NDT Systems TG110DL User manual

NDT Systems Inc
TG110DL User’s Manual

TG110DL User’s Manual
1 | P a g e NDT Systems, Inc. 5542 Buckingham Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, PH: 714-893-2438
Table Of Contents Page Number
1. INTRODUCTION 2
2. AREAS OF APPLICATION 3
3. PRINCIPAL OF OPERATION 4
4. DEVICE REFERENCE 5
5. BUTTON AND INDICATOR DESCRIPTIONS 6
6. MAIN MENU FEATURES 8
7. DATA LOGGER 12
8. SCROLLING B-SCAN 14
9. PREPARATION FOR USE 15
10. CALIBRATION PROCEDURES 18
11. GAGING TIPS & TECHNIQUES 19
12. GAGING PRECAUTIONS 21
13. ACCESSORIES 22
14. TROUBLESHOOTING 24
15.WARRANTY 25
APPENDIX: Table of Common Material Sound Velocities 26

TG110DL User’s Manual
2 | P a g e NDT Systems, Inc. 5542 Buckingham Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, PH: 714-893-2438
1. INTRODUCTION
NDT Systems would like to thank you for your purchase of the TG110DL, Handheld Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge.
This instrument provides the best value and feature set currently available, and its robust construction will reward
you with many years of dependable performance.
The TG110DL features the following:
•Membrane-sealed keypad control to simplify its setup and use.
•Backlit 128 X 64 Pixel high contrast, graphic Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) allows for simple, plain text menus.
•Pocket-sized instrument incorporating NDT Systems’ “Easy Grip” Custom Extruded Aluminum Case delivers ultra-
portability.
•Microprocessor-based design offers unparalleled performance for numerous thickness gaging applications.
•Exclusive adjustable “Scan Bar”feature permits a simple, bar graph metered display of thickness for easy & rapid
view of thickness trend.
•Scrolling time-encoded B-Scan, Industry First on a handheld
•Automatic Probe Recognition / Legacy Probe Selection via Menu selection. No need to lose previous Nova 100D
Transducer investment. This makes upgrading even easier !!
•Fully Adjustable Velocity
•50,000 point Data Logger incorporating a navigable “Spread Sheet” View.
•Single & Two Point Calibration capable
•High & Low Alarm Limits interacting with data logger & high-speed scan mode.
•High Speed Scan Mode incorporates Alarm Capture & Hold
•Data Transfer port permits upload & download of log data
•Digital keypad lock to prevent accidental setup alteration

TG110DL User’s Manual
3 | P a g e NDT Systems, Inc. 5542 Buckingham Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, PH: 714-893-2438
2. AREAS OF APPLICATION
The TG110DL gauges a wide range of thicknesses on metals, plastics, ceramics, glass or virtually any other material
which conducts ultrasound. The actual range is material and application dependent, and requires fairly parallel (or
concentric) measurement surfaces.
The durable custom extruded, “Easy Grip” design allows the unit to withstand the rigors of heavier industrial
environments, while its accuracy makes it suitable for use in less rugged conditions.
A major application for the TG110DL is assessing wall thinning due to corrosion and erosion, including many types
of pitting action, at normal and elevated material temperatures.
Example subjects of evaluation:
Airframes/Aircraft windows Bulkheads
Axles, Wheels, Rails/Casings
Beams/Struts/Castings Billets/Bars/Containers
Boilers/Extrusions Bridges/Flanges
Forgings/Plates/Slabs/Blooms Glass Plate
Pressure Vessels Heat Exchanger
Tubing/Rolls Machined Parts
Ship Hulls/Decking Pipe/Tubing
Steam Lines Plastic Shapes
Pipe/Storage Tanks

