOTE

The frequency at which you perform a transducer zero compensation procedure
depends on the rate of change of the internal temperature of the dual element
transducer. This is related to the material surface temperature, frequency of
transducer application, length of time the transducer is held in contact with the
material, and the accuracy that you want to obtain.

When measurements are made on surfaces that are significantly above room
temperature, the zero should be recalibrated on a regular basis. This is less important
for transducers part numbers D790-SM, D791-RM, D797-SM, and D798 than for other
transducers that have various types of resin delay lines.

For high temperature measurements, Olympus recommends that you develop a
transducer zero compensation schedule that takes these factors into account. For
example, use the D790-SM, D791-RM, or D797-SM for high temperature applications,
minimizing the frequency of the zero compensation. You can also use the D790-SM
and D791-RM for general purpose applications.

5.2.4 Material Sound Velocity and the Zero Calibrations

The 38DL PLUS performs a material gain optimization during the velocity calibration
procedure when this feature is activated.

For dual element transducers, the material gain optimization (GAIN OPT in the
MEAS screen) evaluates the signal from the test block and automatically sets a
starting default gain based on the transducer sensitivity and material noise levels.
When the default gain required is outside of the allowable range, a message appears,
specifying that the transducer may not be functioning correctly.

The 38DL PLUS performs a calibration doubling verification to help prevent mis­calibrating on thin samples. Doubling occurs when the instrument measures the time
to the second back-wall echo rather than detecting the first back-wall echo. The
38DL PLUS compares the measured time of flight to the expected time of flight based
on the current sound velocity. The 38DL PLUS displays a warning message if
doubling is suspected. Doubling can occur when measuring a thickness that is below
the minimum range of the transducer, or when a transducer is worn or low in
sensitivity.

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NOTE

You can also achieve a material sound velocity and zero calibration procedure by
performing the operations in the reverse order, starting with the zero calibration,
followed by the material sound velocity calibration.

5.2.5 Entering a Known Material Sound Velocity

When preparing to measure thicknesses on parts made of a different material, if you
know the sound velocity for the material, you can directly enter the velocity without
performing a material sound velocity calibration procedure.

To enter a known material sound velocity

1. From the measurement screen, press [2nd F], [CAL VEL] (VEL).

2. In the VELOCITY screen (see Figure 5-7 on page 72), use the arrow keys to edit
the velocity to the known value.

Figure 5‑7 Entering a known material sound velocity

3. Press [MEAS] to return to the measurement screen.

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5.2.6 Locked Calibrations

The 38DL PLUS includes a password-protected locking function to prevent changes
to setups and prevent access to some functions. A change to the calibration is one
action that you can lock. When this is the case, the message shown in Figure 5-8 on
page 73 appears momentarily on the help text bar.

Figure 5‑8 The calibration lock message

5.2.7 Factors Affecting the Performance and the Accuracy

The following factors affect the performance of the instrument and the accuracy of the
thickness measurements.

Calibration

The accuracy of any ultrasonic measurement is only as good as the accuracy and
care with which you calibrate the instrument. The 38DL PLUS ships from the
factory with standard setups for a number of transducers and applications. In
some cases, it may be desirable to optimize these setups for specific measurement
situations. In all cases, it is essential that you perform the velocity and zero
calibrations whenever the test material or transducer is changed. Periodic checks
with samples of known thickness are recommended to verify that the gage is
operating properly.

Surface roughness of the test piece

The best measurement accuracy is obtained when both the front and back
surfaces of the test piece are smooth. When the contact surface is rough, the
minimum thickness that can be measured will be increased because of sound
reverberating in the increased thickness of the couplant layer. Additionally, when
the two test piece surfaces are rough, the slightly different multiple sound paths
seen by the transducer may cause distortion in the returning echo, resulting in
measurement inaccuracies.

