EPOCH LT Training Presentation

Introduction and Basic Operation

Panametrics-NDT Flaw Detector Line
EPOCH 4PLUS

EPOCH 4

EPOCH 4B

EPOCH LT

2
Panametrics-NDT Flaw Detector Line

Instrument Summary and Key Features

EPOCH 4PLUS Ultrasonic flexibility of the EPOCH 4 with the addition of a color liquid crystal display.
Several unique software features include Dynamic Waveform Color Change, Backwall
Echo Attenuation, Spotweld Assistant, special RF detection, and high-speed USB
communication protocol.

EPOCH 4 High end flaw detector with a large array of specialized software options including
encoded B-Scan. Unprecedented inspection flexibility with dual pulsers and user
customizable filters open the door to many new applications that previous generation
flaw detectors cannot tackle.

EPOCH 4B Basic version of the EPOCH 4 Flaw Detector. Offers standard dual pulsers, optional
narrow band filtering and a choice between LCD and ELD screen types. Similar option
package to EPOCH LT.

EPOCH LT Basic instrument with a standard negative spike pulser, broadband 20MHz
receiver, high performance LCD, high-speed USB communication port, and
standard DAC/TVG. The lightest and smallest instrument available. Options
include Adv. DAC/TVG, DGS/AVG, API 5UE, Low PRF, AWS D1.1/D1.5, Tunable
Square Wave Pulser.

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Product Overview
The EPOCH LT was launched at the
NDT World Conference in September
2004.

The EPOCH LT is Olympus NDTs basic

flaw detector platform providing
customers with class-leading size and
weight as well as excellent ultrasonic
performance.

The EPOCH LT is designed to handle the

most common UT Flaw Detector
applications with standard basic DAC
and TVG as well as common software
options. It is fully compatible with the
EPOCH 4 series instruments as well.

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Key Features
Size and Weight
Only 2.35 lbs. (1.0kg)
Only 1.35 in. (38mm) thick
Provides truly handheld performance

Large Bandwidth Broadband Receiver (20 MHz at -3dB)

Allows use of high frequency transducers for
thinner materials

Large Memory Capacity (100 W / 2,000 T)

Option to expand this capacity to
(500 W / 5,000 T)

Auto-Calibration Feature
Greatly speeds and simplifies the calibration process

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Key Features

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Battery

High power to weight ratio
Internal pack design

Time of Flight Measurement Readout

For sec readout

USB Communication Port

Communication with GageView Pro Interface Program

Real-Time Clock
Saved data is automatically tagged with date/time

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Key Features

Thickness Measurements are Taken from Raw Data

True time of flight instrument
Resolution NOT tied to screen range

5 Function Soft Keys

Direct access to preset parameter values

Gasketed Case
Seals out the environment

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Basic Options
Expanded Memory Capacity

Expanded Memory Standard Memory

Capacity Capacity
Thickness Readings 10,000 2,000

Waveforms 500 100

Echo to Echo Measurement

Extended Range
Standard range is 200in. (steel velocity)
Expand to 400in. (steel velocity)

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EPOCH Design Philosophy
EPOCH Flaw Detectors have been designed with the operator in mind. The
user interface has been designed to provide Direct Access to settings.

Examples of Direct Access Philosophy

Split Screen View Allows the operator to view all instrument settings on one
screen.
Keypad Functionally grouped keypad allows access to all major instrument
functions with one or two key presses.
Function (F) Keys User can jump directly to various instrument settings rather than
manual adjustment. Fully customizable values with standard Editable Parameters
feature.
Single Hand Operation All instrument functions accessible with ENTER key and
adjustable with slewing keys.

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Physical Features
AC Adaptor Input LEMO 00 Transducer
Connectors
LM-BF adaptors are
available for BNC Cables
High Speed USB Port

Liquid Crystal Display

EPOCH LT shown with

English Keypad and option Direct Access Function Keys
rubber boot.
LEMO 00 transducer Keypad (English or
connectors are the only type International Symbol)
available due to connector
size restrictions.

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Display
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
1/4 VGA (320 W x 240 H Pixels)
Superior Outdoor Visibility
Contrast Adjustment via Keypad
Backlight Adjustment via Keypad

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Keypad (English Version)

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Outputs
USB Communication Port LEMO Transducer Posts

AC Adaptor Input

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Battery Charging
OPTION #1 - Charge Battery Inside Unit
Plug charger into unit and AC Main Line.
Full charge will be achieved in approximately 2-3 hours. Battery will also charge
when unit is powered on, although at a slower rate.

