ElektroPhysik MiniTest 430 Use and care manual

MiniTest 430
Technical Reference and Operating Manual
Advancing with Technology
ElektroPhysik
VERSION: 3.03

ElektroPhysik
Subject to change without notice
ElektroPhysik Dr. Steingroever GmbH & Co. KG
Pasteurstr.15
50735 Koln
Deutschland
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web: www.elektrophysik.com
Mail: info@elektrophysik .com
Disclaimer
Inherent in ultrasonic thickness
measurement is the possibility that the
instrument will use the second rather
than the first echo from the back
surface of the material being
measured. This may result in a
thickness reading that is TWICE what
it should be. Responsibility for proper
use of the instrument and recognition
of this phenomenon rests solely with
the user of the instrument

Contents
ElektroPhysik
Contents
1 General description......................................................................... E-1
2 Technical specification.................................................................... E-1
3 Measuring principle........................................................................ E-2
4 Complete set, spare parts and contents......................................... E-3
【4.1】Complete set ........................................................................... E-3
【4.2】Display.................................................................................... E-4
【4.3】Keypad.................................................................................... E-5
5 Preparation before measurement.................................................. E-6
【5.1】Preparation of the instrument.................................................. E-6
【5.2】Selection of the Probe............................................................. E-6
【5.3】Treatment of the measured surface......................................... E-7
6 Function operation.......................................................................... E-7
【6.1】Switch on ................................................................................ E-7
【6.2】Measurement........................................................................... E-8
【6.3】Calibration .............................................................................. E-8
【6.4】Menu display and operations.................................................. E-9
〖6.4.1〗Measuring mode................................................. E-10
〖6.4.2〗Sound velocity of the instrument ....................... E-12
〖6.4.3〗Database............................................................. E-11
〖6.4.4〗Measurement Unit.............................................. E-12
〖6.4.5〗Gain setting........................................................ E-13
〖6.4.6〗Switch off mode................................................. E-13
〖6.4.7〗Contrast.............................................................. E-14
〖6.4.8〗Language............................................................ E-14
〖6.4.9〗Gauge data ......................................................... E-14
〖6.4.10〗Probe calibration.............................................. E-12
〖6.4.11〗Totalt reset........................................................ E-14
【6.5】Data....................................................................................... E-14
7 Measuring technology................................................................... E-15
【7.1】Measuring methods............................................................. E-15

Contents
ElektroPhysik
【7.2】Pipeline measurement method............................................ E-16
8 Maintenance and precautions...................................................... E-16
【8.1】Power check.......................................................................... E-16
【8.2】Precautions............................................................................ E-17
〖8.2.1〗General precautions.......................................... E-17
〖8.2.2〗Precaution during the measuring...................... E-17
9 Standard delivery.......................................................................... E-18
Appendix........................................................................................... E-19

General description
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1 General description
Ultrasonic thickness gauge adopts micro-processor technology and the
ultrasonic measuring principle. It is used to measure the thickness or
sound velocity of metals and various other materials.
Before usage, please read the operation manual carefully to get to know
about the functions of the instrument and master the operations.
2 Technical specification
Display screen: 128×64 LCD dot matrix LCD display (with backlight)
Display digital: 4 digital
Measuring range: 0.65mm～500.0mm (Steel)
Display accuracy: 0.1mm (When the measured value is bigger than
100mm) ;
0.01mm (When the measured value is less than
100mm)
Accuracy: 0.65mm～9.99mm ±0.04mm
10.00mm～99.99mm ±(0.1%H+0.04) mm
100.0mm～500.0mm ±0.3%H
Sound velocity: 1000m/s～9999m/s
Data storage: 10 files including 5000 data
Measurement frequency: 2 times/sec in normal mode
10 times/sec in scan mode
Zero calibration: Auto
Auto switch off: 2 minutes, 5 minutes or shut down manually.
Power: 2 AA batteries, work 64 hours continuously.
Environment: Operating temperature: -20℃～50℃
Storage temperature: -25℃～60℃
Dimensions: 130mm（L）×73mm（W）×24mm（H）
Weight: 190g (Without battery)
Optional accessory: Probe: U5.0, U7.5, U10.0, U5HT, U2.0.