Coupling technique

In mode 1 (contact transducer) measurements, the couplant layer thickness is part
of the measurement and is compensated by a portion of the zero offset. If
maximum accuracy is to be achieved, then the coupling technique must be

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consistent. In order to accomplish consistent measurements, use a couplant of
reasonably low viscosity; employ only enough couplant to achieve a reasonable
reading; and apply the transducer with uniform pressure. Practice will show the
degree of moderate to firm pressure that produces repeatable readings. In
general, smaller diameter transducers require less coupling force to squeeze out
the excess couplant than larger diameter transducers. In all modes, tilting the
transducer distorts echoes and causes inaccurate readings, as noted below.

Curvature of the test piece

A related issue to this section involves the alignment of the transducer with
respect to the test piece. When measuring on curved surfaces, it is important that
the transducer be placed approximately on the centerline of the part and held as
steadily to the surface as possible. In some cases, a spring-loaded V-block holder
may be helpful for maintaining this alignment. In general, as the radius of
curvature decreases, the size of the transducer should be reduced, and the more
critical transducer alignment will become. For very small radii, an immersion
approach is necessary. In some cases it may be useful to observe the waveform
display as an aid in maintaining optimum alignment. Practice the best way to
hold a transducer with the aid of a waveform display. On curved surfaces, it is
important to use only enough couplant to obtain a reading. Excess couplant forms
a fillet between the transducer and the test surface where sound reverberates and
possibly creates spurious signals that may trigger false readings.

Taper or eccentricity

If the contact surface or back surface of the test piece is tapered or eccentric with
respect to the other, the return echo is distorted due to the variation in sound path
across the width of the beam. The accuracy of the measurement is reduced. In
severe cases, no measurement is possible.

Acoustic properties of the test material

There are several conditions found in certain engineering materials that can
potentially limit the accuracy and range of ultrasonic thickness measurements:

— Sound scattering:

In materials such as cast stainless steel, cast iron, fiberglass, and composites,
sound energy scatters from individual crystallites in the casting or
boundaries of dissimilar materials within the fiberglass or composite.
Porosity in any material can have the same effect. Adjust the instrument
sensitivity to prevent detection of these spurious scatter echoes. This
compensation can in turn limit the ability to discriminate a valid return echo
from the back wall of the material, thereby restricting measurement range.

— Sound attenuation or absorption:

In many organic materials such as low density plastics and rubbers, sound

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energy is attenuated very rapidly at the frequencies used for ultrasonic
gaging. This attenuation typically increases with temperature. The maximum
thickness that can be measured in these materials will often be limited by
attenuation.

— Velocity variations:

An ultrasonic thickness measurement is accurate only to the degree that
material sound velocity is consistent with the instrument calibration. Some
materials exhibit significant variations in sound velocity from point to point.
This happens in certain cast metals due to the changes in grain structure that
result from varied cooling rates, and the anisotropy of sound velocity with
respect to grain structure. Fiberglass can show localized velocity variations
due to changes in the resin/fiber ratio. Many plastics and rubbers show a
rapid change in sound velocity with temperature, requiring that velocity
calibration be performed at the temperature where measurements are made.

Phase reversal or phase distortion

The phase or polarity of a returning echo is determined by the relative acoustic
impedances (density × velocity) of the boundary materials. The 38DL PLUS
assumes the customary situation where the test piece is backed by air or a liquid,
both of which have a lower acoustic impedance than metals, ceramics, or plastics.
However, in some specialized cases, such as measurement of glass or plastic liners
over metal, or copper cladding over steel, this impedance relationship is reversed
and the echo appears phase reversed. In these cases, it is necessary to change the
appropriate echo detection polarity in order to maintain accuracy. A more
complex situation can occur in anisotropic or inhomogeneous materials such as
coarse-grain metal castings or certain composites, where material conditions
result in the existence of multiple sound paths within the beam area. In these
cases, phase distortion can create an echo that is neither cleanly positive nor
negative. Careful experimentation with reference standards is necessary in these
cases to determine effects on measurement accuracy.

5.3 Measuring Thicknesses

You can start measuring thicknesses once a transducer is connected (see “Setting Up
the Transducer” on page 63) and once the instrument is calibrated (see “Calibrating
the Instrument” on page 67).