OPTION #2 - Charge Battery Externally.

Optional External Battery Charger
Panametrics Part Number: EPLT-EC
Full charge will be achieved in approximately 2-3 hours

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Option Security Key
Security Key allows installation of instrument software options
Options can be programmed remotely - just contact Waltham
All EPOCH LT Instruments have their security key soldered onto the main
board. The keys cannot be removed as in older EPOCH 4 series instruments.

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 EPOCH LT
OPERATION

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Power Up
EPOCH LT will go through a Self Test
on Power up. This assures that the
instrument is functioning properly.

ON
OFF

The [ON/OFF] key is used to

turn the EPOCH LT on and off.

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Contrast Adjustment
CONTRAST

Press: 2ND F then CALIBRATION to adjust the contrast.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

Backlight On/Off
Contrast Adjustment

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 Split Screen View
A-Scan and Setup Parameters can be Viewed Simultaneously

Directory
Filename
Gain/Range Split Screen
Parameter Box A-Scan withflags
Flaw Information
(Always displayed)

Setup
Parameters

Function Key Presets Battery Level Indicator

(Always displayed)
PRINT

PRESS: DISPLAY To Toggle Between Screen Views.

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 Full Screen View
Provides a Large View of the A-Scan for Increased Resolution

Directory
Filename
Gain/Range
Parameter Box
Flaw Information
Split Screen
(Always displayed)
A-Scan withflags

Function Key Presets Battery Level Indicator

(Always displayed)

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Battery Level Indicator

100%
~ 8 Hours Backlight Off
~ 6 Hours Backlight On

50%
~4 Hours Backlight Off
~3 Hours Backlight On

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Option Menu
This menu is used to:
- Access Software Features / Options (DAC, TVG, etc.)
- Adjust Operating Parameters (Language, Units, PRF, etc.)

Press: to access menu.

Use the Slewing keys

to move highlight bar.

Press: to access a function.

Press: again to exit menu.

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Setup Menu

Move the highlight bar over SETUP, and press:

Language Selection
Preset Languages
Optional Custom Language

Unit Measurement
in, mm, usec
Displayed resolution adjustment

Real Time Clock

User Interface
Standard or Advanced User selections

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Setup Menu
Audible Tone Upon Keypress
Turns A-Scan Grid ON/OFF

Keypad and Calibration Lock

Filled Frozen A-Scan when

Filled Live A-Scan Waveform

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Real Time Clock

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Advanced User Selection

The User Interface can be customized for Advanced Users

Preset or Customizable Narrow Band Filters
Zero Offset Preset Values
Measure horizontal distance values from the front of an angle beam wedge rather than the Beam
Index Point
Save MIN THICKNESS instead of CURRENT THICKNESS when the SAVE THICK key is
pressed.

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 EPOCH LT
Basic Operating Parameters

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Basic Operation

Access each parameter through a direct or

2nd function key press.

Press to toggle parameters.

Adjust each parameter using:

The Function Keys for preset values

F1 F2 F3 F4 F5

the Slewing Keys for fine tuning

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Function Key Presets
For quick access to preset values for each parameter

Preset Values

Example: Function Keys

THICKNESS

Press: ANGLE

F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
Press: , , , , or to select a preset value.

Press: or to fine tune the value.

# DIV

Press: 2ND F then ZERO

OFFSET in the Full Screen view to view the horizontal
graticule division numbers instead of the function key parameter presets.