TG110DL User’s Manual
4 | P a g e NDT Systems, Inc. 5542 Buckingham Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, PH: 714-893-2438
3. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The TG110DL operates on a principle similar to sonar, but at much higher frequencies and electronic speeds.
The figure below explains the ultrasonic pulse-echo principle that the TG110DL and its dual element probe
(transducer) employ. The probe's transmitter element (T) sends a short ultrasonic pulse into the material. The
pulse, reflected as an echo from the opposite, parallel surface of the material, subsequently returns to the probe's
receiver element (R).
The time it takes for the sound wave to travel from the transmitter to the back wall of the test material, and then
to the receiver is called the “round-trip time” or “Time of Flight” (ToF). The thickness of a test material is
determined by halving the round-trip time and multiplying the result by the material’s characteristic sound
velocity. Characteristic sound velocity differs in various materials, and may even differ in batches of the same
material. By precisely measuring roundtrip time and inputting the appropriate characteristic sound velocity, the
user of the TG110DL is able to gauge accurate and repeatable material thickness results. To find the appropriate
characteristic sound velocity for your application, please refer to the table of material velocities in this manual or
consult your test standard manufacturer.

TG110DL User’s Manual
5 | P a g e NDT Systems, Inc. 5542 Buckingham Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, PH: 714-893-2438
4. DEVICE REFERENCE
Exterior Features, Controls, and Connections
1. ON / OFF Button
2. Up Arrow / Velocity + Button
3. Down Arrow / Velocity –Button
4. Left Arrow / Mode Button Enter Button
5. Right Arrow & B-Scan Start Button
6. Enter Button
7. Menu Button
8. Zero Button
9. Log Access Button
10. Auto-Zero Reference Disc
11. Receiver Input Connector
12. Pulser Output Connector
13. Data Transfer Port
14. Battery Cover Top of Gauge Bottom of Gauge
Measurement Screen
1.Battery Level Meter
2. Scan Bar Scale
3. Scan Bar
4. Coupling Indicator
5. Thickness Reading (in/mm)
6. Current Probe Profile
7. Alarm Indicator
8. Keypad Lock Indicator
7
4
8
2
6
3
1
5
9
10
11
12
13
0
14
1
4
3
6
5
2
7
8

TG110DL User’s Manual
6 | P a g e NDT Systems, Inc. 5542 Buckingham Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, PH: 714-893-2438
5. BUTTON AND INDICATOR DESCRIPTIONS
ON/OFF: Turn on the TG110DL by momentarily depressing the ON/OFF button. Once the power is on and no
buttons are depressed, the display will display NDT Systems, Inc Logo & contact information and software version.
Numeric digits will be displayed once the system boots and is ready for initial calibration. Press and hold for 3/4 of
a Second to turn off. This delay prevents unintentional power off.
UP ARROW / VEL+ BUTTON: In menus the UP ARROW navigates a cursor up in menus. Acts as a Velocity+ or “High
Cal” value increase when in the main measurement screen. UP Arrow also navigates a cursor up in menus.
DOWN ARROW / VEL- BUTTON: In menus the DOWN ARROW navigates a cursor down in menus. Acts as a
Velocity- or “High Cal” value decrease when in the main measurement screen.
To display the ultrasonic velocity currently in memory, depress the up or down arrow momentarily. Velocity will be
displayed below thickness display area.
Scrolling Commands: The Scroll Commands are active when adjusting the velocity up or down. Scroll the
velocity/thickness readout by depressing either the up or down arrow to respectively increase or decrease the
value. Scrolling initially moves at a slow rate, then, after several seconds. it appreciably increases. Release the
scroll command pushbutton to stop the scrolling action. The change in scroll rate allows (1) coarse, large numerical
display changes in a short period of time by continuous command depression or (2) fine, small numerical display
changes - as small as one unit - by quick momentary depression (bumping) of the command.
LEFT ARROW / MODE BUTTON: In menus the LEFT ARROW decreases associated menu values or to navigate a
cursor to the left. Acts as a shortcut to cycle thought the THICKNESS MODE values.
RIGHT ARROW / SCAN BUTTON: In menus the RIGHT ARROW increases associated menu values or to navigate a
cursor to the right. Acts as a shortcut to the Scrolling B-Scan Mode from the main screen.
ENTER BUTTON: ENTER serves to activate various features throughout the TG110DL’s menu structure. ENTER also
serves to enter the current value of thickness into the selected cell of a LOG, while in the LOG mode.
MENU BUTTON: Access to the TG110DL’s special functions are available using this key. Press MENU while in a
menu to return to the main measurement screen
ZERO BUTTON: ZERO compensates for the individual characteristics of the specific probe in use.
DO NOT zero the probe on any other material sample except the Auto Zero Reference Disc, as it will cause
substantial gaging errors.
LOG BUTTON: Access to the TG110DL’s data logging features. Use the LOG menu to start a NEW LOG (only choice
of no other log exists), view an existing LOG, edit an existing LOG, ADD readings to an existing LOG or delete
existing LOGs.