To measure thicknesses

1. Apply couplant to the test block or tested part at the measuring spot.

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NOTE

12.7 mm
(0.500 in.)

In general, use a thinner couplant such as propylene glycol, glycerin, or water for
smooth material surfaces. Rough surfaces require a more viscous couplant such as gel
or grease. Special couplants are required for high temperature applications.

2. Using moderate to firm pressure, couple the tip of the transducer to the surface of
the test material, and keep the transducer as flat as possible on the material
surface (see Figure 5-9 on page 76).

Figure 5‑9 Coupling dual element transducer and reading the measured thickness

3. Read the measured thickness value for the tested part.

5.4 Saving Data

The 38DL PLUS datalogger is a file based system where one file is opened at a time.
The active file stores a measurement at a thickness measurement location ID. Each
time you press [SAVE/SEND], the displayed value is saved to the active file at the
current ID. The ID is automatically incremented for the next measurement. When you
press [FILE], the name of the active file appears in the ID bar above the menu (see
Figure 5-10 on page 77).

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Name of the active file

Figure 5‑10 The active file name appearing in the ID bar

The NONAME00 increment type file, starting with the 001 ID, is the active file by
default when you first use the 38DL PLUS or after resetting the instrument memory.
You can create various types of files and define IDs to represent various 1-D, 2-D, or
3-D thickness measurement locations. When restarting, the instrument automatically
opens the last file that was used.

The following special cases may occur:

• When the thickness value is blank, “——-” is saved rather than a value.

• When a measurement is already stored at the current ID, the new value

overwrites the old thickness reading unless the overwrite protection is enabled.

• When the ID increment reaches the end of a sequence and cannot be updated,

Last ID appears on the help text bar, a long beep sound is emitted (when the
beeper is active), and the ID on the display remains unchanged.

To save data at the current ID in the active file

 While the desired thickness value and waveform are displayed, press

[SAVE/SEND] to save the measured thickness value.

OR

Press [2nd F], [SAVE/SEND] (WAVEFORM) to save the measured thickness
value and the waveform.

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TIP

If you want to always save both the thickness and the waveform when you press
[SAVE/SEND], in the SYSTEM screen, set SAVE DATA to THK+WF.

5.5 Measurements with THRU-COAT D7906 and D7908 Transducers

THRU-COAT is a function that measures the true metal thickness of coated or painted
parts. This function only requires a single back-wall echo and is recommended for
heavy corrosion applications where the outside of the material is coated or painted. If
needed, you can also calibrate the measurement of the coating/paint layer to precisely
measure the thickness of the coating/paint.

5.5.1 Enabling the THRU-COAT Function

The THRU-COAT function is only available when you connect a THRU-COAT
transducer (P/N: D7906 [U8450005] or D7908 [U8450008]) to the 38DL PLUS.

To enable the THRU-COAT function

1. Connect a THRU-COAT transducer to the 38DL PLUS.

2. Start the instrument.

3. Wipe the couplant off the transducer tip.

4. Press [2nd F], [CAL ZERO] (Do ZERO).

Figure 5‑11 Opening the THRU COAT SETUP dialog box

5. Select YES to answer the Enable THRU COAT? prompt.

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5.5.2 Performing a THRU-COAT Calibration

The calibration procedure for a THRU-COAT probe is similar to the procedure for
other probes. As for a normal calibration, you need two uncoated samples with
accurately known thin and thick thicknesses to perform the following calibration
procedure. The difference is that towards the end of the procedure, you can press
[CAL VEL] a second time to calibrate the coating thickness measurement on a sample
with an accurately known coating thickness.

To perform a THRU-COAT calibration

1. Ensure that the THRU-COAT function is enabled (see “Enabling the THRU-

COAT Function” on page 78).

2. Couple the transducer to the thick sample.

3. Press [CAL VEL].

4. When the reading is stable, press [ENTER].

5. Using the arrow keys, edit the thickness value to match the known thickness of

the sample.

6. Couple the transducer to the thin sample.

7. Press [CAL ZERO].

8. When the reading is stable, press [ENTER].

9. Using the arrow keys, edit the thickness value to match the known thickness of

the sample.