Complete set
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3 Measuring principle
The ultrasonic wave emitted from the probe transmitted through the
coupling agents and reach the measured work-piece. One part of then is
reflected on the work-piece surface and the probe receive the reflected
echo. By accurately measuring the ultrasonic travel time, the thickness
will be getting and displayed.
4 Complete set, spare parts and contents
【4.1】Complete set
①Screen
②Keypad
③Battery compartment (back cover )
④Nameplate(back cover )
⑤Probe socket (identify pin)
⑥USB interface
1
2
3
6
4
5

Display
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【4.2】Display
1The measured data file groups and the storage data in each file group.
2Probe type
3Full battery Flat battery indicator
4Measuring mode
5Measurement icon and measuring unit
6The current selected gain method of the amplifier
7The current selected sound velocity
8The current measured data
①
②
③
⑤
⑥
④
⑧
⑦

Keypad
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【4.3】Keypad
①Power ON/OFF, press this key to switch on or switch off the
instrument.
②
Menu key, press this key to go to the operation menu.
③Up and down key, achieve switch among the menu
the menu operation. Press the up key to switch on or off the
backlight.
④In menu operation, press “OK”to confirm, and “ESC”to
exit.
⑤Shortcut key of calibration. auto calibration and sound velocity
measurement are available.
⑥
Data shortcut key.
Note: For the operation of each function key, it will give detailed
instruction in the function operation below.

Preparation
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5 Preparation before measurement
【5.1】Preparation of the instrument
For the newly purchased instrument, please check the instrument and its
accessory according to the standard delivery table in chapter 9. If you find
it is not the same as the table listed, please contact the manufacture in
time. If the instrument is damaged, please do not use it and contact the
manufacture as soon as possible.
【5.2】Selection of the Probe
Type
Frequency
Measuring range
Temperature
U5.0
5.0MHz
0.8mm～300mm
<60℃
U5HT
5.0MHz
3.0mm～100mm
<350℃
U7.5
7.5MHz
0.65mm～50mm
<60℃
U10.0
10.0MHz
0.65mm～20mm
<60℃
U2.0
2.0MHz
2.0mm～500mm
<60℃
Users can select the suitable probe according to the thickness of the
work-piece to be measured.
U5.0: The probe is used common in many measurements, for example
when the measuring surface is flat or with huge curvature, or the
thickness of the work-piece to be measured is large than 50mm.
U5HT: Mainly used in the thickness measurement when the temperature
is less than 350℃
U7.5: Mainly used in the measurement of thin wall thickness and
small curvature surface.
U10.0: Mainly used in the measurement of thin wall thickness and
small curvature surface.
U2.0: Mainly used in the measurement of coarse particles such as cast
iron.

Function
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【5.3】Treatment of the measured surface
When the surface to be measured is too rough or rusty heavily, please
perform the treatment according to the following methods:
1. Clean the measured surface by grinding, polishing or filing, etc. or
use coupling agent with high viscosity for that.
2. Use coupling agents on the work-piece surface to be measured.
3. Take multiple measurements around the same testing point.
6 Function operation
【6.1】Switch on
Select the probe and insert it into the probe socket and then press
to switch on the instrument, the following screen displays:
If you did not insert the probe before switching on the instrument, the
screen will prompt you than “Please insert the probe”, at this moment
insert the probe into the socket and waiting to go to the measuring status.
Note: Please use the standard provided probe, otherwise the
instrument will does not work normally and displaying “Error”.

Measurement
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【6.2】Measurement
There are two ways to access to measurement status, which are:
1. Insert the standard probe and switch on the instrument to go to the
measuring status.
2. During menu operation, press “ESC”to return back to the measuring
status.
【6.3】Calibration
It will cause error during the primary stage of usage and operating, this
caused by the following three aspects:
1. The probe itself or the temperature variation
2. System error caused by the match of the instrument and the probe.
3. Calculation error caused by the sound velocity set in the instrument is
different from that of the actual material. In order to eliminate the possible
error, the instrument provides three solutions to resolve it.
Press key, and then press or to select the options.
〖6.3.1〗Auto calibration
Using different probe, wear out probe and the environment temperature
will all cause measurement error, for these factors, the “Auto calibration”
function is available.

Velocity
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Note: during calibration, ensure the clean of the probe surface
because the attached coupling agents and other dirt will influence the
calibration accuracy. When the measuring temperature changes greatly,
it is recommended to use this function to make sure the measurement is
accuracy.
〖6.3.2〗Velocity measurement
Because the work-piece is made from various materials and even the same
material with different content and processing technology, the sound
velocity will changed and this change will cause the measuring error. If
the error is not enough to influence the measuring accuracy, it can be
neglect, otherwise it is necessary to get the accurate sound velocity of the
work-piece to be measured. The velocity measurement can be used, the
usage is as follows:
1. Select or preset the sound velocity almost that of the material.
2. Select an measured sample whose thickness is nearly the same as the
work-piece to be measured and measure the actual thickness by other
measuring methods.
3. Use the instrument to measure the samples and get a thickness value.
4.
Adjust the sound velocity and make the measured thickness value is
almost or the same with that of the samples.
5. Re-measure the sample's thickness and recheck the deviation
between the measured value and the actual value. If the two values are the
same, that sound velocity is the accurate value of the materials.

