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Sonocon BL Portable Ultrasonic Flaw Detector

Sonocon BL Portable Ultrasonic Flaw Detector

Sonocon BL belongs to the latest generation of portable UT instruments. Using  high-end electronics and having the richest set of modes and software features, it can solve any task that can be sold with portable UT.



Overview 

Portable ultrasonic flaw detector with a large high-resolution display Sonocon BLL
 
  • SOLID ONE with a really BIG SCREEN

Sonocon BL has an ergonomic shock-resistant ABS plastic case with additional rubber pads and is designed for use in field as well as in industrial conditions. The Sonocon BL has a 7.2” huge high-resolution display. In combination with well-designed interface, this enables observing the A-Scan without strain even distantly.

  • Versatile

Due to its case design and a 4-position folding handle, Sonocon BL can be comfortably placed on the table, pipe or another test object and even suspended. It also can be fixed on the inspector’s chest for better mobility.

  • Powerful and Multifunctional

Sonocon BL is a digital UT tester combining 3 devices in 1:

  • Flaw detector,
  • A-Scan thickness gauge,
  • Corrosion monitor

This is realized with switchable software. In “UT” version Sonocon B grants all functions of a powerful ultrasonic flaw detection necessary for its setup, defect search and their advanced evaluation.

 
  • Usage in harsh environments

The instrument case carries an IP65 rating. The operation temperature ranges from –30°C to +50 °C (-22°F to 122°F). The flaw detector is resistant to ionizing radiation impact and is meant for operation under high humidity conditions.

Three main advantages of portable ultrasonic flaw detector Sonocon BL
Keys of the portable ultrasonic flaw detector with a big high-resolution display Sonocon BL
  • Easy to use

Sonocon BL is highly user friendly. Its interface philosophy can be stated as “Don’t browse menus, just push a button!”. All most frequently used functions are placed on its keyboard making them accessible in a single or a couple of button presses. This makes setup and evaluation procedures several times faster. A variety of built in auto calibration procedures allow performing fast and easy calibration with straight beam, angle beam and Rayleigh wave probes on standards or even a testing object.

To help new users to get used to its interface, Sonocon BL offers a number of options:

  • Context backlight: in modes where a group of buttons considered to be used all relevant buttons are highlighted.
  • Menu items hints: All not trivial menu items show descriptions when activated (changed).
  • Menu presets: User can choose one of 3 menu system presets:
    • Full: contains all menus in 2 pages granting access to all UT instrument functions;
    • Simple1 & Simple 2: contain in one page all basic functions, grouped in a couple of menus. Also gives possibility to add any 3 or 4 extra menus from a Full Menu list.

The Sonocon is available in two versions now:

 

Sonocon B

Portable easy to hold ultrasonic flaw detector Sonocon B

Sonocon BL

Portable ultrasonic flaw detector with a large high-resolution display Sonocon BL

 Software


General Features

Performance

Dual modes pulser

Sonocon BL implies two pulser modes: Spike and Square Wave (SWP). This and also a damping feature allow controlling echo shape, length and amplitude in wide ranges.

Waveform Averaging

This function allows to average A-Scan from ×2 to ×64. This greatly raises Signal / Noise ratio allowing comfortably working at even very high gain and making measurements more precise.

 


 

Quick and comfortable operation

Direct A-Scan and Gates control

After pushing just a single button operator can intuitively control A-Scan and gates.

 

The QAM button grants access to a queue of circular menus which allow quick change of measurement and alarm parameters.

Indications search and evaluation aids

“Legs marking” mode

 

“Legs marking” mode changes A-Scan background marking A-Scan parts corresponding to downgoing legs in yellow and to upgoing legs – in rose. This helps to visually estimate depth of the reflector (defect) which caused an indication.

“Smart zoom” mode

 

In this mode both zoomed A-Scan (from one of two gates) and a full 0 unzoomed A-Scan are displayed. This prevents operator from losing an off gate indication.

“Estimate” mode



 

“Estimate” mode is very useful for evaluation of “hard to catch” indications. It also makes evaluation of usual indications much quicker. When this mode is on operator needs only to make a blind scanning of the area of interest and flaw detector will monitor all echoes in the 1st gate, looks for the best one (according to the amplitude), auto adjust gain to put that echo to the evaluation level and freeze it. The “best” indication can be then evaluated and saved for reporting if needed. After the “Estimate” mode is off the scanning gain is automatically retrieved.

