Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge TT300

Instruction Manual

TIME Group Inc.

Beijing TIME High Technology Ltd.

Content
1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................3
1.1 SCOPE OF APPLICATIONS ........................................................................................3
1.2 PRIMARY THEORY .................................................................................................3
1.3 CONFIGURATION AND NAME OF PARTS ..................................................................3
2 SPECIFICATIONS...................................................................................................5
3 OPERATION ............................................................................................................5
3.1 PREPARATION FOR MEASUREMENT ........................................................................5
3.2 SETTING PROBE FREQUENCY ..................................................................................6
3.3 ADJUSTING SOUND VELOCITY ................................................................................6
3.4 MEASUREMENT OF THICKNESS ..............................................................................6
3.5 MEASUREMENT OF SOUND VELOCITY ....................................................................6
3.6 SETTING THICKNESS LIMITS( JUST FOR TT300)......................................................7
3.7 SETTING RECEIVING GAIN ......................................................................................8
3.8 SETTING MEASUREMENT UNITS AND DISPLAY RESOLUTION ...................................9
3.9 MINIMUM CAPTURE MEASUREMENT ......................................................................9
3.10 2-POINT CALIBRATION:...................................................................................10
3.11 ADJUSTING DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS.....................................................................11
3.12 BACKLIGHT .......................................................................................................12
3.13 LOW VOLTAGE INDICATION ...............................................................................12
3.14 TURNING OFF .....................................................................................................12
3.15 PRINTING ...........................................................................................................12
3.16 COMMUNICATION WITH PC( JUST FOR TT300) ..................................................13
4 DATA LOGGER OPERATION (JUST FOR TT300) ........................................15
4.1 LOGGING READINGS INTO MEMORY .....................................................................15
4.2 REVIEWING STORED THICKNESS READINGS ..........................................................15
4.3 CLEARING READINGS ...........................................................................................15
4.4 CLEARING SELECTED FILES OR CLEARING ENTIRE MEMORY ................................16
5. MEASURING TECHNOLOGY...........................................................................17
5.1 CLEANING SURFACE ............................................................................................17
5.2 IMPROVING REQUIREMENT ON ROUGHNESS .........................................................17
5.3 ROUGH MACHINED SURFACE................................................................................17
5.4 MEASURING CYLINDRICAL SURFACE ...................................................................17
5.5 COMPOUND PROFILE ............................................................................................17
5.6 UN-PARALLEL SURFACE.......................................................................................18
5.7 INFLUENCE OF MATERIALS TEMPERATURE .........................................................18
5.8 MATERIAL WITH LARGE ATTENUATION ...............................................................18
5.9 REFERENCE TEST PIECE........................................................................................18
5.10 SEVERAL MEASURING METHODS ........................................................................18
5.11 SELECTING PROBES .........................................................................................19
5.12 CHANGING PROBE ..............................................................................................19
5.13 MEASURING CASTING ........................................................................................19
6 PREVENTING ERRORS IN MEASUREMENT................................................20
6.1 ULTRA-THIN MATERIAL ......................................................................................20
1

6.2 RUST, CORROSION AND PIT .................................................................................20

6.3 ERROR IN IDENTIFYING MATERIAL ......................................................................20
6.4 WEARNESS OF PROBE ..........................................................................................20
6.5 OVERLAPPED MATERIAL AND COMPOUND MATERIAL ........................................20
6.6 INFLUENCE OF OXIDATION LAYER AT METALS SURFACE ..................................20
6.7 ABNORMAL READOUT OF THICKNESS .................................................................20
6.8 UTILIZATION AND SELECTION OF COUPLING AGENT ...........................................20
7. ATTENTION..........................................................................................................21
7.1 CLEANING THE TEST PIECE ..................................................................................21
7.2 CLEANING THE INSTRUMENTS CASE...................................................................21
7.3 PROTECTING THE PROBE ......................................................................................21
7.4 REPLACING BATTERIES........................................................................................21
7.5 ABSOLUTELY AVOID COLLISION AND MOISTURE..................................................21
8. MAINTENANCE...................................................................................................21
9. NON WARRANTY PARTS..................................................................................21
APPENDIX ...........................................................................................................22
APPENDIX ............................................................................................................23
SOUND VELOCITY FOR DIFFERENT MATERIALS .........................................................23