10. If the coating thickness measurement accuracy is important for your application,

perform the following actions (omitting this step does not affect the accuracy of
the metal thickness measurement):

a) Press [CAL VEL] again.

b) Couple the transducer to the coated sample.

c) When the reading is stable, press [ENTER].

d) Using the arrow keys, edit the thickness value to match the known coating

thickness of the coated sample.

11. Press [MEAS] to complete the calibration.

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NOTE

Dual element (DE)

standard (STD) echo

detection mode

Echo detection marker

Pressing [2nd F], [CAL VEL] (VEL) opens the VELOCITY screen where you can see
and edit the calibrated metal sound velocity. Pressing [2nd F], [CALVEL] (VEL) again
opens the VELOCITY screen for the calibrated sound velocity through the coating.

5.6 Echo Detection Modes with Dual Element Transducers

With dual element transducers, the 38DL PLUS offers three echo detection modes
allowing you to measure thicknesses in various material conditions. A description of
each of the three echo detection modes (STANDARD, AUTO E‑TO‑E, and MANUAL

E‑TO‑E) follows:

STANDARD

The standard echo detection mode measures the thickness based on the time of
flight between the main bang to the first back-wall echo. Use this mode for
uncoated materials with good echo waveforms.
The DE‑STD indicator appears to the left of the thickness reading and a
triangular echo detection marker appears at the back-wall echo below the
waveform display (see Figure 5-12 on page 80).

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80

Figure 5‑12 Measuring with the standard echo detection mode

DMTA-10009-01EN [U8778346], Rev. D, November 2016

Dual element (DE)
automatic echo-to-echo
(AEtoE) detection mode

Echo-to-echo detection
bar

AUTO E‑TO‑E

The automatic echo-to-echo detection mode measures the thickness using the
time of flight between two consecutive back-wall echoes. Use this mode for
painted or coated materials since the time interval between consecutive back-wall
echoes excludes the time of flight through a paint, resin, or coating layer.
The DE‑AEtoE indicator appears to the left of the thickness reading. The
triangular marker is replaced by an echo-to-echo detection bar to indicate the
exact pair of back-wall echoes used to determine the thickness (see Figure 5-13 on
page 81). The echo height is automatically adjusted to a preset level.

Figure 5‑13 Measuring with the automatic echo‑to‑echo detection mode

MANUAL E‑TO‑E

The manual echo-to-echo detection mode also measures the thickness using the
time of flight between two consecutive back-wall echoes. In this mode, you can
however also manually adjust the gain and the blanking parameters. Use this
mode when material conditions produce noisy signals where the automatic mode
may be less effective.
The DE‑MEtoE indicator appears to the left of the thickness reading. The echo-to­echo detection bar is similar to the automatic echo-to-echo mode but includes the
adjustable E1 blank bar that indicates the area to exclude for echo detection (see
Figure 5-14 on page 82). Following the E1 blank, the instrument detects the next
echo with an amplitude of at least 20 % of the waveform display height. In this
mode, press [WAVE ADJ], and then use the arrow keys to adjust the EXT
BLANK, the E1 BLANK, and the GAIN parameters.

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Dual element (DE)

manual echo-to-echo

(MEtoE) detection mode

E1 blank bar

Echo-to-echo detection
bar

[WAVE ADJ] parameter

NOTE

TIP

Figure 5‑14 Measuring with the manual echo‑to‑echo detection mode

In severe corrosion situations where valid multiple echoes are not present, you must
use the standard mode to be able to measure thicknesses.

You can use dual element transducers in all three modes. You can use all
measurement, display, and datalogger functions with the echo-to-echo modes. The
internal datalogger recognizes and saves all necessary echo-to-echo information to
upload and download thickness, waveform, and setup data.

You do not have to switch between echo detection modes when measuring both
coated and uncoated areas because you can measure uncoated wall thicknesses using
an echo-to-echo mode.

To change the echo detection mode

1. Press [2nd F], [ZOOM] (E‑TO‑E).

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2. In the menu, select the desired echo detection mode (STANDARD, AUTO
E‑TO‑E, or MANUAL E‑TO‑E).