TG110DL User’s Manual
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SCAN BAR & SCALE: The black bar at the bottom of the display is called a Scan Bar. This feature is unique to NDT
Systems handheld thickness gauges. A visual representation of the measured thickness, as the thickness value
changes the bar position across the screen changes. See figures below.
.249" reading on a total scale of .500" 0.093" reading on a total scale of 2.00"
NOTE: The Scan Bar is a visual representation of the measured thickness only. Setting the Scan Bar Scale maximum
or minimum values too high or too low will not affect the measured thickness.
COUPLING ICON: The Coupling Icon automatically changes states to help
indicate the quality of the thickness reading. A “coupled” state is indicated by
the cylinder making contact with the thin bar beneath. indicates satisfactory
coupling, adequate material penetration, and proper probe/beam
normalization (perpendicular to surface). Thickness readings must not be
considered reliable if the Coupling Icon fails to contact the bar, intermittently
blinks, or flickers on and off the bar.

TG110DL User’s Manual
8 | P a g e NDT Systems, Inc. 5542 Buckingham Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, PH: 714-893-2438
6. MAIN MENU FEATURES
Refer to the flow diagram below for the Menu selection tree. Press MENU on the keypad to move from the
measurement screen to the Menu screen.
DISPLAY: From the Menu screen place the cursor over the Display icon using the UP or DOWN buttons and press
the ENTER button. In the display menu the four available functions are “Adjust Scale”, “Backlight”, “Contrast”, and
“Units”).
Adjust Scale The Scan Bar Scale is user adjustable and can start and end at any
value within the TG110DL specifications. Suggested scale values might be 10%
over the maximum value of expected thickness to be measured. For instance, if
the material under test is never expected to exceed 0.500" in thickness then a
good maximum scale value would be 0.550". This will give the greatest amount
of visual motion within the range of thickness. If on the other hand, the max
thickness were still 0.500" and the scale were set to 5.00" then the range of
motion would be a very small proportion of the total scale.
To adjust the Scan Bar scale, press the press the MENU button and select ”Display”, then “Adjust Scale”. From this
point simply set the “Start” value to the appropriate minimum expected thickness using the LEFT and RIGHT
ARROW buttons. Then use the DOWN ARROW button to select “Stop” and adjust this value to the maximum
expected thickness value using the LEFT and RIGHT ARROW buttons. Be sure to keep this value within expected
thickness range for maximum effectiveness.

