ACS PenGauge A1207 User manual

A1207 PenGauge
Acoustic Control Systems – ACS Group
Saarbrücken, Germany 2022
This instruction manual contains essential information on how to use this ACS product safely and effectively.
Before using this product, thoroughly review this instruction manual. Use the product as instructed.
Revision 1.1.0
Thickness Gauge

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A1207 PenGauge © 2022 Acoustic Control Systems –ACS Group
1. Operation manual 4
1.1 Scope of delivery ........................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Description and operation of the instrument ............................................................. 5
1.2.1 The intended use of the instrument ......................................................................... 5
1.2.1.1 Intended use and operation range ........................................................................................................ 5
1.2.1.2 Operation conditions .............................................................................................................................. 6
1.2.2 Technical specifications ........................................................................................... 6
1.2.3 Instrument design and operation principle .............................................................. 6
1.2.3.1 Instrument design ..................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2.3.2 Operation principle ................................................................................................................................. 8
1.3 Intended use ................................................................................................................... 8
1.3.1 Operating restrictions .............................................................................................. 8
1.3.2 Factors influencing the operation of the instrument and accuracy of the readings..... 8
1.3.2.1 State of the surface ................................................................................................................................... 8
1.3.2.2 Putting the piezoelectric transducer onto the surface ...................................................................... 9
1.3.2.3 Non-parallelism or eccentricity ............................................................................................................ 9
1.3.2.4 Acoustic properties of the material ...................................................................................................... 9
1.3.2.4.1 Sound dispersion ................................................................................................................................ 9
1.3.2.4.2 Variation of velocity .......................................................................................................................... 9
1.3.3 Making the instrument ready for operation ........................................................... 10
1.3.3.1 Surface preparation ............................................................................................................................... 10
1.3.3.2 Switching On/Off the instrument ........................................................................................................ 10
1.3.3.3 Select the measurement units .............................................................................................................. 10
1.3.3.4 Adjustment of the instrument .............................................................................................................. 11
1.3.3.4.1 Current ultrasonic sound velocity ................................................................................................ 11
1.3.3.4.2 Edit current ultrasonic sound velocity ........................................................................................ 11
1.3.3.4.3 Measure the ultrasonic sound velocity in the sample of known thickness ......................... 11
1.3.3.4.4 Calibration mode ............................................................................................................................. 12
1.4 Maintenance ................................................................................................................ 13
1.4.1 Accumulator battery ............................................................................................... 13
1.4.2 Recharging the accumulator .................................................................................. 13
1.4.3 Replacement of the transducer capsule ................................................................ 14
1.4.4 Common troubleshouting and remedies ................................................................ 15
1.5 Storage .......................................................................................................................... 15
1.6 Transportation ............................................................................................................. 15
1.7 Appendix A ................................................................................................................... 15
2. Firmware installation 18
3. Application software 19
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 19
3.2 Application tabs ........................................................................................................... 19
3.3 Connection to a Bluetooth device ............................................................................. 19

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A1207 PenGauge © 2022 Acoustic Control Systems –ACS Group
3.4 Thickness measurement .............................................................................................. 22
3.4.1 Display mode .......................................................................................................... 23
3.4.2 A-Scan mode ........................................................................................................... 28
3.4.3 B-Scan mode ........................................................................................................... 31
3.5 Settings ......................................................................................................................... 36
3.6 Service address ............................................................................................................. 41
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Index

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A1207 PenGauge © 2022 Acoustic Control Systems –ACS Group
Operation manual
Operation manual
1 Operation manual
1.1 Scope of delivery
The following section describes the scope of delivery for A1207 PenGauge.
A1207 PenGauge Scope of delivery
Part
Amount
Location
Electronic unit A1207 PenGauge with
one build-in transducer
1
u

