Eddyfi Technologies TSC PACE User manual

TSC PACE
Getting Started with

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Contents
Overview 1
Introducing TSC PACE 1
PACE™ Instrument 2
SENSU™ Probes 2
Home Screen 3
Job Setup 4
Next Scan Parameters 5
Data Screen 7
Scanning Modes 7
Scanning Data 8
Data Analysis 9
Scroll and Zoom 9
Replay 9
Camera 10
Defect Sizing 11
Field Report 13
Page Properties 14
System Settings 15
System Settings 15
Data Backup 16
Clearing Scan Pages and Information 16
Restoring Lost Data 16
Software Update 17
Troubleshooting 18
Software Crash on Start-up 18
High Temperature Warning 18
Low Battery Warning 18
Safety and Care Information 19
General Safety Information 19
Taking care of your instrument 20
Cleaning the Instrument: 20

| 1
Overview
Introducing TSC PACE
This document describes the operation and use of the PACE™ Instrument and its accompanying
software.
PACE™ is an advanced portable NDE tool designed to inspect metallic materials for surface breaking
cracks. It is based on an inspection technique called Alternating Current Field Measurement
(ACFM®) which has a proven track record in the oil and gas industry.
ACFM® is an electromagnetic technique that uses a probe to induce a small uniform AC current to
ow in the surface of the material under test. Defects in the material will disturb this current ow
and this disturbance will be reected in the magnetic eld above the surface of the material.
Sensors in the probe measure the disturbances and produce characteristic signals when aws are
present. Analysis of the magnitude of the disturbance gives a prediction of the depth of the defect.
Overview

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PACE™ Instrument
PACE™ is a portable, lightweight instrument that embodies robust, user-centric, ergonomic features;
with a high-contrast toughened screen, long battery life (8+ hours) and supported by a new
generation of software. It supports left and right handed use and has four secure harness attachment
points.
Figure 1 PACE Front Panel Overview
1. A,C & T
Select anticlockwise, clockwise and
transverse scan direction. During a scan A,
C & T produce linear, clock and general
markers respectively.
2. Green button
Start and stop the data collection.
3. Yellow button
Pause and unpause the data collection
during a scan.
4. F1 – F4
Page specic function buttons.
5. Question mark
Used to open context specic help les.
6. Yellow arrows
Used for selection during navigation and
for toggling through view setting when
reviewing data.
7. Green tick button
Used for selection during menu navigation
and for toggling through view setting
when reviewing data.
8. Back button
Used to go back one step during menu
navigation.
SENSU™ Probes
The PACE™ instrument works with the SENSU™ branded probes, previous ACFM probes are not
compatible with this system.
The probes included in the standard system are of two types: a straight 5 kHz pencil probe (Type
618) and a right-angled pencil 5 kHz probe (Type 619). Other probe types are available on request.
Overview
1
2
3
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Home Screen
The PACE™ instrument can be started by pressing the power button located on the top right of the
system. The boot up sequence will take the user to the PACE™ Home screen.
Figure 2 PACE™ Home Screen
The top right hand corner displays hardware information, namely, the PACE™ instrument serial
number, SENSU™ probe serial number and the next recalibration date. The bottom right hand side
displays the next scan parameters and can be altered in the Next Scan Param window. The left
hand side displays a legend for the left/right hand keypads.
The probe les for the SENSU™ probes are pre-loaded onto the probe and auto-install onto the
system when the probe is connected to the system.
Home Screen

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Figure 3 Probe Disconnected Message
When the probe is disconnected a “No Probe” message will be displayed on the top of the screen.
Job Setup
The Job Setup window is where the operator can set up all the information relevant to the inspection
before the job begins.
Figure 4 Job Setup Window
In this window the operator can add/edit the Operator names, Site, Component and Sub-Component
used for the job(s). The operator can also lter the displayed data in the Data Screen to display data
selected by Operator, Site, Component or Sub-component.
The Probe Info tab displays the technical attributes of the attached probe (Phase, frequency, Gain,
etc).
Home Screen

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Entering Job Information
Selecting any of the job parameters will open a window to add, edit or delete the selected list.
Figure 5 Entering Job Information
• Add new allows the operator to add new entries.
• Add copy allows the operator to edit a copy of one the entries as a new entry.
• Select allows the operator to select an entry and goes back to the previous screen.
• Edit opens a new window that allows the operator to edit the entry, move it up and down in the
list or delete it.
Next Scan Parameters
The Next Scan Parameters window is where the operator toggles through the dierent scan
properties of the next scan to be performed.
Figure 6 Next Scan Parameters
Home Screen