TG110DL User’s Manual
9 | P a g e NDT Systems, Inc. 5542 Buckingham Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, PH: 714-893-2438
Backlight: The backlight has three settings: AUTO, OFF, and ON. AUTO: the backlight will turn on automatically
when the transducer is coupled with the part under test, or when a button on the keypad is pressed. The backlight
will turn off automatically after approximately 5 seconds. OFF: The backlight will stay off indefinitely. ON: The
backlight will remain on continuously as long as the instrument is powered on.
NOTE: If the gauge is being used in an area with high ambient light, the backlight may not be needed. With the
backlight turned off battery life will be increased significantly. As it becomes more difficult to see the display in
darkened conditions, the backlight can be turned to the AUTO or ON settings.
Contrast: Scrolling the contrast value down will darken the display and scrolling the contrast value up will lighten
the display.
Units: Allows the operator to select the measurement units in inches (in) or millimeters (mm).
SELECT PROBE: From the Menu screen, move the cursor down to SELECT PROBE
and press the ENTER button to access the transducer selection menu. A list of
transducer part numbers will appear, allowing the user to select current probe.
The default probe is AUTO, which utilizes NDT Systems' patented automatic
probe recognition. In this mode the gauge has been set up for optimum
performance with the availa ble line of transducers specifically designed for the
TG110DL. Please see the accessories page for other available transducers.
Also available in the SELECT PROBE menu is a library list of legacy NOVA Series transducers. These transducers
were originally provided with the NDT Systems, Inc Nova 100D which has been available for many years. The items
on this list allow you to use your existing investments in Nova series transducers. In time this list will be increased
to support other transducers as well. These notifications will be available on the NDT Systems web site at
www.NDTSystems.com.
2 POINT CALIBRATION: An additional means of calibrating the TG-110DL to a
specific material. From the Menu screen, move the cursor down to 2 POINT CAL
and press the ENTER button to access the 2-point calibration setup display.
Perform the calibration of the low thickness and high thickness values from this
screen. Accuracies may be impr oved while using this calibration method,
particularly on smaller diameter piping or elbows. You will however, need a
sample material type you wish to measure with at least two known thickness points. To use this mode the user
places the transducer over the minimum thickness value to be measured and uses the right and left arrow buttons
to scroll the “Lo Thick” number to the known minimum thickness value. Scroll down to “Hi Thick” then place the
transducer on upper thickness value and again use the right and left arrow buttons to scroll to that known value.
While coupled to high thickness, press menu to save the calibration and return to the previous menu.
GAIN: From the Menu screen, move the cursor down to GAIN and use the LEFT and RIGHT arrow buttons to switch
between “High” and “Low”. This feature allows the user some flexibility when adjusting to various materials and
surface conditions. The default setting is “High”, but “Low should be used when measuring an extremely
acoustically conductive material like aluminum.

TG110DL User’s Manual
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ALARMS: From the Menu screen, move the cursor down to ALARMS and press the
ENTER button to access the alarm settings. There are four alarm modes, “Off”,
“Lo”, “Hi”, and “Lo/Hi”. Three modes allows the user to set a range of acceptable
thicknesses. Once the measured thickness falls outside that range, a red LED
indicator located near the menu button will illuminate, warning the user that the
measured thickness met one of the alarm conditions. “Off” prevents the alarm
from triggering. “Lo” triggers an alarm when the measured thickness falls below a set thickness. “Hi” triggers an
alarm when the measured thickness rises abov e a set thickness. “Lo/Hi” triggers and alarm when the measured
thickness falls below a set thickness or rises above a se t upper bound. The alarm thicknesses are set by moving the
cursor to either the LOW or HIGH menu item and then using the RIGHT or LEFT button to scroll to the appropriate
thickness value. The alarm mode is also interactive with the Min. Hold mode, as well as the data logger discussed
below.
THICKNESS MODE: From the Menu screen, move the cursor down to THICKNESS
MODE and press the ENTER key to access the various measurement modes.
Normal: In Normal thickness mode, the main display screen will present only the
current thickness value being measured. The Scan Bar will also relate to the
measured thickness. Normal is the default setting.
Differential: The Differential thickness mode displays the difference between the measured thickness and a user
defined thickness value. To define a thickness value, use the UP and DOWN arrow buttons to adjust the small
number below the primary thickness reading and press the ENTER button. The primary thickness will now display a
reading in inches that is greater or less than the user defined thickness value. A quick way to set the defined
thickness value while in Differential thickness mode is to set the probe on a test block of the desired value and
then press the ENTER key. The nominal value will then be set to the thickness of the test block.
NOTE: The gauge must be calibrated to the test material prior to using the Differential Thickness Mode to ensure
correct readings.
Min. Hold: While in this mode the user can scrub across the surface of a part and the gauge will capture and
display the minimum thickness measured during that scrubbing. Press the ENTER key to clear the value and start a
new scrub.
Through-Paint (Option): This mode allows the user to measure the thickness of a test material through an applied
coating. This thickness mode is available as an optional software extra. To check if a gauge is loaded with this
software, refer to the software version number at the top left of the power on splash screen. A gauge with
Through-Paint capability will have a “P” at the end of the version number (e.g. “v1.56P”). A Through-Paint capable
probe is required in to use this mode, as the coating can interfere with a standard probe’s ability to transmit sound
into the test material. The NDT Systems TG-560P Through-Paint transducer is available separately or bundled with
the TG-110DL (Order TG-110 PKG 560P).
NOTE: When using a Through-Paint transducer, it is not necessary to zero the probe.

