Improve Inspections with the EPOCH 6LT Corrosion Module

Many rope-access NDT inspectors use ultrasonic (UT) instruments for flaw detection and corrosion inspections. However, when using conventional UT flaw detectors, you need to stop when you find a potentially corroded area and reconfigure to record precise measurements of part thickness. Some inspectors use both a flaw detector and a thickness gage - once corrosion is located with the flaw detector, they’ll switch to a thickness gage for precise measurements.

There’s now an easier way to perform efficient and precise UT corrosion inspections. The Olympus EPOCH 6LT flaw detector’s corrosion module is a cost-effective solution that combines the key functionally of a corrosion gage and a flaw detector.

Less equipment

No-one wants lots of equipment, and this is especially true if you’re hanging from a rope while working. The corrosion module enables confident inspections in one lightweight instrument. Scan for and locate defects in flaw detection mode, and switch to corrosion mode with the push of a button to take precise, reproducible thickness measurements.

Quick and easy

Save time with automatic probe recognition software. The corrosion module enables the EPOCH 6LT to identify which probe is connected and automatically load settings. Plug in a supported probe, and pulser and receiver settings will be automatically configured. All standard Olympus corrosion dual transducers supported!

Fast and accurate wear compensation

Dual transducers use a plastic tip to protect the elements from damage and improve near-surface resolution. However, the plastic delay can wear down, altering the amount of time it takes ultrasound to travel from the pulsing element to the test material and back to the receiving element. Variations in temperature and other factors can further alter the time of flight through the transducer and delay line material, resulting in an inaccurate measurement. By simply pressing a button, the corrosion module uses two pulsing channels to measure the offset from each dual transducer element, resulting in greater measurement accuracy.

More efficient workflow

When taking thickness measurements with a flaw detector, you need to constantly adjust the receiver gain level so that the gated signal maintains a vertical leading edge to ensure accurate results. The corrosion module’s automatic gain control optimises the gain level, enabling you to quickly record accurate thickness measurements.

Precise measurements, regardless of surface conditions

Conventional flaw detectors use edge or peak gate detection modes, which measure thickness from the leading edge or peak of the first echo to cross the gate, respectively. These measurement modes are well-suited for detecting small defects but are susceptible to variations from changes in signal amplitude. The corrosion module uses the same zero-cross measurement algorithm as Olympus thickness gages, for consistent and precise thickness measurements.

Immediate visual feedback and organised results

The EPOCH 6LT with the corrosion module features a grid view, which enables you to save thickness readings into a grid. The grid can be color-coded to provide instant visual feedback to help interpret results in real time. Simply set an acceptable measurement range, and thickness measurements will be instantly categorised based on inspection criteria.

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