1 Introduction
1.1 Scope of applications

TT300 Series Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge( including basic typeTT310,

high-temp typeTT320, cast iron typeTT340), measuring with ultrasonic wave, is
applicable for measuring the thickness of any material in which ultrasonic wave can
be transmitted and reflected back from the other face.
The gauge can provide quick and accurate measurement to various work pieces
such as sheets of board and processing parts. Another important application of the
gauge is to monitor various pipes and pressure vessels in production equipment, and
monitor the thinning degree during using. It can be widely used in petroleum,
chemical, metallurgy, shipping, aerospace, aviation and other fields.
1.2 Primary Theory
The primary theory of measuring thickness with ultrasonic wave is similar to that
of measuring thickness with optical wave. The ultrasonic wave emitted from the probe
reaches the object and transmits in it. When the ultrasonic wave reaches the bounding
surface of the material, it is reflected back to the probe. The thickness of the material
can be determined by accurately measuring the time of the ultrasonic wave
transmitting in it
1.3 Configuration and name of parts
1.3.1 Configuration
Main unit
Transducer 5 MHz
Transducer 5 MHz (ZW5P)
Transducer 2 MHz(TSTU32)
Couplant
Protection jacket for TT300
AA battery
Screwdriver
1.3.2 Optional accessories:

1
1
1 (just for TT320)
1 (just for TT340)
1
1
2
1

Communication cable
Communication software
Transducer 2MHz
Transducer 10MHz
Printer TA220S
Standard test block

(just for TT300)

(just for TT300)
(just for TT300)
(just for TT300)

1.3.3 Appearance:

Sink socket

Beaming socket

Back Plate

LCD

MODE

OFF

0N

Battery Chamber
Keyboard

MEM

VEL

Probe
TT300

RS232 socket

ts
Test Piece (steeel, 4mm)

Probe socket

Keyboard:
ON
Power on
OFF
power off
MODE function selector
MEM memory
VEL
sound velocity
ENTER 2-point calibration; to be used together with function keys.
-- Adjusting sound velocity and thickness; key for moving menu cursor
-- Adjusting sound velocity and thickness; key for moving menu cursor
-- Display backlight control

Display symbols:
F1 5M

Fx number of saved files

5M frequency of probe
LIMIT using thickness limits
MENU menu
coupling indicator
BATT low battery indicator
MIN min. capture mode
HIGH (LOW) indicator for gain

LIMIT

5900
BATT

MIN

MENU

m/s
HIGH

2 Specifications
Measuring range:

depending on probe and material

0.75mm~300.0mm (0.03inch~11.8 inch)

Display resolution: 0.01mm or 0.1mm (lower than 100.0mm)

0.1mm (more than 99.99mm)
Lower limit for steel pipes:
5MHz probe: 20mm3.0mm (0.8 0.12 inch)
10MHz probe: 20mm3.0mm (0.6 0.08 inch)
Material velocity range: 1000m/s~9999m/s (0.039~0.394in/s)
environment temperature: 0~40C
Power supply: 2pcs. 1.5V AA dry batteries
Power consumption: working current <20mA (3V without back light)
Dimensions: 152mm74mm35mm
Weight: 370g

3 Operation
3.1 Preparation for measurement
3.1.1
Insert the probe plug into the socket for the probe on the main unit,
Attention: the red plug should be in the .beaming socket.

3.1.2

Press ON to turn on the instrument, and the display is as follows:

Latest sound velocity

F1 5M

TIME Group Inc.

LIMIT

5900

TT300
Version1.0

MENU

m/s
HIGH

3.2 Setting probe frequency

Press MODE to move the cursor to the position as that shown in the following figure.
Press ENTER to change the setting.
F1 5M

LIMIT

5900

F1 10M

MENU

LIMIT MENU

5900

m/s

m/s
HIGH

HIGH

Each time you press ENTER, it will display in sequence the probe frequency to be set
2M (2MHz), 5M(5MHz) or 10M(10MHz).
3.3 Adjusting sound velocity
If the current display is thickness, by pressing VEL, you can come into
speed-of-sound state, and it will display content in current speed-of-sound memory
unit. The speed-of-sound memory unit will change once every time when you press
the VEL key, it can display 5 speeds of sound alternatively. If you hope to change the
contents in the current speed-of-sound unit, you can adjust that with or till reach
the desired value, and then you can save the value.
F1 5M

LIMIT

5900

F1 5M

MENU

LIMIT

5920

m/s

MENU

m/s
HIGH

HIGH

Value after adjusting with or

Press VEL to enter sound-velocity state

3.4 Measurement of thickness

First, set the sound velocity, then coat the coupling agent at the place to be measured,
couple the probe with the material to be measured, now you can begin the
measurement. The screen will display the thickness of material to be measured. After
you remove the probe, the thickness value will be maintained, while the coupling
indicator will disappear.
F1 5M

LIMIT

20.05

F1 5M

MENU

LIMIT

20.05

mm

probe is coupled with

HIGH
The
the material to be measured

MENU

mm

HIGH
After removing the probe

Note: when the probe is coupled with the material to be measured, the instrument will display the
coupling indicator; if the indicator flashes or doesn't appear, it means that the coupling is not so
good.