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The operator can cycle through the entered sub-component list as well as the pre-set weld location,
scan type and scan direction lists. If the attached probe has more than one material cong; these
can also be chosen from this menu.
If the inspection is being conducted through insulating coating, the thickness of the coating can be
specied here.
The clock marks settings located in the bottom right of the screen can be congured to give the
desired start and end marker as well as if the marks are incrementing or decrementing.
Pressing the Scan Notes button opens the text editor and allows the operator to pre-enter the notes
for the next scan. It is also possible to edit/enter notes after a scan in the page properties tab.
Home Screen

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Data Screen
The data screen is the main screen for viewing and analysing the scan data.
Figure 7 Data Screen
The top window shows the Bx trace, the bottom window shows the Bz trace and the Top-right
windows shows the buttery plot.
The bottom-right window displays page specic scan information.
The scan can be moved around using the up/down/left/right on the keypad
Scanning Modes
The data can be viewed and scanned in three dierent modes, namely cong, centered and t.
The active scanning mode can be viewed in the info box under the buttery plot
• Cong mode is the default modes and takes its scale numbers directly from the probe le.
• Centered mode is a dynamic scanning mode that tracks the Bx and Bz lines and auto-centres
them if they drift o-screen.
• Fit mode is a dynamic scanning mode that auto-ts the entire scan to the page
Note that the t mode will change the scaling away from the default. When this occurs a
“Scalings Lost!” message will appear on the Bx/Bz trace.
Pressing the arrow keys to move the traces up and down also holds the scanning mode in that
current position. Any new scans or scrolling of scan pages will preserve this held mode until the scan
mode is toggled.
Data Screen

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Scanning Data
To begin a live scan the operator needs to press A/C or T to select the scan direction and then the
Start scan button. Alternatively, if the scan parameters need to change, the operator can press the
Pause button to quick access the Next Scan Parameters window, use T to scroll through the selection
and A/C to cycle through the options before pressing Start scan button to begin the scan.
Figure 8 Next Scan Parameters Quick Access
Markers
During the scan the operator can add marks to the data by pressing A, C or T for linear marks, clock
marks and general marks respectively.
Figure 9 Markers
Linear marks start from 1 and continuously increase. Clock marks can start from any number
(dened in Next Scan Parameters) and they loop around a maximum number, they can also be set
to increment or decrement.
The clock marks can be congured from the Next Scan Parameters window.
Data Screen

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Data Analysis
To aid in the interpretation and analysis of the ACFM data, the PACE™ instrument has a number of
useful features, namely, Scroll and Zoom, Replay, Camera, Defect Sizing and Scan Report.
Scroll and Zoom
The Scroll and Zoom screen is where the operator can zoom and move the selected screen.
Figure 10 The Zoom Function
The operator can zoom in and out using F1 and F2 function buttons and scroll through the data left
and right using F3 and F4 function buttons.
Replay
The Replay screen is where the operator can replay the selected scan.
Figure 11 The Replay Screen
Data Analysis

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The operator can toggle the replay speed using F1 and F2 function buttons, Pause the replay using
F3 and stop the replay with F4.
The replay will continuously loop until stopped by the operator.
Camera
The camera function allows the operator to take photos of the inspection piece to be included in
the report or imported separately.
Figure 12 Camera
Pictures can be taken using the F4 button “Take Picture” or the Tbutton. The number of shots taken
is displayed on the right hand side of the screen. The shots taken are always associated with the
current scan page in the data screen. After data backup the raw pictures can be found in the scan
page folder.
Data Analysis

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Defect Sizing
When a defect is found, the length and depth of it can be calculated from the Defect Sizing screen.
In the screen, F3 button adds a defect zone active window to begin the procedure.
Figure 13 Defect Sizing – Auto Snapping
There are two modes for sizing defects, auto snapping and manual snapping. In auto snapping
mode, the Bx and Bz sizing lines automatically snap to features as you move the active window.
The active window is moved using the left/right arrows and the width of the window is adjusted
using the up and down arrow.
Figure 14 Defect Sizing - Manual Snapping
In manual snapping mode, the Bx and Bz sizing lines can be adjusted manually by the operator. F2
button can be used to toggle between the Bx and Bz chart, the left/right arrows are used to move
both lines and the up/down arrow moves just right line in the Bz and the Depth line in Bx.
The typical procedure (using Figure 14 as an example) would be to use left/right arrows to line up the
Trough and Background lines then up/down arrows to line up the Peak and Depth lines.
Data Analysis