Main menu
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【6.4】Menu display and operations
Press to enter the menu screen and press or to
select the options. Press “OK” to go to the selected option item, Press
“ESC” to exit and go to measuring status.
.

Measuring mode
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〖6.4.1〗Measuring mode
There are five measuring modes provided, users can select different
measuring modes according to their requirements and measuring
environments.
Standard measurement: display the current value, satisfied with the
normal measuring needs.
Minimum value measurement: Among one measurement，display the
minimum value of the current measured point. It is suitable for testing the
curvature surface or needs to get the minimum value which is widely used
in the thickness measurement of pipeline.
Note: it is not recommended to use this function when measuring
cast iron or alloy materials
Differential mode: display the accurate differential value between the
measured value and reference value set by the users, suitable for
quality check to identifying the qualified products whose thickness is in
the admissive error.
Upper and lower limit setting: set the upper and lower limit, when the
measured thickness exceeds the preset limit, it will display and give
alarm, this measurement mode is more widely used than differential
mode.
Scan mode: This mode is recommended to measure the high temperature
work-piece.
After going to the measuring mode, the instrument display:

Measuring mode
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Sound velocity
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〖6.4.2〗Sound velocity of the instrument
Sound velocity played an important role in measurement. Different
material is of different sound velocity. When the sound velocity is
incorrect, it will cause wrong measured results. There are two ways to
select the material's sound velocity, which are material selection and sound
velocity setting.
《6.4.2.1》Material selection
If the material and its sound velocity is known, users can select a sound
velocity which is almost that of the standard material. The material options
give the sound velocity of 9 different materials which can be select by
yourself.
Note: the 9 values are just the theriotic values, if users want to get
accuret measuremnts , please refer to the sound velictiy function and get
he more accurate sound velocity.
The 9 materials are: aluminum, titanium, steel, stainless steel, glass,
copper, brass, polystyrene and nylon.

Database
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《6.4.2.2》Velocity Custom
When the sound velocity of 9 materials is not satisfied with the requirements
of the users, there is a sound velocity tabe which give the sound velocity of
various materials in the appendix. Use this tale to set the correct sound
velocity.
Note: For more accurate measurements, please refer to 〖6.3.2〗the
function of sound velocity measuring to get more accurate sound velocity.
〖6.4.3〗Database
The instrument provides 10 file groups storage space. 500 group data can be
stored in each file group, so the total storage space is 5000 groups data. In
each group data concludes following contents, such as the measured data,
probe type, sound velocity and the selected measuring mode.
In the database, users can set or delete any file in the 10 file groups.
《6.4.3.1》Memory setting
In this function, users can select a file name according to your actual
needs, once the file is selected , it will become the current file which used to
save the measured data.

Memory delete
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The figure below shows the file is selected but there is no data in it.
The figure below shows the file is selected and there are storage data in it.
Note: If some file is selected and has storage data in it, but the users
change the probe or measuring mode and want to save measured data to
the file again, the instruments will prompt users to select another file, the
set file is not available.
《6.4.3.2》Memory delete
When the users confirm to delete the used file, this function can be used to
manage the files.
Firstly, choose the file you want to delete and select it:
Note: When delete some file, all storage measured data in the file will
be deleted. So users should confirm the invalid data before deleting files or
backup the files in your PC.

Measurement Unit
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〖6.4.4〗Measurement Unit
Users can select the displayed accuracy and the measuring unit. When
selecting the high accuracy, the workpiece surface to be measured should
be smooth, for the purpose of get a accurate value.
Note: when probe U5.0 and U2.0 is selected, it is recommended to
use 0.1 mm and 0.01in.
〖6.4.5〗Gain setting
In the user's measuring environment, both different materials and the same
material with different status will have different effects on the accurate
and stable measuring. So for different measured objects and different
measuring environment, users should adjust the work status of the
instrument to meet more measurements.
For many materials and measuring conditions, auto gain adjustment can be
used, but for some special measurement, adjusting the instrument's
working status is necessary. There are four different working modes: Auto,
Low, medium and high.
Auto: match different probe and meets almost all the measuring
requirements.
Low: Suitable for high scattering and small attenuation materials
Medium: Suitable for many measurements.

Switch off
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High: Suitable for high attenuation materials.
〖6.4.6〗Switch off mode
The instrument provides three ways to control the power:
1. Without operation in two minutes, the instruments will switch off
automatically.
2. Without operations in five minutes, the instrument will switch off
automatically.
3. Auto switch off is unavailable.
Note: When select “Disable”, users should switch off the
instrument power manually to save power.
〖6.4.7〗Contrast
There are six contrast levels to meet the measuring requirements.
〖6.4.8〗Language
There are only two languages can be selected, which are Germany and
English. Other languages will be added in future.