 


 

Flaws evaluation systems

DAC system

 

Built-in DAC system allows to build DAC curves according to the following codes: ASME (single curve and 3 curves), EN 1712, EN 1713, EN1714, JIS Z3060, GB 11345, GB 4730. User presets are also available. Base curve can contain up to 128 points. There can be built up to 6 additional curves. Besides all standard functions used in any DAC system Sonocon BL offers such advanced functions like “20-80” function, DAC ↔ TCG conversion function, etc.

DGS (AVG) system

 

DGS system allows to build up to 3 DGS curves for given equivalent diameters (area) for straight beam and angle beam single element transducers. It also gives direct readings of De and / or Se for gated indication.

AWS (D rating) system

Sonocon BL also implies automated calculation of D-rating according to American Welding Society Structural Welding Code section D1.1, D1.3.

Setup automation

Probes library

 

To set up the chosen probes parameters now it is enough to choose corresponding item from the Probes library and all related settings will be loaded autamtically.

Automatic calibration

 

Sonocon BL offers a variety of automated calibration procedures: in the air, on a built-n calibration block and classic single and dual points calibration.

 


 

Results storage and processing

Structured files

 

One of the most important and difficult task in thickness measurement at large objects is to correctly organize measurement results in a way to facilitate their analysis. Using Sonocon BL operator can choose one of several templates corresponding to almost any type of testing objects:

  • “Line” (1D) is ideal for tank truck, small diameter pipes, etc.
  • “Line+” (2D) is used for a linear group of “Line” objects, for section by section large diameter pipes thickness measurement, etc.
  • “Grid” (2D) is used for testing of large semi planar object like ship’s hull, storage tanks, large diameters fluid conductors, etc.
  • “Line++” (3D) is used for testing of a 2D group of “Line” objects.
  • “Grid+” (3D) is used for a linear group of “Grid” objects.
  • “Boiler” (3D) organizes measurement points on pipes and pipes on levels.

Measurements statistics on the go

 

Sonocon BL allows not only to review organized measurement data, but also to analyze them, providing statistics for the whole file and each of measurement sites.

 


 

Corrosion monitoring

Thickness B-Scans

 

Thickness B-Scan – a slice of the object by the ultrasonic beam are easy to acquire with any 1D scanner with encoder. It shows a back wall profile, which is useful to estimate corrosion type.

Thickness C-Scans

 

Thickness C-Scans are acquired with a 2D scanner or a series of linear scans with 1D scanner and are used for corrosion mapping.

 


 

PC Software

Sonocon BL goes with PC software package corresponding to the inner software – UT, Thickness or both.
PC software is used for organization of instrument setups and testing results, their analysis and reporting.

Thickness gauge +:

UT:


Specification

Sonocon BL General and "UT" Version

Display
Size Sonocon BL: 7.2”
Resolution 800×480
Connectors
Probe connectors 2 × BNC or
2 × LEMO-1 or
2 × LEMO-00
Analog output Alarm
USB1 Type A
LAN
Pulser
Types Spike + Square Wave (SWP)
Voltage (SWP) 50 V, 100 V,
150 V, 200 V,
250 V, 300 V,
400 V
Energy (SWP) 20 ns to 1000ns with 10 ns step Manual & Auto modes
Voltage (Spike) Low: 50 V,
High: 300 V
Damping
PRF modes Comfort, Low,
Medium, High,
Manual
PRF from 15 to 6000 Hz
Phantoms control 3 modes
Receiver
Range (at steel longitudinal wave) 8 000 mm (314 in)
Gain 0 to110 dB,
with 0.1 dB step
Max signal input 20 V p-p
Bandwidth 0.2 MHz - 27 MHz
Filters 0.2-27 MHz,
0.2-10 MHz,
2.0-21.5 MHz,
8.0-26.5 MHz,
0.5-4 MHz,
0.2-1.2 MHz,
1.5-8.5 MHz,
5-15 MHz,
0.4 MHz,
0.5 MHz,
1 MHz,
1.25 MHz,
2 MHz,
2.25 MHz,
2.5 MHz,
3.5 MHz,
4 MHz,
5 MHz,
7.5 MHz,
10 MHz,
15 MHz,
20 MHz
Filters set choice
Rectification RF, FW, Pos. HW,
Neg. HW
TCG (TVG) 110 dB;
110 dB/μs slope
Signal Average OFF / 2x / 4x / 8x / 16x / 32x / 64x
Reject (cutoff) 0-80% FSH
Measurement
Number of gates 2
Number of cursors 2
Modes 1, 2, C1, C2, 1-2, 1-C1, 1-C2, 2-C1, 2-C2, C1-C2
TOF Modes Peak, Edge (Flank)
Amplitude measurement up to 200% FSH
Units mm / in / us
Output fields 5
Alarm
Number of gates 2
Number of levels 3
Flaws evaluation
AWS
DGS (AVG)
DAC
DAC: Number of points 128
DAC codes ASME & ASME III,
EN 1712, EN 1713,
EN1714, JIS Z3060,
GB11345, GB 4730
Custom DAC curves up to 6
DAC 20-80
DAC & TCG
Memory
Setups
Datasets (with A-Scans)
Capacity 2 GB (up to 64 GB)
PC software
Other Features
Coupling control
AGC independent for both gates
Quick calibration
Quick estimate (Best signal catch)
Auto XX % (50% or 80%)
Reference gain
Peak hold (collect, peak memory)
Signals compare
Smart zoom
Choice of menu systems Full
Simple 1
Simple 2
Keyboard backlight
Smart (Context) keyboard backlight
Number of keyboard shortcuts2 41
Physical
Dimensions Sonocon BL: 10×6.1×3.1"(256×156×80 mm3)
Weight incl. battery Sonocon BL: 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg)
Operating temp. range -30°C to 50°C (-22°F to 122°F)
Dust & water protection IP65
Battery life 8 h
Replaceable battery


Sonocon BL "Thickness Guage +" Version

Pulser
Type Square Wave (SWP)
Autofit of the pulser parameters to the chosen probe Voltage,
Energy,
Damping
Measurement frequency (readings refresh rate) 1 to 100 Hz
PRF mode Auto (Calculated from set readings refresh rate, accounting for averaging rate)
Receiver
Range (at steel longitudinal wave) 8 000 mm (314 in)
AGC Individual to reach at 2 gates
AGC Modes OFF / Edge / Peak
AGC Max Gain Modes High, Medium, Low, Manual, Off
Auto filters choice (according to the probe type)
Measurement
Sound velocities range 250 to 16000 m/s (.01 to .629 in/µs)
Measurement range 0.4 to 16 000 mm (.016 to .629 in)
Readings resolution 0.01 / 0.1 / 1 mm (0.001 / 0.01 / 0.1 in)
Number of gates 2
Modes 1, 1-2
TOF Modes Edge, Edge Zero Crossing
Units mm / in
Min & Max capture mode
Differential mode
% of wear mode
Temperature compensation
Acquisition of a:
  • Thickness B-Scan
  • Thickness C-Scan


Measurements on the previously acquired:
  • Thickness B-Scan
  • Thickness C-Scan



Alarm & Display
Alarm types Min, Max, Min&Max
Coupling loss alarm
Last reading (in coupling loss)
A-Scan
Cursor (Detect Line)
Thickness B-Scan
Thickness C-Scan
Multidimensional files: Browsing
Multidimensional files: File Statistics
Multidimensional files Meas. Site Statistics
Calibration
1-point
2-points
Zeroing in the air
Zeroing on a built-in block
Memory
Setups
Multidimensional structured files 1-3 dim
Number of readings per file Up to 100 000
Number of files format 6
Data attachments Comments,
A-Scans,
Thickness B-Scans,
Thickness C-Scans,
Microgrids
Capacity 2 GB (up to 64 GB)
PC software
Other Features
Keyboard backlight
Smart (Context) keyboard backlight
Smart zoom
Number of keyboard shortcuts2 29

Instructional Video

  Introduction to Training

 Part 1 Interface Concept

 Part 2 Menu types

 Part 3 Main functions

 Part 4 Probe and test object parameters calibration

 Part 5 DAC Calibration

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