TG110DL User’s Manual
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Velocity (Option): This mode allows the user to calculate and set material velocity based on a known thickness.
This thickness mode is available as an optional software extra. To check if a gauge is loaded with this software,
refer to the software version number at the top left of the power on splash screen. A gauge with Velocity gaging
capability will have a “V” at the end of the version number (e.g. “v1.56V”). To use this mode, make sure the probe
is “zeroed”, then select VELOCITY from the Thickness Mode menu. Use the UP and DOWN arrow buttons to set a
nominal thickness and couple the probe to a material of that same thickness. The main numerical display will show
the corresponding velocity value. Press ENTER to save the gauge velocity value to the displayed value. Press the
LEFT/MODE button to return to the main measuring screen and begin taking measurements.
NOTE: The TG110DL cannot be loaded with both the Through-Paint and Velocity software packages.

TG110DL User’s Manual
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7. DATA LOGGER: Thickness readings can be saved for later review and presentation using the data logger features
of the TG-110DL. Data logs are displayed either in a spreadsheet type view or a linear list on the screen. The user
has available of total of 50,000 data points, where each saved thickness in a data log is one data point. Each data
log file can be named with up to 32 alphanumeric characters. Pressing the LOG button on the keypad enters the
data logger mode. If no data log files currently exist in the data logger, the screen will display NEW only. If there is
at least one other data log file, then the screen will display the number of stored data log files at the top of the
screen, and NEW, REVIEW or ERASE ALL as menu options.
New:Pressing NEW will create a new data log and present a menu with three choices, “Log Type”, “Edit Name”,
and “Create”.
Log Type: Select the Log Type by using the RIGHT and LEFT arrow keys. The two
options are “Linear” and “Grid”. The data log type “Linear”will define a
horizontal list with the user specified number of entries. When selecting the
“Grid” mode, a spreadsheet type of data log will be defined by numbered rows &
columns. The user will be prompted to set the number of rows and columns for
the data log.
Edit Name: When Edit Name is selected from the NEW LOG FILE menu the user is
presented with an alphanumeric screen and a flashing cursor. The data log file is
named by moving this cursor through the alphanumeric field and pressing ENTER
on each desired character. If no name is defined, the TG110DL will assign the next
available numeric value by default. Press the menu button when finished naming
the data log to return to the NEW LOG FILE menu.
Create: This menu prompts the user for the either the number of Points if the LINEAR data log type was selected,
or the number of Rows and Columns if the GRID data log type was selected. Select CREATE when finished defining
data log dimensions. A progress bar will appear while the data log is being built, the larger the data log, the more
time required to create it. Once the data log is built, the user is presented with either a linear row of four input
boxes (cells), or a spreadsheet view of four columns and three rows. Above the boxes (cells) is an indication of the
current row and column. A flashing cursor occupies the current cell. To navigate to the cells not displayed on the
screen, use the arrow buttons to move the cursor to the edges of the screen and press the arrow button once
more. The display will shift and display the next cell in the series. By default, the cursor will start in row one and
column one.