3.5 Measurement of sound velocity

The sound velocity of a material can be measured using a test piece with given
6

thickness. First, measure the test piece with caliper or micron micrometer and read the
thickness accurately. Couple the probe with the test piece with given thickness till it
displays a value, remove the probe, then adjust the display to the actual thickness with
or , press VEL, now it will display the sound velocity to be measured. Save the
value into current speed-of-sound memory unit. For measuring sound velocity, one
must select a test piece with adequate thickness, and the recommended min. wall
thickness is 20.0mm. When measuring the sound velocity, please turn off the min.
capturing function.
For example: To measure the sound velocity of a material with a thickness of 25.0mm,
the procedure is:
a. Measure with any sound velocity a thickness, as that shown in the following figure;
b. Use or to adjust the displayed value to 25.00mm, as that shown in the following
figure:
F1 5M

LIMIT

MENU

18.30

F1 5M

LIMIT

MENU

25.00

mm
HIGH

mm
HIGH

c. Press VEL to display the sound velocity to be measured, shown as that in the
following figure:
F1 5M

LIMIT

6368

MENU

m/s
HIGH

3.6 Setting thickness limits( just for TT300)

TT300 will alarm if the measurement is out of limits. When the measurement is lower
than the alarming low limit or higher than the high limit, the buzzer will alarm. The
alarming limit is set as follows:

1) Press MODE, move cursor to LIMIT:

F1 5M

LIMIT

MENU

5900

m/s
HIGH

2) Press Enter display the low and high limit of previous setting (as shown in the
figure), use or to set the new low or high limit.
F1 5M

LIMIT

MENU

F1 5M

LIMIT

MENU

0.75
Low limit

mm

300.0
High limit

mm

Setting low limit

Setting high limit

3) To exit the Limit Setting, press VEL, MODE, or start to measure.

3.7 Setting receiving gain
TT300 has two receiving gains, LOW and HIGH. The LOW is mainly used for
measuring coarse material with high scatter and small sound absorption, such as cast
aluminum, cast copper and other metallic parts. The setting procedures are:
1) Press MODE, move cursor to MENU, ast
shown in the figure:
F1 5M

LIMIT

2) Press Enter enter the main menu, move

cursor with or to System setup.

System setup
Function setup

MENU

5900m/s

[ENTER]
to down

HIGH

Unit
METRIC
Gain:
LOW
Resolution HIGH

Unit
METRIC
Gain:
LOW
Resolution HIGH
to

[ENTER]
to up

select

5) Use Enter select LOW or HIGH:

Unit

F1 5M

HIGH
to

LIMIT

5900

Resolution HIGH
ENTER]
to up

to
select
to down

6) Use VEL to exit.

METRIC

Gain:

select

4) Press or to move the cursor to Gain

setting:

3) Press ENTER and enter System setup menu:

[ENTER]
to down

to

select
to down

MENU

m/s
HIGH

7) Press MODE, you can return to the menu of higher level.

If you want to carry out measurement during above-mentioned setting, you can come into
measuring at any time.
8

3.8 Setting measurement units and display resolution

TT300 has two display resolutions0.1mm and 0.01mm, and two measurement
unitsmetric and Imperial, one can select that with menu. The procedure for setting
is:
1) Press MODE, move cursor to MENU, as
shown in the figure:
F1 5M

LIMIT

5900

2) Press Enter enter the main menu, move

cursor with or to System setup.

System setup
Function setup

MENU

m/s
[ENTER]
to down

HIGH

to

select

3) Press Enter enter System setup menu, press Enter display METRIC and IMPERIAL :

Unit
METRIC
Gain:
LOW
Resolution HIGH
[ENTER]
to down

to

select

4) Press or to select Resolution, press Enter display HIGH (0.01mm) and LOW (0.1mm):

Unit
METRIC
Gain:
LOW
Resolution HIGH
[ENTER]
to up

to
select
to down

5) Press MODE to back to upper menu. To exit, press VEL or carry out measurement.

3.9 Minimum capture measurement

To capture min. measurement is to trap the minimum value in a group of measured
values. When the probe couples with the work piece, it will display actual
measurement, when the probe is taken away, it will display the min. value of
measurement carried out a moment ago, and the MIN indicator for the minimum
value will flash several seconds. If you continue the measurement when the MIN is
flashing, the former measurements will continue to take part in the min. value
capturing. If you carry out measurement after MIN indicator stops flashing, the min.
value capturing will begin from then on. The setting of min. measurement capturing is
as follows:
1) Press MODE to select MENU, as t shown in
the figure:

2) Press Enter select System setup.