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Figure 15 Defect Sizing - Calculating the length and depth
Once the operator has the set the sizing lines, the F3 button will open the Size now screen.
In Size now, the operator can input the length estimate for the defect and the software will return
a calculated length and depth.
Figure 16 Defect Sizing - Region with defect information
F4 button will save the calculated length and depth. This is displayed on the scan page as a defect
region with text displaying the defect #, length, depth and coating thickness.
More defects on the page can be sized by adding a new defect zone active window using the F3
button “Add Defect Zone”
Defect zone(s) can be toggled through and edited using the F2 button “Select Defect”
Defect zone(s) can be deleted by selecting and navigating to F4 button “More” and selecting
“Delete Defect Zone”
Data Analysis

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Field Report
The eld report function allows the operator to collect all the scan information (defect info, notes,
probe info, photos) and creates a formatted report in pdf and word format. Navigate to F4 button
“More” and select “Create/Edit Scan Report”.
Figure 17 Field Report Generation
Figure 18 Example Field Report
Pressing the F4 button “Save to File” will save the report to the hard drive. If the page information
is subsequently edited, recreating and then saving the report will update the information. Additional
images of the scan (zoomed in, dierent scale etc.) can be added to the report using the “Add
Chart Image to Report” function.
Data Analysis

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Page Properties
While reviewing the scan data it is possible to view the full scan parameters from the Page Properties
window. Pressing the F4 button “More” then “Page Properties” will open the window.
Figure 19 Page Properties
From the parameter list, operator name, scan direction, weld location, notes can be edited if
required from this window.
Data Analysis

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System Settings
System Settings
From the system settings menu it is possible to toggle the max scan time, brightness settings,
timezone, day-night mode, display units and help language.
Figure 20 System Settings
• The max scan time sets how long an individual scan can go before the software auto-stops it,
this ranges from 3 – 10 minutes.
• The brightness setting dims and brightness the screen to the operators preference, this can also
be done in the home screen using the up/down arrows.
• The timezone setting changes the time to reect the present geographic region.
Note: An automatic restart of the instrument is initiated whenever the timezone is changed
• The measurement setting switches between metric and imperial units.
• Day-night mode switches the Data screen from the daytime bright screen to a dimmer night
mode.
System Settings

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Data Backup
After an inspection, all the scan pages, photos and reports can be saved to a USB stick from the
System Settings menu.
With a USB attached, pressing the F1 button “Save Data” will save the scan les to the USB.
Figure 21 Saving Data
Clearing Scan Pages and Information
After data backup, it is possible to delete the scan pages and job setup information from the
system. From the system settings menu pressing the F2 button “Clean Scan pages” and F3 button
“Clean User data” will delete the scan pages and job setup information respectively.
Restoring Lost Data
If for any reason the scan data or job setup information is lost before a backup is performed, it is
possible to restore the lost data from the hard drive. In System Setting, pressing the F4 button
“More” then “Restore Scans” will restore the scan database.
System Settings

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Software Update
It is possible to update the PACE™ software to a newer version or reinstall the current version from
the System Settings. With the USB stick with the PACE™ software inserted, pressing the F4 button
“More” then “Update Software” will initiate the installation process.
Figure 22 PACE™ Software Update
Note: that a software update will delete all scan pages and job setup information on the
PACE™ unit
Note: It is recommended to back up the data before a software update.
System Settings

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Troubleshooting
Software Crash on Start-up
On instrument start-up, if the software fails to load or displays an error message, attempt to resolve
the issue by restarting the instrument.
If the same error occurs, it is possible to rebuild the software by pressing and holding the power
button for 15 seconds.
If a software rebuild does not resolve the problem, it is possible to reinstall a fresh version of the
PACE™ software from the PACE™ Software Factory Default USB.
Turn o the PACE™ instrument and insert the USB stick before powering the instrument again.
A window should display and guide you through the reinstall process.
High Temperature Warning
If the operating temperature of the instrument gets too hot a waning message will display informing
the operator that the instrument will auto-shutdown in 1 minute. It is recommended the user stops
scanning and save the data before the auto-shutdown. Steps should be taken to cool down the
instrument.
While it is possible to use the instrument while it is charging, this is not recommended as it is highly
likely to make the instrument too hot and induce a high temperature warning.
Low Battery Warning
If the battery level of the instrument reaches 5% a warning message will display informing the
operator that the instrument will auto-shutdown in 1 minute. It is recommended the user stops
scanning and save the data before the auto-shutdown. The instrument should be placed on charge
before any further inspections are to be carried out.
For more troubleshooting please consult the User Manual or contact the manufacturer.
Troubleshooting