TG110DL User’s Manual
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ENTERING DATA: To enter a value in a data log, hold the transducer on the area of
interest and press the ENTER key when the reading is stable. The value measured
will be recorded in the currently flashing cell of the data log. To enter the next
value, use the RIGHT or LEFT arrow buttons to move to a new cell and repeat the
process above. The value in the current cell can be overwritten by pressing ENTER
again if a mistake has been made.
The user has total flexibility to scroll throughout the spreadsheet. For instance, the user may elect to enter the
first data point in row 6 column 7 while leaving the other cells blank or null. The data log will be saved with as
many or few points as entered.
Once finished entering data, pressing MENU will return the user to a screen which will allow the ability to view the
current data log, save more readings, edit the data log file name, or erase the data log. The current data log name
will be identified at the top of the screen.
NOTE: All readings stored & displayed in the log will be the actual thickness measured. You may choose to view the
thickness in differential mode, however, the actual thickness will be logged when pressing enter
Review: Select “Review”to access saved data logs. Use the UP arrow or DOWN arrow buttons and press ENTER to
navigate to the desired data log. Once a data log is selected, the user may select one of the following options,
“View Log”, “Log Readings”(to add additional thickness readings to the currently selected data log), “Edit Name”,
or “Erase”.
Erase All: From the main data log menu, select “Erase All” to clear all saved data logs. A prompt will appear
confirming the user’s desire to erase the data logs.
CAUTION! Once the data is cleared from memory, it should be considered unrecoverable.
DATA TRANSFER: The files in the data logger may be uploaded to a Windows-based PC via the TG110-DTP Data
Transfer software program. Instructions for this program can be found in its associated user's manual. This
software and the necessary cable needed to connect the TG-110DL to your computer are included in all TG-110DL
packages.

TG110DL User’s Manual
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8. SCROLLING B-SCAN
To activate the time encoded B-SCAN press the SCAN / RIGHT arrow button when
the main measurement screen is active. A series of scrolling dots will appear,
moving right to left. Along the left vertical axis is a scale value representing the
thickness range value set for the SCAN BAR. From this point, place the probe on the
sample to be tested and in a smooth, even motion slide the probe across the
surface of the part to be inspected. As the probe slides across the surface, a cross-
section view of the part is drawn. The scrolling mode continues until ENTER is pressed, which pauses the scan and
allows review of the information acquired.
While in the B-SCAN mode pressing the up arrow key will eliminate the small digital thickness display just above
the scrolling graphic area. The result is a scan mode which runs approximately 25 percent faster. Additionally, if
the down arrow button is depressed while in the scrolling mode, the scaling dots will disappear. This will improve
the speed approximately another 10 percent although any horizontal reference will be removed. Currently, the
scrolling B-SCAN mode is for reference only and cannot be saved with the data logger.

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9. PREPARATIONFOR USE
The TG110DL comes with two AA-size alkaline batteries installed in its battery chamber. To check for satisfactory
battery life, press the ON/OFF touch command to turn power on. A Battery Icon appears on the left side of the LCD
display indicating the current battery charge level. Approximately 150 hours of typical use remains from a fresh set
of batteries. If the display readout fails to register more than 20% scale then the batteries need replacement.
When charge level becomes marginal, the Power-Guard Marginal Cutoff feature automatically turns the power off
until the batteries are replaced.
Battery Replacement: Loosen (counterclockwise) the battery cover on the bottom of the gauge with a small coin
or screwdriver. Remove the discharged batteries and replace them with two new AA-size alkaline or NiMH
rechargeable batteries. Install them with proper polarity, negative side to be in contact with the battery cover.
Replace the battery cover into the gauge and tighten by turning clockwise. Re-establish the gauge calibration
settings whenever the batteries are completely discharged, removed, or replaced.
Probe Selection: A variety of probes are available to optimize performance for the broad spectrum of gaging
applications that may be encountered. The TG-506 Transducer should be used for most applications and surface
temperatures up to about 225ºF.
There are also the TG-556, TG-790, and TG-208 transducers designed for intermittent contact of surface
temperatures up to 600ºF (316 C).
An Ultrahigh-temperature probe having a fused quartz delay line, like the TQ-506, should be used on surface
temperatures between 600 to 1000ºF (316-538 C).
Smaller sized Mini-Probes like the TG-502 and TG-702 transducers are available for use on smaller surface radii or
for gaging in confined locations.
Refer to the probe list in the Accessories section to select the best probe suited for your application. For best
results, use probes manufactured by NDT Systems, Inc whenever possible.
Probe Attachment: All transducers except the “Mini-Probes” have a detachable dual cable for connecting to the
TG110DL. Connect the dual cable (LMD1) to the probe using the cable end with the smaller red-sleeved and black-
sleeved Microdot screw-on connectors (certain transducers may require attaching the red-sleeved and black-
sleeved connectors to the correspondingly marked polarized connectors). Connect the other end of the dual cable
with the larger push-on/pull-off LEMO connector to the corresponding connectors located on top of the gauge. Be
certain to connect the red-dot marked connector to the gauge connector with the adjacent red dot.