F1 5M

LIMIT

5900

System setup
Function setup

MENU

m/s
[ENTER]
to down

HIGH

Gain:
LOW
Resolution HIGH

Unit
METRIC
Gain:
LOW
Resolution HIGH
to

select

4) Press or to select Min capture:

3) Press Enter enter System setup:

[ENTER]
to down

to

Min measure

OFF

[ENTER] to
select
to up to down

select

5) Press Enter display ON (Min. capture function is on) and OFF (Min. capture function is off)
alternatively. When the Min. capture function is on, if one exits the setting, it will have MIN
indication on the screen. One can exit the setting by pressing VEL or carrying out one
measurement.

3.10 2-Point Calibration:

Select two standard samples of the same material with workpiece to be measured,
among which, one has a thickness equal to or slightly higher than the tested piece, and
the thickness of another test piece is slightly lower than the tested piece. Before
carrying out 2-point calibration, please turn off Min. Capture function, perform the
Erase CAL data function in the menu Function setup, and cancel the former
calibration record. then turn on the 2-point calibration. Steps are as following:
1. Setting function for 2-point calibration:
2) Press Enter to enter into main menu, use
or to select System setup.

1) Press MODE to select MENU, as shown in

the figure:
F1 5M

LIMIT

5900

MENU

System setup
Function setup

m/s

[ENTER]
to down

HIGH

Gain:

select

4) Press or to select 2-Point CAL:

3) Press Enter to enter System setup:

Unit

to

Resolution HIGH
Min measure OFF
2-Point CAL: ON

METRIC
LOW

[ENTER] to
select
to up to down

Resolution HIGH
10

5) Press Enter display ON (2-point CAL is on) and OFF (2-point CAL is off) alternatively.
6) One can exit with VEL or by carrying out one measurement. Of the 2-Point CAL is set to be
ON, one can carry out 2-point calibration at any time during measurement.
2. Operation of calibration:
1) Press ENTER under thickness-measuring state to enter into 2-Point CAL, the screen will
prompt to calibrate the thinner piece, it displays as following:
F1 5M LIMIT MENU
Th in calibration

2.89

mm
HIGH

2) Measure the thinner standard test piece, use or to adjust the measurement to standard value.
Press ENTER, the screen prompts to measure the thicker piece, the display is as follows:
F1 5M LIMIT MENU
Thick calib ration

3.00

mm
HIGH

3) Measure the thicker standard test piece, use or to adjust the measurement to standard value.
Press ENTER, the calibration operation is finished.

3.11 Adjusting Display Brightness

1) Press MODE to select MENU, as that
shown in the following figure:
F1 5M

LIMIT

25.00

2) Press Enter to enter into main menu:

System setup
Function setup

MENU

mm
[ENTER]
to down

HIGH

to

select

1) Press to move the cursor to Function setup, the display is as follows:

System setup
Function setup
[ENTER]
to up

to

select

2) Press Enter to enter into Function setup, use or to move cursor to Set brightness:

11

Erase all data

Erase CAL data
Set brightness
[ENTER] to
to up

select

3) Press Enter select Set brightness:

Brightness04

[ENTER] to Esc
[ ] to darken
[ ] to lighten
4) Use or to adjust the display brightness, and exit setup by using ENTER

3.12 Backlight
By pressing key

at any time, one can switch ON and OFF back light.

3.13 Low voltage indication

If BATT indicator occurs on the screen, it means the battery voltage is low, please change
batteries on time.

F1 5M

LIMIT

MENU

5900m/s
BATT

MIN

HIGH

3.14 Turning off

For TT300, one can turn off it in automatic and manual way. If one carries out no operation in
2min, the instrument will turn off automatically; by pressing OFF, one can turn off the instrument
manually.

3.15 Printing
Connect TT300 with a TIME micro printer from by the communication cable, print measured
results through menu selection. The operations are:

2) Press Enter to enter into main menu, use

or to move cursor to Function setup:

1) Press MODE to select MENU, as that

shown in the figure:
F1 5M

LIMIT

MENU

System

Function setup

25.0mm
HIGH

setup

12

[ENTER]
to up

to

select

3) Press Enter enter into Function setup

Print file
Print all data

Send data to PC
[ENTER] to select
to down
4) Press Enter confirm Print Current File. When the printing is completed, the buzzer will give
out sound, the display will return to MENU state. The display for printing is as follows:

Print file

5) Use or to move the cursor to Print all data, press Enter confirm Print all data. When the
printing is completed, the buzzer will give out sound, the display will return to MENU state.
The display for printing is as follows:

Print all data

3.16 Communication with PC( just for TT300)

The communication protocol is as follows:
Baud rate: can be set to be 9600, 4800, 2400, 1200
Bit: 8
Stop bit: 1
Check: no
The baud rate is set as follows:
1) Press MODE to select MENU, as that
shown in the figure:
F1

5M

ALARM

5900

2) Press ENTER to enter into main menu, use

or to move cursor to Function setup:

System setup
Function setup

MENU

m/s
HIGH

13

[ENTER]
to down

to

select

4) Press or to select Baud Rate:

3) Press Enter to enter into Function setup

2-Point CAL: ON
Comm setsimplex
Baud Rate 9600

Unit
METRIC
Gain:
LOW
Resolution HIGH
[ENTER]
to down

to

[ENTER] to
select
to up to down

select

5) Press Enter display 9600, 4800, 2400, and 1200 alternatively.

6) Press VEL or have a measurement to exit setup.
Connect the TT300 with PC by using the communication cable, one can send measured results
through menu selection. The operations for that are:
2) Press Enter enter into main menu, use or
to move cursor to Function setup:

1) Press MODE to select MENU, as that

shown in the figure:
F1

5M

ALARM

MENU

System

setup

Function setup

25.0mm

[ENTER]
to up

HIGH

to

select

3) Press Enter to enter into Function setup, use or to move cursor to Send data to PC:
Print file
Print all data

Send data to PC
[ENTER] to select
to up
to down
4) Press Enter confirm Send data, the screen will display: Send data to PC. When the sending is
completed, the buzzer will give out sound, and the display will return to MENU state, and the
display for that is:

Send data to PC

14

4 Data logger operation (just for TT300)

4.1 Logging readings into memory
The instrument divides the memory unit into 5 files. Each can save 100 measurement values.
Before saving data, Please set file number first. If you select the current file No., you can save the
measurement directly by pressing MEM. The procedures for setting file No. are:
1) Use MODE to move the cursor to the position shown in the following figure:
F1 5M

LIMIT

MENU

20.00

mm
HIGH

2) Press ENTER, by pressing F1~F5 to display file No.s cyclically. You can exit by pressing VEL
or conducting one measurement. After setting file No., you can save the measured values into
the file every time after you finished the measurement by pressing MEM.

4.2 Reviewing stored thickness readings

1) Use MODE to move the cursor to the

2 Pressing MEM to check the contents of

position shown in the following figure:

F1 5M

LIMIT

20.00

memory
F1 5M
No. 001

MENU

LIMIT MENU
Total100

25.05

mm

[ENTER] to

HIGH

mm

erase
HIGH

Note: No. is the serial number of the saved data displayed at present; Total is the total number of
data saved in the file.
3 You can check all data saved by pressing or

4.3 Clearing readings

Under the state of Reviewing stored readings, press Enter to erase a saved value currently
displayed. The procedure is:
1) Enter state of Reviewing stored thickness readings:

F1 5M
No. 001

ALARM MENU
Total100

25.05
[ENTER] to

mm

erase
HIGH

2) Press Enter to erase the current value, it will display the next value saved:
15

F1 5M
No. 001

ALARM MENU
Total099

24.99
[ENTER] to

mm

erase
HIGH

4.4 Clearing selected files or Clearing entire memory

1) Press MODE to select MENU, as shown in
the following figure:
F1 5M

LIMIT

2) Press ENTER to enter into main menu, use

or to select System setup.

MENU

25.05

System setup
Function setup

mm
[ENTER]
to down

HIGH
3) Press to select Function setup:

System

to

select

4) Press ENTER to enter into Function

setup:
Print file

setup

Function setup

Print all data

Send data to PC

[ENTER]
to up

[ENTER] to select
to down

to

select

5) move the cursor to Erase file by pressing or :

6) Press Enter to confirm Erase file, when the erasing is completed, the buzzer will sound, and the
display will return to MENU state, and the Erase information displays as following:
Print all data

Send
datafile1
to PC
Erase
Erase file
[ENTER] to select
to up to down
16

7) Press or to move the cursor to Erase all data:

Send data to PC
Erase file
Erase all data
[ENTER] to select
to up to down
8) Press Enter confirm Erase all data, when the deletion is completed, the buzzer will give out
sound, and the display will return to MENU state. The display for Erase is as follows:

Erase all data

5. Measuring technology
5.1 Cleaning surface
Before measuring, please clean any dust, dirt and rust on the object, and remove any cover such as
paint, etc. on it.

5.2 Improving requirement on roughness

Too rough surface will cause error in measurement. Before measuring, please smooth the surface
of object by grinding, polishing or filing, etc. or use coupling agent with high viscosity for that.