3. To perform the zero calibration again:

a) Place a drop of couplant on the surface of the thin part of the test block.

b) Couple the transducer to the thin part of the test block, and then press

[CAL ZERO].

c) When the thickness reading is stable, press [ENTER].

d) Using the arrow keys, edit the thickness value to match the known thin

thickness of the test block.

5.6.1 Blanking Adjustments in Manual Echo-to-Echo Detection Mode

The 38DL PLUS offers two blanking functions to help detect valid echoes in situations
where material conditions generate unwanted signals:

EXT BLANK

The extended blank creates a blanked zone that begins at the left edge of the
waveform display and in which no signals are detected. In situations where the
second or third pair of back-wall echoes are stronger or cleaner than the first pair,
use the extended blank to control which pair of echoes to use for measurement.

E1 BLANK

The echo 1 (E1) blank runs for a selected interval following the first detected echo.
Use the E1 blank to exclude any unwanted peaks occurring between the first and
the second back-wall echoes. Unwanted peaks may be trailing edges of a large
first echo, or shear wave reflections on thick test pieces. The E1 blank parameter is
only available in the manual echo-to-echo detection mode.

To adjust the extended and the E1 blank parameters

1. Select the manual echo-to-echo mode:

a) Press [2nd F], [ZOOM] (E‑TO‑E).

b) In the menu, select MANUAL E‑TO‑E.

2. Press [WAVE ADJ].
The wave adjustment parameter appears (see Figure 5-15 on page 84).

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Poor manual measurement Good manual measurement

[WAVE ADJ] parameter

Figure 5‑15 Comparing manual measurements

3. Use the [] and [] keys to select either the EXT BLANK or the E1 BLANK

parameter.

4. Use the [] and [] keys to adjust the value to exclude unwanted peaks and

detect the desired echoes.

5.6.2 Dual Element Transducer Selection in Echo-to-Echo Modes

Although the echo-to-echo modes work with all of the 38DL PLUS dual element
transducers, Olympus recommends using particular transducers for specific thickness
ranges in steel parts (see Table 3 on page 84).

Table 3 Recommended transducers for various steel thickness ranges

Transducer type

D798 1.5 mm to 7.6 mm (0.060 in. to 0.300 in.)

D790/791 2.5 mm to 51 mm (0.100 in. to 2.00 in.)

D797 12.7 mm to 127 mm (0.500 in. to 5.00 in.)

D7906 2.5 mm to 51 mm (0.100 in. to 2.00 in.)

a. Thickness ranges are dependent on transducer type, material conditions, and temperature.

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Thickness range

a

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In some cases, an error can occur if you are using a D790 transducer to measure
thicknesses above 18 mm (0.7 in.). Typically, this error is due to a mode-converted
shear-wave echo that may appear before the second back-wall echo. If this unwanted
echo is larger than the second back-wall echo, the gage measures to it, which produces
a thinner reading.

You can usually distinguish the unwanted shear-wave echo from the correct back-wall
echo by examining the waveform display. The distance between the first and the
second back-wall echoes is the same as the distance between the zero thickness point
and the first back-wall echo. If there is an echo between the first two back-wall echoes,
it is probably a mode-converted shear-wave echo. Use the manual echo-to-echo
detection mode techniques and manually adjust the E1 blank to eliminate this error
(see “Blanking Adjustments in Manual Echo-to-Echo Detection Mode” on page 83).
Using the D797 transducer beyond 18 mm (0.7 in.) helps to eliminate the possibility of
this error.

In some cases, the second or third back-wall echo is smaller in amplitude than
subsequent echoes. This causes the instrument to give a double or triple reading. If
you are using a D790 transducer, this effect may occur around 5 mm (0.2 in.) on flat
smooth steel samples. If this occurs, it is clearly visible on the waveform display and
you can work around it using the manual echo-to-echo detection mode, or moving the
extended blank beyond the previously detected first echo.

