Ultrasonic thickness gauge.

[Cato]

Can anyone recommend or offer an opinion on one make above another?

Most seem to have a range of 1.2 mm to 200 (ish). My need is at the lower end of the scale, ideally 0.8 to 15 mm. Prices seem to vary quite widely, but if anyone has any experience of using them it will help to choose.

 

[Munkul]

Get a twin crystal probe type.
I have an intrinsically safe Cygnus, it's very basic though with a single crystal and it's a royal pain compared to the twin crystal ones used by the NDT people who come to site.

It's mainly a pain on sub-2" pipework due to the radius, although it measures accurately if it can get a reading at all... twin crystal ones seem to work so much easier.

It depends what you're trying to do, and what your budget is... Olympus make the fanciest and nicest ones I've seen, but the one my regular inspector uses... wish i could remember what make it is, cos it gets thrown into a sack every day and used and abused, it's dead simple and always works!

The technology type "echo-echo" I THINK is what you're looking for. "multiple echo" is the single crystal probe type.

 

[Cato]

Primarily it'll be used on motorbike frames, and fuel tanks (not just bike).

For example I have a 1928 Motoconfort which I want to put a larger JAP engine into, from a 175cc up to a 250cc. There is some slight pitting to the frame, nothing to get excited about but it's 92 years old so I want to check the wall thickness.

 

[Munkul]

cheap and hopefully cheerful, then?

https://www.lightinthebox.com/en/p/...ower-off-low-battery-indication_p6211614.html

I'd be tempted, anyway. Just make or buy yourself a couple of gauge blocks to check accuracy before use (I'm not sure I'd trust the built-in one)

BTW you don't need special couplant if you don't want to, standard EP2 grease works just as well... vouched for by an NDT guy I had in on a hot column, who didn't have any "proper" high temp couplant

 

[Cato]

Thanks for that, looks pretty good for the money.

I don't mind spending if I need to, but obviously don't want to blow a fortune if I don't have to.

That was the sort of thing I had in mind, just wondered if anyone had anything to say about one make over another. I'm pretty sure I have some slip gauges for the micrometer I could use, and if they weren't suitable I guess measuring a piece and keeping it would act as a calibration piece.

 

[Munkul]

I've got a whole range of test pieces here for my gauge, It gets used for all sorts, including copper, stainless, mild and cast iron. Each material has a different sound velocity so the meter needs to be set to it to be accurate.

I'm really tempted now to buy one of those £150 jobs for myself... would be really quite handy

 

[Cato]

I've got a whole range of test pieces here for my gauge, It gets used for all sorts, including copper, stainless, mild and cast iron. Each material has a different sound velocity so the meter needs to be set to it to be accurate.

I'm really tempted now to buy one of those £150 jobs for myself... would be really quite handy

That particular one isn't currently available on the site, you can add it to favourites but not buy it.

 

[Munkul]

It's on amazon for a bit more money