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Basic Operating Parameters
REF

GAIN GAIN

REF

GAIN
2ND F REFERENCE GAIN

FREEZE/UNFREEZE SCREEN
FREEZE

SAVE THICKNESS / AMPLITUDE / TOF DATA ONLY

SAVE ENTIRE WAVEFORM AND SETUP PARAMETERS

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Basic Operating Parameters
ALARM 1

GATE
1
GATE 1 POSITION

ALARM 1

2ND F GATE GATE 1 ALARM

1

ALARM 2

GATE GATE 2 POSITION

2

ALARM 2

2ND F GATE GATE 2 ALARM

2

CONTRAST

CALIBRATION AUTO-CALIBRATION INITIATION

CONTRAST

2ND F CALIBRATION
CONTRAST / BRIGHTNESS CONTROL

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Basic Operating Parameters
# DIV

ZERO ZERO OFFSET

OFFSET

# DIV
CHANGES X-AXIS IN FULL SCREEN TO
ZERO
2ND F OFFSET
DISPLAY GRATULE MARKINGS (0-10)

ZOOM

RANGE
SCREEN RANGE

ZOOM

2ND F RANGE
ZOOM / UNZOOMS SCREEN

REJECT

VEL VELOCITY

REJECT

2ND F VEL REJECT

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Basic Operating Parameters
THICKNESS

ANGLE
REFRACTED ANGLE

THICKNESS

2ND F ANGLE
MATERIAL THICKNESS

B-SCAN

OPTION
OPENS EPOCH 4 OPTION MENU

B-SCAN

2ND F OPTION INITIALIZES THE B-SCAN OPTION

ACCESSES THE PULSER FUNCTIONS

2ND F ACCESSES THE PEAK MEM FEATURE

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Basic Operating Parameters
PRINT

DISPLAY
TOGGLES BETWEEN SPLIT / FULL SCREEN VIEW

PRINT

2ND F DISPLAY
NOT ACTIVE IN EPOCH LT

ECHO-ECHO SELECTION FOR: - EDGE / PEAK DEPTH

DEPTH - AMPLITUDE
%AMP
- TOGGLE SOUNDPATH READINGS IN
ANGLE BEAM MODE
ECHO-ECHO
2ND F DEPTH
TURNS ON / OFF ECHO-ECHO FEATURE
%AMP

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 EPOCH LT
Auto-Calibration

Straight Beam Example

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 EXAMPLE:
Transducer 5 Step Steel Test Block
A109S-RM 2214E
(5.0 MHz, 0.5 in) (0.100 to 0.500)

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Calibration Initial Steps
ADJUST THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS:
REF

GAIN GAIN 10 dB

# DIV

ZERO
OFFSET ZERO OFFSET 0.000 us

REJECT

VEL VELOCITY 2320 in/us (L-Wave Steel)

ZOOM

RANGE RANGE 1in Full Screen

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Calibration Initial Steps

ADJUST PULSER SETTINGS

Multiple presses of the key toggles through pulser parameters.

Pressing 2ND F then will go directly to the filter selections

Rectification: Fullwave, RF, Halfwave +, Halfwave -

Pulser Energy: Low (100V), Med (200V), High (300V), Max (400V)

Pulser Damping: 50, 63, 150, 400 ohms

Pulser Mode: Pulse Echo, Dual, Through-Transmission

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Calibration Initial Steps
Pulser Type Selection
The EPOCH LT has a standard negative spike excitation pulser and an
OPTIONAL tunable square wave pulser.

Negative Spike Excitation Pulser:

Easy to use
No additional parameters needed for adjustment

Tunable Square Wave Pulser

Pulser is tuned to a frequency corresponding to the transducer
Provides better signal to noise ratio for most applications

Note: If Square Wave Pulser is selected, user must enter a frequency.

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Resolution of Measurements
Thickness and Time-of-Flight (msec) measurements are taken from the
instruments raw data.

Measurement resolution is NOT tied to screen range.

DEMONSTRATION!

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Straight Beam Calibration

STEP #1:
Couple the transducer to the THIN
reference sample.(0.200 step)

Position Gate 1 over the FIRST

backwall echo.

Adjust the Gain so the signal

amplitude is ~ 80%

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Straight Beam Calibration
CONTRAST

Press: CALIBRATION

# DIV

Wait for a steady reading, then press ZERO

OFFSET

Uncouple the transducer.

Enter the known thickness of the THIN reference sample.

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Straight Beam Calibration
STEP #2:
CONTRAST

Press CALIBRATION

Couple the transducer to the THICK

reference sample.(0.500 step)

Position Gate 1 over the backwall echo.

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Straight Beam Calibration
REJECT

Wait for a steady reading, then press VEL

Uncouple the transducer.

Enter the known thickness of the THICK reference sample.

Press to complete the calibration.