When the 38DL PLUS cannot make an echo-to-echo reading, the LOS flag appears on
the screen. In this case, the waveform display shows that either no echoes are large
enough to be detected or that only one echo is detectable. In this last case, the echo-to­echo detection bar begins at the detected echo but extends indefinitely to the right.
Increase the gain value to make a good echo-to-echo reading. If this does not help, you
can still obtain an approximate measurement by returning to the standard echo
detection mode.

5.6.3 Echo-to-Echo Mode Datalogger Flags

The following flags are used in the echo-to-echo modes in the first flag field of the
uploaded thickness table and in the comment note box at the top right corner of the
measurement screen:

• E: Automatic echo-to-echo detection mode

• e: Manual echo-to-echo detection mode

• M: Standard detection mode

• l: LOS in automatic echo-to-echo detection mode

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• n: LOS in manual echo-to-echo detection mode

• L: LOS in standard echo detection mode

5.7 Using the VGA Output

You can connect the 38DL PLUS to an external screen or projector to more easily show
the content of the 38DL PLUS screen to other people. This feature is particularly
useful when you need to train other 38DL PLUS users.

When you activate the VGA output, the 38DL PLUS screen becomes blank and its
contents appears only on the connected external screen. The VGA output is always
turned off when you restart the 38DL PLUS.

To use the VGA output

1. Turn off the 38DL PLUS.

2. Connect the optional VGA output cable (P/N: EPLTC-C-VGA-6 [U8840035]) to the
VGA output connector, located under the I/O door on the right side of the
38DL PLUS (see Figure 1-5 on page 25).

3. Connect the other end of the VGA output cable to the external screen or projector.

4. Turn on the 38DL PLUS.

5. Turn on the external screen or projector.

6. Press [DISPLAY].

7. In the DISPLAY SETTINGS screen (see Figure 4-3 on page 52), set VGA
OUTPUT to ON.
The 38DL PLUS screen becomes blank and the 38DL PLUS screen contents
appears on the external screen.

8. Turn the instrument off and then back on if you need to restore the contents on
the 38DL PLUS screen.

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Appendix: Technical Specifications

Table 4 General EN15317 specifications

Parameter Va l ue

Size Height × Width × Depth

Without protective boot:

• 211.6 mm × 128.1 mm × 46.2 mm
(8.33 in. × 5.04 in. × 1.82 in.)

With the rubber protective boot:

• 236.2 mm × 130.6 mm × 66.5 mm
(9.30 in. × 5.14 in. × 2.62 in.)

Wei ght 816.5 g (1.80 lb)

Power supply types AC-DC adaptor 24 V

Lithium-ion battery 24.42 Wh
Five AA auxiliary batteries

Probe sockets types Dual LEMO with center pin IP67

Battery operating time
Lithium-ion

Operating temperature With lithium-ion baery: −10 °C to 50 °C (14 °F to 122 °F)

Battery storage temperature −20 °C to 40 °C (−4 °F to 104 °F)

Battery indicator 8-step battery charge level indication

Pulse repetition frequency
(PRF)

Alarm indicators Visual high-alarm and low- alarm indicators with audio tone

Thru coating Echo-to-echo measurement and THRU-COAT

12.6 hours minimum

14 hours typical

14.7 hours maximum

Flashing low-battery warning

1kHz burst
Measurement rates: 4 Hz, 8 Hz, 16 Hz, 20 Hz, and 30 Hz

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Table 4 General EN15317 specifications (continued)

Parameter Va lu e

Minimum and maximum
thickness

Single element: 0.1 mm to 635.0 mm (0.004 in. to 25 in.)
Dual element: 0.5 mm to 635.0 mm (0.020 in. to 25 in.)