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Couplant Selection: A liquid couplant film is always needed to transfer the high
frequency ultrasonic energy between the probe and the material. Typically,
couplant is generously applied to the material surface, although it sometimes
can be initially applied to the bottom of the probe (as during some high
temperature applications). The type of couplant used is very important for
optimum performance.
Smooth material surfaces require a lower viscosity couplant, such as water,
glycerin or grease as necessary. Special high temperature couplants should be
used on surfaces above 175 deg F.
NDT Systems offers numerous ultrasonic couplants which cover virtually all
application areas for the TG110DL. These specially formulated couplants should
be used whenever possible.
Reference Samples: To calibrate the TG110DL, a known thickness or a known ultrasonic velocity for the material is
needed. These calibration techniques require. at least initially, a reference sample representing the material to be
gauged. The closer the reference sample matches the actual material, the better the gaging accuracy. To
compensate for calibration factors, such as material composition (most important), micro-structure heat treat
condition (alloys), grain direction (alloys), thickness ranges, surface roughness and contour, the 'ideal' reference
material would come from pieces of the actual material. This type of reference sample is used for critical
applications for those requiring maximum gaging accuracy.
For most applications, satisfactory gaging accuracy can be obtained by using a single reference sample. This sample
should have the same composition and same nominal thickness (measured within required tolerances) as the
actual material/product. The material or product itself is often used with a micrometer to accurately measure an
accessible representative thickness.
When gaging thin materials that approach the lower performance limits of the gauge/probe combination,
experiment with reference samples to determine the actual lower limit. Do not gauge materials thinner than this
limit (See Gaging Precautions).
If a thickness range is anticipated, then use a reference sample that represents the thicker end of the range.
For exceptionally large thickness ranges, particularly in alloys where micro structural variations occur, use separate
samples and calibration setups at selected intervals across the range.
Many wrought and cast metal microstructures exhibit directionality that, depending upon the beam direction.
causes a slight variation in ultrasonic velocity. For improved accuracy, reference samples should have the same
directionality/sound beam orientation as that of the material to be gauged.
A machined step-wedge is a commonly used and convenient reference sample that has thicknesses across the
range of interest (flat steps for flat materials or concentric steps for smaller-diameter tubing).
Under certain conditions, the published ultrasonic velocity value for a given material (see velocity table in
appendix) can be used instead of a reference sample. Such a procedure is only satisfactory if the material has a
known and constant velocity and the intended application does not require relatively high gaging precision. This
approach is reasonable for many of the simpler, more-rugged applications involving the gaging of mild steel (plain
carbon steel). In some cases. published velocity values will be found to differ appreciably depending upon the
source of the publication. This is due to inherent material chemical/physical variations. Published velocity data
tend to be useful only where approximate or relatively coarse thickness gaging precision is acceptable.