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 EPOCH LT
Auto-Calibration

Angle Beam Example

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 EXAMPLE:
Transducer 45o Wedge IIW Type I Test Block
A430S-SB ABWS-6-45 1018 Steel TB7541-1
(2.25 MHz, 0.625 in)

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Angle Beam Calibration
The four steps for an angle beam calibration are:

1. Locate the Beam Index Point (B.I.P.) of the probe

2. Verify the Refracted Angle (Beta)

3. Calibrate for Distance (Use Auto-Cal Feature!)

4. Calibrate for Sensitivity

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Locating the Beam Index Point (B.I.P.)
1. Align the wedge with the zero mark on the
IIW Type I Block.

2. Move the probe forward and backward until

the echo amplitude from the 4 arc is peaked
(The Peak Memory feature is helpful).

3. Once the signal is peaked, mark the side of

the wedge directly over the zero mark. This is
the Beam Index Point.

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Verify the Refracted Angle (Beta)
NOTE: The refracted angle of the wedge should have already been entered into
the EPOCH LT at the beginning of the calibration. However, this angle must be
verified due to material variations or wear on the wedge.

1. Position the probe over the appropriate angle mark on the IIW block (matched
to the angle on the wedge).

2. Move the probe forward and backward to peak up the echo from the large
circular hole in the block. (Again, the Peak Memory feature simplifies this
process.)

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Verify the Refracted Angle (Beta)
3. Once the signal is peaked, hold the probe stationary. Note the degree mark on the
block that lines up with the Beam Index Point (B.I.P. was found in the previous step).

This is the actual refracted angle (Beta) for the particular transducer and probe.

4. If the Beta value differs from the one initially entered, enter a new one by
pressing ANGLE and then fine tuning the value using the or keys.

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Calibrate for Distance
1. Couple the probe to the IIW Type 1 Reference block so that the B.I.P. is directly
over the 0 mark.
2. Set the initial Range to 10 inches.
3. Adjust the [ZERO OFFSET] so that both the 4 and 9echoes are visible on the
screen. The [GAIN] may have to be increased to view the 9 echo.

4 1

NOTE: An IIW Type 2 Reference Block will produce echoes at the 2

and 4 screen divisions.

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Calibrate for Distance
Position Gate 1 over the 4 echo.

CONTRAST

Press CALIBRATION .

ZERO
Wait for a steady reading, then press OFFSET .

Use the keypad to enter a thickness of 4.000 inches.

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Calibrate for Distance
Position Gate 1 over the 9 echo.
CONTRAST

Press CALIBRATION

Wait for a steady reading, then

REJECT

press VEL .

Use the keypad to enter a thickness

of 9.000 inches.

Press to complete the calibration.

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Calibrate for Sensitivity
1. Couple the probe to the IIW Type 1 Reference Block so that the transducer is
aimed at the 0.060 side drilled hole.
2. Move the probe forward and backward to peak up the echo (The Peak
Memory feature aids in this process)

0.060 side
drilled hole

3. Use the [GAIN] key to bring the gain to a desired level.

4. Lock in a reference gain and enable scanning gain by

REF

GAIN
pressing 2ND F then .

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Toggle Feature
When utilizing angle beam transducers during inspections, the user can select which
sound path reading is displayed in large text.
ECHO-ECHO
DEPTH
Press: %AMP then F4

DEMONSTRATION!

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 EPOCH LT
DATALOGGER

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Datalogger Specifications
Storage of 100 Waveforms/2,000 Thickness Readings
Option to increase to 500 Waveforms/10,000 Thickness Readings

Press 2nd F to enter/exit the memory screen.

File Content Window

Datalogger Capacity Remaining

File Directory Window

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Software Options

DISTANCE AMPLITUDE CORRECTION (DAC) NOW STANDARD

TIME VARIED GAIN (TVG) NOW STANDARD
ADVANCED DAC/TVG
ONBOARD DGS/AVG
API 5UE
SPOTWELD
INTERFACE GATE *Refer to separate presentation
FLOATING GATE
for details on operation
CURVED SURFACE CORRECTION (CSC)
PULSE REPETITION FREQUENCY (PRF)
of software options
Low PRF (30 Hz)
High PRF (1 KHz)
B-SCAN
WAVE ANALYSIS
AWS D1.1
EXPANDED MEMORY
GAGEVIEW PRO PC INTERFACE PROGRAM

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