Table 5 Display EN15317 specifications

Parameter Va l ue

Type Color graphical TFT, LCD, 640 × 480 pixels

Size [Height] × [Width], [Diagonal]

56.16 mm × 74.88 mm, 93.6 mm
(2.21 in. × 2.94 in., 3.68 in)

Table 6 Transmitter EN15317 specifications

Parameter Va l ue

Transmitter pulse Adjustable square wave pulser

Pulser voltage Pulse voltages: 60 V, 110 V, 150 V, and 200 V

Pulse rise time Damping in: 5 ns typical

Damping out: 3.5 ns typical (pulse width dependent)

Pulse duration Adjustable to probe frequency

Table 7 Receiver EN15317 specifications

Parameter Va l ue

Gain control Automatic or manual: 0 dB to 99 dB

Frequency range 0.5 MHz to 24 MHz typical (filter dependent)

Table 8 Other EN15317 specifications

Parameter Va l ue

Data storage Internal and external 2 GB microSD memory cards.

Each card:
475000 thickness readings or
20000 waveforms with thickness readings

Appendix

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Table 8 Other EN15317 specifications (continued)

Parameter Va l ue

Data output types 2.0 USB client

RS-232
Removable microSD memory card

Calibration setting storage Default single and dual element transducer setups

35 custom single element and 10 custom dual element storage
locations

Calibration Single or two-point calibration test block

Velocity can be entered manually.
Multi-points for custom V-path calibration with dual element
transducers

Display response time Adjustable 4 Hz, 8 Hz, 16 Hz, 20 Hz, and 30 Hz

Number of pixels to display a
waveform

Printer output RS-232 serial

640 × 480 pixels

Table 9 Environmental rating specifications

Parameter Va l ue

IP rating Designed for IP67

Explosive atmosphere MIL-STD-810F, Section 511.4, Procedure I

Shock test MIL-STD-810F, Section 516.5, Procedure I

Vibration test MIL-STD-810F, Section 514.5, Procedure I

Drop test MIL-STD-810F, Section 516.5, Procedure IV- Transit Drop

Technical Specifications 89

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Table 10 Measurement specifications

Parameter Va l ue

Measurement modes Standard dual element: Time between excitation pulse and

first back-wall echo using dual element transducer.
Dual echo‑to‑echo: Time between successive back-wall

echoes using dual element transducers.
Thru‑coat: Time between excitation pulse and first back-wall

echo while ignoring or displaying a coating thickness.
Mode 1: Time between excitation pulse and first echo

following blank period using contact transducers.
Mode 2: Time between the interface echo and the first back-

wall echo. Normally used with delay line or immersion
transducers.

Mode 3: Time between a pair of back-wall echoes following
the interface echo. Normally used with delay line or
immersion transducers.

V-path correction Automatic or manually created, dependent on transducer

type

Measurement resolution Selectable from the keypad:

LOW: 0.1 mm (0.01 in.)
STD: 0.01 mm (0.001 in.)
HI: 0.001 mm (0.0001 in.) with high resolution option.

Not all resolutions are available for all measurement modes

Material sound velocity range 0.762 mm/μs to 13.999 mm/μs (0.0300 in./μs to 0.5511 in./μs)

Material sound velocity
resolution

Alarm set points range 0.00 mm to 635.00 mm (0.00 in. to 25.00 in.)

0.001 mm/μs (0.0001 in./μs)

Table 11 Datalogger specifications

Parameter Va l ue

Storage capacity 475000 thickness readings or

20000 waveforms with thickness readings

ID number length 1 to 20 characters

File name length 1 to 32 characters

Appendix

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Table 11 Datalogger specifications (continued)

Parameter Va l ue

File formats Incremental

Sequential (defined by starting and ending ID number)
Sequential with custom points
2-D grid
2-D grid with custom points
3-D grid
3-D custom
Boiler

External memory card microSD memory card

2 GB maximum capacity

Table 12 Typical measurement ranges and default setups for a single element

a

transducer

Setup name Transducer Typical measurement range

DEFM1-20.0-M116 M116 Steel: 0.250 mm to 8.000 mm (0.020 in. to 1.500 in.)

DEFM1-10.0-M112 M112 Steel: 0.760 mm to 250.000 mm (0.030 in. to 10.000 in.)

DEFM1-10.0-M1016 M1016 Steel: 0.760 mm to 250.00 mm (0.030 in. to 10.000 in.)