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AUTO-HOLD: When a coupled probe is lifted from the material surface, the Last thickness reading taken is
conveniently retained on the display until either another thickness reading is taken, the two-minute non-usage
lapse (Auto-Shutoff) occurs, or ON/VEL is depressed. This Auto-Hold feature does not affect readings as the
coupled probe is scanned over a surface. The display updates approximately four times per second whenever the
probe has valid coupling with the surface of a test object.
AUTO-SHUTOFF: The TG110DL automatically turns itself off approximately three minutes after non-use, thereby
eliminating the need to use the OFF switch. To reset the turnoff timer, take a thickness reading or press the ENTER
key. All TOUCH-COMMAND settings (calibration settings plus Touch Codes) are retained in memory (even when
the gauge turns its power off).
KEYPAD LOCK: Use the keypad lock function to prevent accidental changes to the measurement settings. Engauge
the keypad lock by holding down the ZERO and ON/OFF buttons at the same time until “L” is displayed next to the
battery charge indicator. When locked, only the ON/OFF button will respond to user inputs. To disengage keypad
lock, hold down the ZERO and ON/OFF buttons until the “L” disappears. Full functionality will be restored.

TG110DL User’s Manual
18 | P a g e NDT Systems, Inc. 5542 Buckingham Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, PH: 714-893-2438
10. CALIBRATION PROCEDURES
With prior review of all other sections of this manual, use the following procedure to calibrate the TG110DL:
1 Connect the probe and cable to the gauge.
2 Momentarily depress ON/OFF to turn power on.
3 Confirm that the TG110DL has passed its internal tests & is at the main measurement screen.
4 Select the GAIN suitable for the intended application.
5 Couple the probe to the metal Auto-Zero Reference Disc on the right side of the gauge and depress
ZERO. Text will appear instructing you to press the ENTER key to confirm ZERO request.
6 Calibrate thickness readings by:
Thickness Scrolling: Couple the probe to an accurately known thickness of the material
(reference sample) to be gauged while scrolling UP or DOWN until the display precisely reads the
reference thickness.
Velocity Scrolling: If the ultrasonic velocity of the test material is known, depress the UP or
DOWN until the display precisely reads this velocity value.
As a reminder the basic calibration procedure is outlined on the backside of the gauge. As is recommended with
any precision measurement tool, calibration accuracy should be checked periodically during use. More frequent
checks are recommended if there are changes in the temperature of the test objects or in the ambient conditions.

TG110DL User’s Manual
19 | P a g e NDT Systems, Inc. 5542 Buckingham Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, PH: 714-893-2438
11. GAGING TIPS & TECHNIQUES
1.Clean Surface: Prior to gaging, always remove performance hindering foreign substances from the material
surface (e.g. dirt, loose scale, corrosion, particles, and flaking paint).
2.Excessive Surface Roughness: Very rough surfaces can cause erratic, extremely low or no thickness readouts. In
such cases, consider scraping, sanding, grinding or filing the surface smooth enough to obtain a proper response
(provided such a procedure and the amount of metal removal are acceptable). High-viscosity couplants, the Special
Power Mode or the Hi-Power Probe may also significantly improve the response.
3.Heavy Machine-Grooved Surfaces: A uniformly-grooved surface, such as produced by a single point cutting tool,
can cause the same undesirable effects. As a remedy, use a high-viscosity couplant and orient the probe's crosstalk
barrier (located on the bottom of the probe) at right angles to the groove (patter) direction. If the above procedure
fails, use the GAIN control located in the MAIN menu. Decrease the GAIN until the undesirable effect disappears,
while assuring proper thickness can still be obtained within the desired expected MIN/MAX thickness range.
4.Use a lower frequency probe if gaging thick materials or materials with large grain structures.
5.Gaging Cylindrical Sections: When gaging cylindrical shapes such as pipe, tubing, tanks, etc., it is vital to establish
probe normality (perpendicularity to surface) and select the proper orientation of the probe's cross-talk barrier.
6.To determine normality, rock the coupled probe back and forth along the curved direction on the material
surface and watch the accompanying decrease/increase action of the thickness readout. Use the minimum
thickness reading, as this represents probe normality.
Selection of probe cross-talk barrier orientation depends upon the material's surface diameter. See the following
probe orientation figure. On large diameters, orient the probe so its barrier is perpendicular to the cylindrical axis
of the material. On smaller diameters, initially orient the probe barrier both perpendicular to and parallel with the
material's cylindrical axis (at the identical location) and then use the direction that gives the smaller thickness
readout.