5.3 Rough machined surface

The regular fine slots on rough machined (by such machines as lathe or planer) surface will also
cause error in measurement. The way for compensating that is the same as that in 5.2. In addition,
by so adjusting the included angle between the probes crosstalk interlayer plate (the metallic layer
passing through the center of probe bottom) and the fine slots of the object that the interlayer plate
is perpendicular or parallel to the fine slots, and by taking the min. value of the readouts as the
measured thickness, one can also get better results.

5.4 Measuring cylindrical surface

When measuring cylindrical material, such as pipes, oil tubes, etc., it is very important to select
properly the included angle between the probes crosstalk interlayer plate and the axial line of the
material to be measured. Briefly to say, first couple the probe with the material to be measured,
make the probes crosstalk interlayer plate be perpendicular or parallel to the axial line of the
object, shake the probe vertically along the axial line of the object, the readouts displayed on
screen will change regularly. Select the min. readout from displayed ones as the accurate thickness
of the object.
The standard for selecting the included angle between the probes crosstalk interlayer plate and the
axial line of the object is depending on the curvature of it. For a pipe with large diameter, the
probes crosstalk interlayer plate should be perpendicular to the axial line of the object; for a pipe
with small diameter, one can measure with the probes crosstalk interlayer plate being both
parallel and perpendicular to the axial line of the object, and take the min. readout as the thickness.

5.5 Compound profile

When the material to be measured has compound profile (such as bend of a pipe), one can use the
way described in 5.4 to measure. The exception is that one should have two analysis, get two
17

results when the probes crosstalk interlayer plate being both parallel and perpendicular to the
axial line of the object, and take the min. readout as the thickness.

5.6 Un-parallel surface

To get a satisfactory ultrasonic response, the other surface of the object must be parallel to or
co-axial with the surface to be measured, otherwise, it will cause measuring error or even no
display.

5.7 Influence of materials temperature

Both the thickness and transmitting speed of ultrasonic wave are influenced by temperature. If it
has a high requirement on the measuring accuracy, one can use comparison method by test pieces,
i.e., use a test piece with same material to measure under same temperature, and get temperature
compensation coefficient, and use this coefficient to correct the actual measurement of the object.

5.8 Material with large attenuation

For some material such as fiber, with porous and coarse particles, they will cause large scatter and
energy attenuation in ultrasonic wave, which will cause abnormal readouts even no display
(generally, the abnormal readout is less than actual thickness). In this situation, this kind of
material doesn't apply to be measured with this instrument.

5.9 Reference test piece

When making accurate measuring for different materials under different conditions, the more the
standard test piece is near to the material to be measured, the more accurate the measurement is.
The ideal reference test pieces should be a group of test pieces with different thickness made of
materials to be measured, the test pieces can provide calibrating factors for the instrument (such as
the microstructure of the material, heat-treating condition, direction of particles, surface roughness,
etc.). To meet the highest requirement on measuring accuracy, a set of reference test pieces will be
critical.
Under most situations, one can get satisfactory measuring accuracy with only one reference test
piece, which should have same material and similar thickness with the object. Take an even object,
measure it by using a micron micrometer, then it can be used as a test piece.
For thin material, when its thickness is near to the low limit of the probes measuring range, one
can use test piece to determine the accurate low limit. Never measure a material with a thickness
lower than the low limit. If the thickness range can be estimated, the thickness for the test piece
should select the high limit.
When the object is thick, especially for alloy with complex internal structure, please select a test
piece similar to the object from a group of test pieces, thus to can have idea of calibration.
For most casting and forging, their internal structures have some direction. In different direction,
the sound velocity will have some change. To solve the problem, the test piece should have an
internal structure with same direction as that of the object, and the transmitting direction of sound
wave in it should also be same as that for the object.
Under certain circumstances, look up the speed-of-sound table for given materials can replace
reference test pieces. But this is approximately to substitute some test pieces. Under some
situations, the value in the speed-of-sound table will have some difference from the actual
measured values, this is due to difference in the materials physical and chemical characteristics.
This way is usually used for measuring low-carbon steel, and can only be taken as a rough
measurement.
TT300 can measure sound velocity. Measure the sound velocity first, then measure the workpiece
with the measured speed.

5.10 Several measuring methods

a) Single measuring way: measurement at one point.
b) Double measuring way: measure with probe at one point twice. During the two measurements,
the probes crosstalk interlayer plate should be placed in perpendicular direction, and take the
min. readout as the accurate thickness of the material.
c) Multi-point measuring way: make several measurements in a range, and take the min. readout
18

as the thickness of the material.