DEFM1-5.0-M110 M110 Steel: 1.00 mm to 380.00 mm (0.040 in. to 15.000 in.)

DEFM1-5.0-M109 M109 Steel: 1.00 mm to 500.00 mm (0.050 in. to 20.000 in.)

DEFM1-2.25-M106 M106 Steel: 2.00 mm to 635.00 mm (0.080 in. to 25.000 in.)

DEFM1-2.25-M1036 M1036 Steel: 2.00 mm to 635.00 mm (0.080 in. to 25.000 in.)

DEFM3-20.0-M208 M208 Steel: 0.25 mm to 5.00 mm (0.008 in. to 0.200 in.)

DEFP2-20.0-M208 M208 Plastic: 0.12 mm to 5 mm (0.005 in. to 0.200 in.)

DEFM3-10.0-M202 M202 Steel: 0.25 mm to 12.00 mm (0.010 in. to 0.500 in.)

DEFM2-10.0-M202 M202 Steel: 0.75 mm to 12.00 mm (0.030 in. to 0.500 in.)

DEFP2-10.0-M202 M202 Plastic: 0.6 mm to 6 mm (0.025 in. to 0.25 in.)

DEFM3-15.0-V260 V260 Steel: 0.25 mm to 5.00 mm (0.010 in. to 0.200 in.)

DEFM2-15.0-V260 V260 Steel: 0.75 mm to 12.50 mm (0.030 in. to 0.500 in.)

DEFP2-15.0-V260 V260 Plastic: 0.25 mm to 3 mm (0.010 in. to 0.120 in.)

DEFM2-5.0-M201 M201 Steel: 1.50 mm to 25.40 mm (0.050 in. to 1.000 in.)

DEFP2-5.0-M201 M201 Plastic: 0.62 mm to 12.5 mm (0.025 in. to 0.500 in.)

DEFM2-5.0-M206 M206 Steel: 1.25 mm to 19.00 mm (0.050 in. to 0.750 in.)

DEFP2-5.0-M206 M206 Plastic: 1 mm to 12.5 mm (0.040 in. to 0.500 in.)

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Table 12 Typical measurement ranges and default setups for a single element

a

transducer

Setup name Tran sduc er Typical measurement range

DEFM2-2.25-M207 M207 Steel: 2.00 mm to 19.00 mm (0.080 in. to 0.750 in.)

DEFP2-2.25-M207 M207 Plastic: 2 mm to 12.5 mm (0.080 in. to 0.500 in.)

DEFM2-20.0-M208 M208 Steel: 0.50 mm to 10.00 mm (0.020 in. to 0.200 in.)

DEFM1-0.5-M101 M101 Steel: 12.5 mm to 635 mm (0.500 in. to 25.00 in.)

DEFM1-1.0-M102 M102 Steel: 5.0 mm to 635 mm (0.200 in. to 25.00 in.)

DEFM1-1.0-M103 M103 Steel: 2.5 mm to 635 mm (0.100 in. to 25.00 in.)

DEFP1-0.5-M2008 M2008 Fiberglass: 5.0 mm to 75 mm (0.200 in. to 3.00 in.)

a. The maximum thickness measuring capability depends on transducer type, material condi-

tions, and temperature.

(continued)

Table 13 Setup parameter description

Name Description Units/Resolutions/Range

MEAS
OPTION

MEAS TYPE Special measurement modes Standard or Oxide (optional)

PROBE TYPE Transducer types Dual element

PULSER
POWER

MAX GAIN Maximum receiver gain 0.0 dB to 99.8 dB, 0.3 dB steps

INIT GAIN Initial TDG gain 0 to MaxGain, 1 dB steps.

TDG SLOPE Time Gain slope (default) 0.0 dB/s to 39.9 dB/s

MB BLANK Main Bang Blank 0ns to 225μs

Echo detect mode Standard dual

Dual echo-to-echo
Thru-Coat
Mode 1
Mode 2
Mode 3

Barrier Layer (optional)
First Peak

Direct contact
Delay line
Immersion
EMAT

Pulser power 60 V, 110 V, 150 V, or 200 V

92

Appendix