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Precision Ultrasonic Gaging - Metals

Ultrasonic thickness gages can be used to measure a wide variety of forged, rolled, machined, cast, or extruded metal products over a thickness range from approximately 0.2 mm (0.008") up to 500 mm (20") depending on grain structure.

Some of the most common examples are listed below.

Pipes and tanks - Corrosion measurement involving metal pipes and tanks is discussed in detail in Section 8.1, but precision thickness measurement during the manufacturing process is also possible.

Sheets and coils - Metal sheet and coil stock can normally be measured to very high accuracy at any point where there is access to one side. Ultrasonic gaging is especially useful in the case of wide products that cannot easily be measured by mechanical gages except at the edges.

Automotive sheet metal - The complex shape and large size of many automotive sheet metal fabrications can make mechanic measurement challenging, but ultrasonic gaging can be performed at any point where there is access to one side, including reduction rate measurement at bends.

Small diameter tubing - Wall thickness and concentricity of precision metal tubing as small as 2 mm or 0.080" in diameter can be measured using focused transducers.

Gun drilling - Drill drift during gun drilling operations can result in holes whose position varies with depth. An ultrasonic gage can locate and measure the depth of holes from the outside surface at any point along the length of a part.

Castings - Wall thickness of hollow ferrous and nonferrous castings can be measured ultrasonically, even those with complex shapes like engine blocks. Ultrasonic gages can also be used to check nodularity in cast iron.

Turbine blades - The wall thickness of hollow turbine blades for aircraft engines and similar critical applications can be measured with small focused transducers, both to detect core shift during manufacturing and to gage wear in service.

Machined parts - During machining operations it can be necessary to check the wall thickness of parts to insure that they are within specification. Ultrasonic gages can usually make this measurement when the inside surface of the part is difficult or impossible to reach.

For more detailed information, go to thickness measurement >>