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A1207 PenGauge © 2022 Acoustic Control Systems –ACS Group
Operation manual
Operation manual
Reference block for functional tests
2
v
Power charger
1
w
USB cable
1
x
Strap
1
y
Couplant
1
z
Optional transducers (if ordered)
1
{
Warranty certificate
1
inside case |
Calibration certificate
1
inside case |
1.2 Description and operation of the instrument
The present operation manual (from now on referred to as "operation manual") contains:
· technical specifications,
· description of design,
· and operation principle of the А1207 Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge (from now on
referred to as "thickness gauge" or “instrument”),
· as well as information required for proper working with the instrument.
Carefully read the operation manual before working with the instrument.
Only properly trained personnel who carefully read the operational documentation and
understand general principles of the ultrasonic vibration propagation theory should be
allowed to work with the instrument.
Test problems must be identified, inspection layouts shall be chosen, conditions of
performing inspection using similar materials shall be estimated, etc., for proper
ultrasonic inspection.
Continuous improvement of the instrument functions and its reliability and usability
sometimes results in minor changes that are not reflected in the current version of the
operation manual. Therefore, they do not affect the technical specifications of the
instrument.
1.2.1 The intended use of the instrument
1.2.1.1 Intended use and operation range
Thickness gauges are pocket-type portable ultrasonic gauges of general-purpose.
The instruments are designed to perform wall thickness measurements of boilers,
containers, pressure-operated vessels, hull plates, and other items made of black and
non-ferrous metals, as well as small-diameter metal and plastic pipes (from 20 mm) with
even and corroded surfaces with roughness Rz160 and minimum bending radius from
10 mm.
One can use the instrument under laboratory, field, and workshop conditions in various
industries. Please be sure to perform the surface pre-treatment using couplant. Contact
lubricants can be as follows: multiple oils, water, glycerin, special contact liquids, and
ultrasonic testing gels, etc.

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Operation manual
Operation manual
1.2.1.2 Operation conditions
The instrument is designed to work under the following conditions:
· ambient air temperature ranges from - 30 to +50 С;
· relative air humidity up to 95 % at +35 С.
1.2.2 Technical specifications
The table below lists the main instrument parameters.
Table 1: Key instrument parameters
Parameter
Value
Measurement range of the
thickness (steel), mm
from 0.8 to 75.00 (double-crystal transducer)
from 25 to 100.00 (double-crystal transducer)
Sampling rate of the thickness
indication, mm:
from 0.80 to 9.99 mm
from 10.0 to 100.0 mm
0.01
0.1
Setting range of ultrasound
velocity, m/s
from 1000 to 9000
Type of the built-in transducer
double-crystal or single element
Frequency of the built-in
transducer, MHz
7 (double-crystal) or 5 (single element)
Diameter of the work surface of
the built-in transducer, mm
8 (double-crystal) or 10 (single element)
Power
built-in LiPol rechargeable battery
Nominal battery voltage, V
3.7
Period of continuous operation of
the instrument powered from the
completely charged accumulator
under normal environmental
conditions, min.
16 h
Overall dimensions, max.
125 × 25 × 15 mm
Maximum weight, g
40
Average time between failures,
min.
18 000 h
Average service life, min.
5 years
1.2.3 Instrument design and operation principle