5.11

Selecting probes

Probe

Frequency

Measuring range

Min. area

Application

5P 10

5MHz

1.2mm~225.0mm (steel)

12mm

General Straight probe

5P 10/90

General bent probe

TSTU32

2 MHz

5.0mm~300.0mm (steel)
<40.0mm (cast iron HT200)

22mm

High penetration probe

DA312

10 MHz

0.75mm~25.0mm (steel)

7.6mm

For thin work piece

DA303

2 MHz

5.0mm~300.0mm (steel)

16.2mm

General applications

5.12 Changing probe

The wearness of the probes interlayer plate will influence the measurement. Please replace probe
when the following situation happens.
1. When measuring different thickness, it always displays the same value.
2. When plugging the probe, it has echo indication or measured value display without
measuring.

5.13 Measuring casting

It has specialty for measuring casting. The crystal particles for castings are coarse, the structures
are not dense enough, plus that they are in gross state, which makes difficulty in measuring their
thickness.
First of all, due to coarse crystal particles and not-so-dense structure, it will cause large attenuation
in sound energy. The attenuation is due to materials scatter and absorption of sound energy. The
attenuation degree is closely relative with the size of crystal particle and ultrasonic frequency.
Under the same frequency, the attenuation will increase with the crystal diameter, but it has a high
limit, when it reaches to this limit, if the crystal diameter increases, the attenuation will tend to be
a fixed value. For attenuation under different frequencies, it will increase as the frequency.
Secondly, due to coarse crystal particle and if coarse out-phase structure exists, it will cause
abnormal reflection, i.e. the grass-shaped echo or tree-shaped echo, so that the measuring will
have error reading, and cause wrong judgement.
Thirdly, as the crystal particle is coarse, the anisotropy in flexibility in metals crystallizing
direction will be obvious, which results in difference in sound velocities in different directions,
and the max. difference can even be up to 5.5%. Whats more, the compactness in different
positions of the workpiece is different, which will also cause difference in sound velocity. All of
these will produce inaccuracy in measurement. Therefore, one must be very careful in measuring
castings.
During measuring castings, please pay attention to the following points:
1. When measuring casting with unmachined surface, please use engine oil, consistent grease and
water glass as coupling agent.
2. Calibrate the sound velocity for the object with a standard test piece having the same material
and measuring direction as that for the object to be measured.
3. If necessary, take 2-point calibration.

19

6 Preventing errors in measurement

6.1 Ultra-thin Material
For any ultrasonic thickness-gauge, when the thickness of object is less than the low limit of the
probe, it will cause measurement error. When necessary, measure the min. limit thickness by
comparing with the test pieces.
When measuring ultra-thin object, sometimes error called double refraction may occur, its result
is that the displayed readout is twice of the actual thickness. Another error result is called pulse
envelop, cyclic leap, its result is that the measured value is larger than the actual thickness. To
prevent these kinds of errors, please repeat the measurement to check the results.

6.2 Rust, Corrosion and Pit

The rust and pit on the other surface of the object will cause irregular change in readouts. In
extreme situation, it will even cause no readout. It is very difficult to find small rust. When one
finds a pit or is in doubt, he should be very careful in that area. In such situation, one can orient
the probes crosstalk interlayer plate in different directions to have multiple measurements.

6.3 Error in Identifying Material

When calibrates the instrument with one material, and then uses it to measure another material,
error will occur. Please be careful in selecting correct sound velocity.

6.4 Wearness of Probe

The surface of the probe is allyl resin, after long time of usage, its roughness will increase, and the
sensitivity will drop. If the user can be sure that this is the reason for error, he can grind the
surface with sand paper or oilstone to make it smooth and has good parallelism. If it is still not
stable, the probe must be replaced.

6.5 Overlapped Material and Compound Material

It is impossible to measure uncoupled overlapped material, because the ultrasonic wave cant pass
an uncoupled space. Since the ultrasonic wave cant transmit in compound material in even speed,
it is not applicable to use ultrasonic thickness-gauge to measure overlapped material and
compound material.

6.6 Influence of Oxidation Layer at Metals Surface

Some metals can produce dense oxidation layer on its surface, such as aluminum, etc. The layer is
closely contacted with the substrate, and it has no obvious interface, but the ultrasonic wave has
different transmitting speed in these two materials, which will cause error. In addition, different
thickness in oxidation layer will cause different error. Please be careful in this. One can make a
reference piece from a batch of objects by measuring with micron micrometer or caliper, and use it
to calibrate the instrument.

6.7 Abnormal Readout of Thickness

The operator should be able to identify abnormal readout. Generally, the rust, corrosion, pit and
internal defect of the object will cause abnormal readout. For the solution for that, please refer to
chapter 4 and 5.

