NDT Devices Blog

Waygate Krautkramer USM 36  Ultrasonic Flaw Detector, a Baker Hughes business product (formerly GE Inspection Technologies), is the most versatile ultrasonic flaw detector on the market thanks to its ability to operate in DAC, AWS and DGS modes and with applications including weld inspections, thickness measurements, corrosion measurement, forging inspections and other inspections for difficult materials. The industries where the Waygate Technologies Krautkramer USM 36 proves useful include the automobile, power generation, petrochemical, and aerospace industries.

Waygate Technologies Krautkramer USM 36 Ultrasonic Flaw Detector, a Baker Hughes business product (formerly GE Inspection Technologies),  is the most versatile ultrasonic flaw detector on the market thanks to its ability to operate in DAC, AWS and DGS modes and with applications including weld inspections, thickness measurements, corrosion measurement, forging inspections and other inspections for difficult materials. The industries where the Waygate Technologies Krautkramer USM 36 proves useful include the automobile, power generation, petrochemical, and aerospace industries.

Available in Three Versions:

The USM 36 Ultrasonic Flaw Detector is offered in three versions to meet the most standard inspection codes. The most advanced version can operate in DAC, AWS and DGS modes, features a powerful square wave pulser for excellent material penetration and can accommodate Waygate’s patented trueDGS probe technology, which offers unrivalled accuracy in sizing of flaws using the DGS method, as well the patented Phantom Echo Detection technology. Another feature included is the 7″ screen that makes viewing A-Scans efficient, with signals being easily viewed even in bright sunlight as well as flexible data storage with removable SD cards or USB ports.

Applications:

Weld Inspection in the Power Generation and Petrochemical Industries

Intuitive tools facilitate analysis and the use of color on the ultra-bright, 7 inch screen allows significant display benefits during weld inspection:

• Monitor gates and curves are displayed in various colors
• Messages and alarms are displayed in red
• A-scans can be displayed in different colors to assist comparison
• Color display of all parameters involved in flaw location, including sound path, surface distance, depth position and leg number
• Patented color coded display of legs for angle beam inspection

Precise Thickness Measurement in the Automobile Industry

The Krautkramer USM 36 provides precise thickness measurement, as the sound path differences are measured very accurately at the peaks of an echo sequence.

Corrosion Measurement in the Power Generation and Petrochemical Industries

Corrosion measurement can be carried out using dual element probes, where the screen displays both the thickness measurement and the A-scan, ensuring maximum reliability. A minimum capture mode provides the thinnest measured reading at the end of a continuous scan. An auto-freeze function, which minimizes the probe’s surface contact time, is used for measuring structures and components with hot surfaces.

Inspection of Forgings

The instrument’s Phantom Echo Detection technology is used in the inspection of fine grained and long work pieces to ensure accurate detection of flaws but not Ghost Echoes.

Inspection of Special Materials

The powerful square wave pulsar which is an available option for the Krautkramer USM 36 provides excellent penetration of difficult materials, such as those sometimes used in the aerospace and automobile industries.

Largest Viewable A-Scan Display in its Class

An important improvement in the Krautkramer USM 36 is its large 7 inch screen, with an 800×480 pixel resolution. The entire area is available to display crispy A-scans, making it the best in its class. Signals can be easily viewed and accurately interpreted, even in bright sunlight, with tired eyes at the end of a long working day.

Simple and Efficient Operation

The Krautkramer USM 36 uses the familiar rotary knobs of previous models but the function keys have now been minimized into a simple, intuitive 6-key keyboard, allowing simple and efficient operation; Inspection set-up is also easy. Not only for technicians who have used USM Go or USM Go for previous inspections, as set-up data is transferable directly from these instruments, which share the same user interface. This commonality of interface also ensures a rapid learning curve for technicians familiar with the USM Go instruments.

Flexible Data Reporting and Storage

As well as easy-to-interpret the crispy A-scans, data reporting on the Krautkramer USM 36 can also include screen shots and A-scan videos, where A-scans can be recorded for subsequent analysis or to provide proof of inspection. All data is stored on a removable SD-card and reports can be in jpeg or BMP format.

Comprehensive Connectivity

Connectivity is a major feature of the Krautkramer USM 36. Data can be stored on removable SD-card or USB memory stick, either for record purposes or to allow data sharing. A VGA connection allows the instrument’s display to be shown on an external monitor or on a projector screen for training purposes.

Can be Used in the Harshest of Environments

The Krautkramer USM 36 is fully protected against dust and water ingress to IP66 and can be operated in ambient temperatures from -10°C to 55°C. It can be used in sandy deserts, frozen wastes and in the humid tropics. The new flaw detector weighs just 2.2 kg and is battery- or mains operated. Its Li-ion battery has an operating life of more than 13 hours, with an integrated battery charger for those longer shifts.