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A1207 PenGauge © 2022 Acoustic Control Systems –ACS Group
Operation manual
Operation manual
1.2.3.1 Instrument design
А1207 Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge is a pocket-type one-piece case (see figure below)
with a built-in accumulator battery and a built-in double-crystal transducer or single-
crystal transducer (if requested).
Lab
le
Description
u
On/Off Key
v
Capsule of the piezoelectric transducer
w
Tip
x
Tuning keys
y
Digital display
z
USB port
{
Eyelet for strap
The instrument's design allows the replacement of the worn-out capsule of the built-in
transducer by unscrewing the tip detaching the transducer capsule from the instrument
without extra tools (see Replacement of the transducer capsule ).
The key is used to:
· switch the instrument On/Off;
· toggle between the measurement units (millimeters/inches).
The setting keys and are used to switch:
· the velocity adjustment mode;
· the calibration mode.
The digital measurement results, the ultrasound velocity, the accumulator battery state,
and the current measurement units (see figure below) are displayed on the screen.
The USB connector is used to connect the power adaptor 220 V – USB to charge the
built-in accumulator battery.
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Operation manual
Operation manual
Lab
le
Description
u
Thickness measurement result
v
Accumulator charge level
w
Measurements units
1.2.3.2 Operation principle
The instrument measures the time of the double movement of ultrasonic pulses through
the inspected object from one surface to another. This time is converted to the thickness
value using a known velocity value.
The piezoelectric transducer integrated into the instrument’s case sends ultrasonic
pulses into the inspected object and receives their reflections. The transducer is put on
the surface of the tested object in the point where the thickness should be measured.
1.3 Intended use
1.3.1 Operating restrictions
The instrument is designed to be operated under conditions listed in the section
Operation condition .
1.3.2 Factors influencing the operation of the instrument and accuracy of the
readings
1.3.2.1 State of the surface
Loose or exfoliating rust, corrosion, or dirt on the surface of the object to be tested can
influence the transmission of the ultrasonic sound in the material. Hence such surface
should be cleaned of the rust and scale followed by applying more contact fluid as
compared to the fluid amount required for the smooth surface.
Thorough cleaning of the rough corroded surfaces will increase the accuracy of the
measurements and prolong the transducer's lifetime.
If there is a thick layer of paint on the surface or the paint starts to pill off, then remove it
since the thick paint layer reduces the signal and can produce a false echo, thus resulting
in false measurement results. The measurements can be executed through the thin paint
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Operation manual
Operation manual
layer (0.1-0.3 mm). At that, the result of the measurements will include the thickness
value of the paint layer.
If there is a thick layer of paint on the surface or the paint starts to pill off, then remove it
since the thick paint layer reduces the signal and can produce a false echo resulting in
false measurement results.
1.3.2.2 Putting the piezoelectric transducer onto the surface
The piezoelectric transducer should be tightly pressed to the surface of the tested item to
provide a good transmission of the ultrasonic sound into the material.
When measuring the wall thicknesses of the cylindrical objects, minimal diameters, we
recommend using viscous lubricant (viscous contact liquid) and applying more liquid to
the point of contact.
Tightly pressing the piezoelectric transducer to the tube's surface and watching the
instrument's readings, lean the transducer from side to side in the plane perpendicular to
the tube's axis. At that move, the transducer gradually along the tube's wall. Do not slide
along the wall to decrease the wearing of the working surface of the piezoelectric
transducer.
If scanning is required, e.g., when searching for local thin areas of the material, then do it
as gently as possible, do not apply strong pressure, and use clean contact grease only
on the pre-cleaned surface.
The instrument's readings when the transducer is leaning from the middle position will be
increased a little. The minimum steady reading of the instrument contacting the tube’s
wall with the middle of the working surface of the piezoelectric transducer will be
considered the actual value of the measured thickness. If the transducer strongly leans
from this position, then the instrument's readings could increase in discrete steps.
The tested objects with double convex curvature (tubes’ bends, spherical coverings and
so on) are the most difficult for inspection since they can be contacted in a single point
only. If so, the transducer should contact the object in the middle of its working surface.
1.3.2.3 Non-parallelism or eccentricity
If the external and internal surfaces of the inspected material are not parallel or are
eccentric to each other, then the reflected wave (echo – signal) will deviate from the
required direction, and the accuracy of the readings will decrease.
1.3.2.4 Acoustic properties of the material
Some properties of the constructive materials can essentially limit the measurement
accuracy and measurable thickness range, and they can also increase the measurement
error.
1.3.2.4.1 Sound dispersion
In some materials (some types of stainless steel, cast-iron, composites), the sound
energy is being dispersed (on the crystallite molding or additions in the composites). This
effect reduces the possibility of the quality receipt of the signal reflected from the
backside of the tested object, thus limiting the abilities of the ultrasound measurements.
1.3.2.4.2 Variation of velocity
Sound velocity can vary essentially when the sound goes from one point to another in
some materials. This effect in some types of cast stainless steel and copper is caused

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Operation manual
Operation manual
by the relatively big size of the grains and by the anisotropy of the sound velocity with
respect to the grain orientation.
1.3.3 Making the instrument ready for operation
1.3.3.1 Surface preparation
Carefully clean the surface of an inspected object from dirt, friable rust, and scale before
measurements. Apply a sufficient amount of the lubricant to the area of inspection.
1.3.3.2 Switching On/Off the instrument
To switch on the thickness gauge, shortly press the key.
On the instrument's screen, a moving message with the manufacturer name and
firmware version is displayed for several seconds.
The instrument will switch into the measurement mode. The horizontal strokes, the
accumulator battery state, and the current measurement units are displayed on the
screen.
To switch off the thickness gauge, press and hold the key for more than two seconds.
The instrument will automatically switch off in 5 minutes if neither keys are pressed, nor
the measurement process goes.
1.3.3.3 Select the measurement units
Select the measurement units: metric or imperial.
METRIC ("mm" shall be indicated) – the instrument measures the thickness in mm; the
instrument uses m/s for velocity.
IMPERIAL ("in" shall be indicated) – the instrument measures the thickness in inches (in);
the instrument uses inch/ms (in/ms) for velocity.
To select the measurement units, while switching on the instrument, press and hold the
key until the screen changes the displayed measurement values from "mm" (metric
system) to "in" (imperial system) or vice-versa.