6.8 Utilization and Selection of Coupling Agent

The coupling agent is for transmitting high-frequency energy between the probe and the object. If
the type of agent is wrong, or the utilization is wrong, it will cause error or flashing coupling
indicator, and it will be impossible to measure. The coupling agent should be used in proper
amount and be coated evenly.
It is very important to select proper coupling agent. When it is used on a smooth surface, youd
better use an agent with low viscosity (such as coupling agent provided along with the instrument
and light engine oil, etc.). When it is used on a coarse object surface, or vertical surface and top
surface, one can use agent with high viscosity (such as glycerin grease, consistent grease and
lubricating grease, etc.).
Various coupling agents with different components are available everywhere.

20

7. Attention
7.1 Cleaning the Test Piece
Since the test pieces supplied along with the instrument will be coated with coupling agent when
being used for inspection, so please prevent it from rust. After the measurement, the test pieces
should be cleaned. When the weather is hot, never stick any sweat on the pieces. If the pieces are
not to be used for a long time, please paint them with some oil to prevent rust. When one wants to
use them again, first clean them, then he can have normal operation.

7.2 Cleaning the Instruments Case

Alcohol, diluent will corrode the case, especially the LCD of the instrument. Therefore, when you
clean the instrument, you can do that just with some clean water and clean it slightly.

7.3 Protecting the Probe

The surface of the probe is allyl resin, which is very sensitive to the heavy scratch from the coarse
surface. Therefore, during operation, Please press it lightly. When measuring coarse surface,
please minimize scratch on the working surface of the probe.
When measuring under normal temperature, the temperature of the surface to be measured should
not be more than 60C, otherwise the probe cant be used.
The oil and dirt will age and break the probe line, so please remove dirt on the cable after
operation.

7.4 Replacing Batteries

When indication for low voltage occurs, please replace batteries on time :
a. Turn off the instrument
b. Open the battery chamber
c. Take out the batteries, put in new ones. Please note the polarity.
If the instrument will not be used for a long time, please take out the batteries to avoid leakage,
and corrosion in the battery chamber and pole piece.

7.5 Absolutely avoid collision and moisture.

8. Maintenance
8.1 When the error of measurement is too large, please refer to chapter 6, 7.
8.2 If the following problems occur, please contact the Maintenance Department of Time Group:
a. The component of the instrument is damaged and it is impossible to measure.
b. The LCD is abnormal.
c. During normal operation, the error is too large.
d. The keyboard doesn't function or is in disorder.

8.3 Since TT300 is a high-tech product, its maintenance should be conducted by professional
trained person. The user should not disassemble and repair it by himself.

9. Non warranty Parts

1. Window, 2. Battery, 3. Probe. 4.Test block. 5. Sheath of gauge. 6. Couplant

21

Appendix
Type and capability of apparatus
T
E
C
H
N
O
L
O
G
Y
P
A
R
A
M
E
T
E
R

Type

TT300

TT310

TT320

TT340

Testing range
(steel)(mm)

0.75~300.0

0.8~300.0

5.0~80.0(high-temp.)
1.2~225.0(normal-temp)

1.2~300.0(normal-temp)
5.0~40.0(cast iron)

Display
resolution
(mm)

Tested
thickness
<100: 0.01or0.1
Tested thickness

0.1

0.1

0.1

(1%H+0. 1)

(1%H+0. 1)

(1%H+0. 1)

5MHz probe:20
3.0

5MHz probe:
203.0

5MHz probe:203.0

5MHz probe:203.0

(normal)

(normal)

10MHz probe:15
2.0

10MHz probe:
152.0

Error is less then

0.1

Error is less then

0.1

Error is less then

0.1

Error
is
less then
0.1

100: 0.1
Error
(H:
actual
thickness of
standard
block)

H<10: 0.05
10H99.99:
(0.5%H+0.01)
H100:
(1%H+0.01)

Down limits
for pipes

Probe
frequency
setting
Adjusting
sound
velocity

of

Testing
sound
velocity

of

Limits setting

Setting
of
receiving gain

Switch
metric
inch

of
and

Catch of min.
testing value

2-point
calibration

Memory
thickness
value

of

Review

of

22

memory

Clear memory

Adjusting of
brightness

Backlight

Low-battery
indicator

Communication

printer

means the apparatus has this function.

Appendix
Sound velocity for Different Materials
Sound velocity

Material
(m/s)

(inch/s)

Aluminum

6320

0.250

Zinc

4170

0.170

Silver

3600

0.140

Gold

3240

0.130

Tin

3320

0.130

Steel

5900

0.240

Brass

4430

0.180

Copper

4700

0.190

SUS

5970

0.240

Plexiglas

2730

0.110

Gray Cast

4600

0.180

Porcelain

5600

0.220

Glass (quartz)

5570

0.220

23