EPOCH 1000 Series

Conventional UT B-scan
Software Option
 Presentation Contents
• Overview and Key Features

• Required Parts

• Option Activation

• Creating an Encoded B-scan

• Creating a Timed B-scan

• Cross Sectional B-scan

• Reviewing Acquired B-scan Data

• Encoder Calibration
Overview and Key Features
 Conventional UT B-scan Option
B-scan software option now available for use in
UT mode!
• Encoded or time based
• New cable for connection to
B-scan buggy
• NEW Single Value or
Cross Sectional B-scan
 Conventional UT B-scan Option

• Available beginning with software version 1.3.1.0

• Once option is purchased it is remotely activated on the
EPOCH 1000
 Key Features
• Three B-Scan Inspection Modes
1. Bi-Directional encoded
– Encoder is active. Scan moves in the same direction as encoder.
2. Uni-Directional encoded
– Encoder is active. Scan moves forward when encoder moves forward or
backward.
3. Manual non-encoded (Timed)
– The encoder is not active. B-Scan updates according to a time rate that is
set with the PRF control.

• Display Modes
– B-Scan only (Single Value or Cross-Sectional)
– B-Scan and A-Scan simultaneously
 Key Features (cont.)
• Ability to store ALL A-scans during B-scan collection
– EPOCH XT only allowed for A-scan storage on alarm trigger or
minimum depth

• Maximum Scan Rate has been increased to up to 1200 Hz

• With A-Scan Storage active the maximum scan rate is 800 Hz
– NOTE: The scan rate is equal to the PRF for values less than or equal
to the maximum scan rate.
 Key Features (cont.)
• B-Scan is compatible with Echo-to-Echo for coated surfaces or
when there is a varying water path.
– Gate 1 width must be set wide enough to completely cover Gate 2 to
avoid loss of signal.

• Cross-Sectional B-scan draws the B-scan image based on full A-

scan amplitude data, regardless of gate position
– Can be viewed live or after a
scan has been captured
– A-scan storage must be ON in
order to view
Required Parts
 Parts Required for B-Scan
• EPOCH 1000 B-Scan Software Option
– EP1000-BSCAN (U8140154)

• EPOCH 1000 Encoder Cable

– EP1000-ENC-CBL-10 (U8140156)
– Also available in 25, 50, or 100 foot lengths

• Encoder Buggy
– BSCAN-ENC (U8779522)

• Transducer
– Typically a D790-SM (U8450009)

• Transducer Cable: Choose length to match encoder cable

– BNC: BCMD-316-10B (U8800194)
– LEMO: L1CMD-316-10B (U8800301)
 B-Scan Kits
• Most customers choose to purchase B-Scan kits that contain the
Instrument Software Option, B-Scan Encoder Buggy, and B-Scan
Encoder Cable
– EP1000-BSCAN-KIT-10: 10 foot encoder cable (U8140160)
– EP1000-BSCAN-KIT-25: 25 foot encoder cable (U8140161)
– EP1000-BSCAN-KIT-50: 50 foot encoder cable (U8140162)
– EP1000-BSCAN-KIT-100: 100 foot encoder cable (U8140163)

• The transducer and transducer cable must be purchased

separately.
 B-Scan Encoder & Accessories

D790-SM
Transducer Cable

Encoder Cable Input

Probe Holder

Water Input

Optional Extension
Pole Bracket

Optional Magnetic Wheels

Option Activation
 Option Activation
• The EPOCH 1000 must be updated to Operating Software version
1.3.1.0 or higher
• If the B-scan option has been purchased, it can be turned on using
the B scan menu
 Option Activation (cont.)
• If the B-Scan Option is NOT activated in your instrument, contact
your local Olympus NDT representative to purchase this option
• Once this software option is purchased it can be remotely activated
on the EPOCH 1000i via a software code provided
 Menus and Interface
• To turn on the B-scan option, select B Scan > BScan = On
• When B-scan is turned on, new sets of group menus appear
 Menus and Interface (cont.)
• While B-scan is ON, menu 5/6 will now contain additional
parameters and controls for use in B-scan inspections
– Encoder
• Used to perform an encoder calibration
– Cursors
• Position controls for X and Y sizing cursors
– Tools
• Statistics and other post-analysis functions

• Datalogger and reporting functions will now be

located in menu 6/6
 B-scan Menu
• The controls in the B scan menu are as follows:
– Screen: Selects views of A-scan/B-scan or B-scan only
– Mode: Starts or Stops B-scan acquisition
– Source: Selects type of B-scan image
• single value or cross-sectional
– Correlated View: Selects alignment of A-scan and image
– Source: Builds B-scan image from selected Gate
 Additional Features
• A Minimum Depth Alarm may be used to alert the operator to areas
where the part thickness has dropped below a user defined
threshold.