SPECS :

Display
Display Shift ( Delay)	–15 … 3,500 μs
Probe Delay	0 … 1,000 μs
Velocity	250 … 16,000 m/s
PRF	Automatically optimized 15 … 2,000 Hz, 3 automatic setting modes: Auto Low, Auto Med, Auto High, Manual
Display Screen
Size Diagonal	7″
Active Range (W x H)	152.4 × 91.44 mm2
Resolution (W x H)	800 × 480 pixels
Range	4 … 14,108 mm (555“) for longitudinal wave
Connectors
Probe Connectors	2 × LEMO-1 or 2 × BNC
USB Interface	USB type B connector
Service Interface	LEMO-1B, 8 pin
Pulser
Pulser Mode	Spike pulser, optionally: Square-wave pulser
Pulser Voltage (SQ Mode)	120 … 300 V, in steps of 10 V with a tolerance of 10%
Pulser Falling/Rising Time	max. 10 ns
Pulser Width (SQ Mode)	30 … 500 ns, in steps of 10 ns
Pulser Amplitude (Spike Mode)	low: 120 V, high: 300 V
Pulser Energy (Spike Mode)	low: 30 nS, high: 100 nS
Damping	50 ohms, 1000 ohms
Receiver
Digital Gain	Dynamic range 110 dB, adjustable in steps of 0.2 dB
Analog Bandwidth	0.5 … 20 MHz
Equivalent Input Noise	<80 nV/√Hz
Filters	Broadband: 1-5 MHz / 2, 2.25 MHz / 4, 5 MHz / 10 MHz / 13, 15 MHz
Rectification	Positive half-wave, negative half-wave, full wave, RF signal
Gates
Independent Gates	Gates A and B (triggering by gate A), Gate C (option, triggering by gate A or B)
Measurement Mode	Peak, Flank, J-FLANK, FIRST PEAK
Memory
Card Slot	SD-card slot for all standard SD-cards
Capacity	8 GB, SD-card
Datasets	UGO data structure in ASCII
Reports	JPG or BMP format
General
Battery	Li-Ion, operating time: 13 hours with full charge Charging method (standard): internal with power adapter Charging method (optional): external charger Charge level: proportional charge level indicator
Power Adapter	Universal power supply unit 100 … 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Size (W x H x D)	255 × 177 × 100 mm (10” × 7.0” × 3.9”)
Weight	2.2 kg incl. battery
Languages	Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Damp Heat and Humidity (Storage)	EN 60068 Part 2-30 6 cycles: 9 hrs at 25°C up in 3 hrs to 55°C, 9 hrs at 55°C then down to 25°C in 3 hrs, at 93% humidity
Vibration	EN 60068 Part 2-6 2g per axis, 5 … 150 Hz, 1 oct/min, 25 cycles
Shocks	EN 60068 Part 2-27 1000 cycles per axis, 15 g, 11 ms, half-sine
Enclosure	IP66 according to IEC 60529
Operating Temperature	–10 … 55°C
Cold Operation	–10°C for 16 hrs, 502.5 Procedure II
Heat Operation	55°C for 16 hrs, 501.5 Procedure II
Storage Temperature	–20 … 60°C, without battery
Cold Storage	–20°C for 72 hrs, 502.5 Procedure I
Heat Storage	70°C for 48 hrs, 501.5 Procedure I
Options
AWS	AWS calibration tool, according to AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code
DAC/JISDAC/CNDAC	DAC calibration tool, 16 points, according to EN 1712, EN 1713, EN 1714, ASTM E164, ASME, ASME III, JIS Z3060, GB11345 TCG: 120 dB dynamic, 110 dB/μs slope
DGS	DGS calibration tool, according to: EN 1712, EN 1713, EN 1714, ASTM E164
Data logger	Grid file creation
3G	Gate C
SWP	For pulser parameter optimization, voltage setting 120 … 300 V in steps of 10 V, pulse width setting 30 … 500 ns in steps of 10 ns
Phantom-PRF	Phantom-PRF for the identification of erroneous echoes caused by multiple reflections in low-attenuation materials
BEA	Blackwall Echo Attenuation

Package Includes :

• Compact Ultrasonic Flaw Detector, basic version with Lemo-1 connectors
• Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery Pack
• Lithium Ion Battery Charger /AC Power Supply for On-Board Charging
• SD Card (2 GB)
• USB Download Cable
• Transport Case
• Quick Reference Operating Card
• Operating Manual on CD
• Certificate Of Conformity