• The Floating Gate option is included with the purchase of the B-scan
software and may be used to set the gate height
– Gate can be set at a level from -1dB to -14dB from the height of
the gated echo.
– Avoid echo drop out when scanning on heavily corroded parts.
– Maximize measurement consistency by measuring at the same
point on the edge of the echo envelope.
– Floating gate can be set in the Gate Setup > Setup menu
Creating an Encoded B-scan
 Creating an Encoded B-scan
• The EPOCH 1000 must be properly setup and calibrated before the
B-Scan option is turned ON.
– Pulser / Receiver Settings
– Calibrate for Zero Offset and Velocity
– Gate 1 should be setup to cover the minimum and maximum expected
thickness values for the inspection.
• The screenshots below show a complete setup ready for B-Scan to
be turned on.
 Equipment Setup
• For encoded B-scans, a positional encoder is used to track
distance traveled along the scan axis.
– The standard encoder for use with B-scan is the encoder buggy

• Insert your transducer into the B-scan

buggy and tighten the thumb screws
to secure
• Attach the transducer cable to the
transducer and to the EPOCH 1000
• Attach the encoder cable to the
encoder buggy and EPOCH 1000
 Encoded B-scan Setup
• Now you are ready to set up your B-scan using the following steps:
1. Turn ON the option in the B Scan > BScan menu.
– Once the B-scan option is turned on, additional B-scan parameters
will display in the menu.
 Encoded B-scan Setup (cont.)
2. Select B Scan > Setup to enter the setup screen
3. Choose an Encoder Mode (Uni or Bi-directional)
4. Select a Direction (will determine the display view of the A-scan
and B-scan image)
5. Set your Scan Resolution
(spacing between
B-scan points)
• This value will determine
the maximum scanning
speed.
 Encoded B-scan Setup (cont.)
6. The Encoder Resolution
for the B-scan encoder
buggy is 200 pulses/in.
(7.87 pulses/mm)
• If you are using a different
encoder, you should perform
an encoder calibration to
determine the encoder
resolution.
• The value from the encoder
calibration will automatically
populate from the encoder
calibration
• For instructions on how to
calibrate the encoder, please
use the following link:
Encoder Calibration
 Encoded B-scan Setup (cont.)
7. Set the desired Start and
End Co-ordinates for the scan
8. Select whether to Save Ascan images
• You must be saving A-scan images in order
to create a cross-sectional B-scan
9. If a cross-sectional B-scan for
Gate 2 is being used, select the
Amplitude Decimation factor
• Gate 1 amplitude compression is
automatically set to maximum
10. The current Scan File Size based on
the selected parameters is displayed.
• This parameter cannot exceed the Max File
Size of approximately 70Mb
11. Press the [ESCAPE] key to return to
the live screen.
 Collecting B-scan Data
• To acquire data for your B-scan
1. Set the B Scan > Mode to Start
2. Move your B-scan buggy and transducer along your test piece at
the appropriate scan rate so that you do not receive an LOS
measurement
 A/B-Scan View

Min Depth Alarm

Areas of
Scan
below
Thickness Minimum
limits Depth
defined by
Gate1 Start
and Width

Encoded Scan axis

Creating a Timed B-scan
 Creating a Timed B-scan
• The EPOCH 1000 must be properly setup and calibrated before the
B-Scan option is turned ON.
– Pulser / Receiver Settings
– Calibrate for Zero Offset and Velocity
– Gate 1 should be setup to cover the minimum and maximum expected
thickness values for the inspection.
• The screenshots below show a complete setup ready for B-Scan to
be turned on.
 Timed B-scan Setup
• Now you are ready to set up your B-scan using the following steps:
1. Turn ON the option in the B Scan > BScan menu.
– Once the B-scan option is turned on, additional B-scan parameters
will display in the menu.
 Timed B-scan Setup (cont.)
2. Select B Scan > Setup to
enter the setup screen
3. Set the Encoder Mode to
Timed
4. Select a Direction
(will determine the display
view of the A-scan and
B-scan image)
5. Select whether to Save
Ascan images
• You must be saving A-scan
images in order to create a
cross-sectional B-scan
 Timed B-scan Setup (cont.)
6. If a cross-sectional B-scan for
Gate 2 is being used, select
the Amplitude Decimation
factor
• Gate 1 amplitude compression is
automatically set to maximum
7. The current Scan File Size
based on the selected
parameters is displayed.
• This parameter cannot exceed the
Max File Size of approximately
70Mb.
8. Press the [ESCAPE] key to
return to the live screen.
 Collecting B-scan Data
• To acquire data for your B-scan
1. Set the B Scan > Mode to Start
2. Move your transducer along your test piece at the appropriate
scan rate so that you do not receive an LOS measurement

NOTE: If the scan is moving

too quickly, lower your PRF
to reduce the scan speed!
 A/B-Scan View

Min Depth Alarm

Areas of
Scan
below
Thickness Minimum
limits Depth
defined by
Gate1 Start
and Width

Timed Scan axis

Cross-Sectional B-scan
 What is a Cross-Sectional B-scan?
1. A-scans digitized and
1
mapped to color scale
based on amplitude
values

2. Points are plotted so

that the colors are
positioned at the
proper depth

3. A-scans from
successive transducer
positions are
Transducer

"stacked" to form a
movement

2
true few cross-
sectional image 3

Part depth
What is a Cross-Sectional B-scan? (cont.)
• The depth axis on a cross-sectional B-scan uses the entire screen
range, rather than just the gated region as on a single value B-scan
Depth (screen range)

Scan axis (encoded or timed)

 Single Value vs. Cross Sectional
• Single Value B-scan
– “Traditional” EPOCH B-scan view
– Same as EPOCH III, EPOCH 4, EPOCH XT, 37DLPlus, 38DLPlus, etc.
– Draws a profile view of the test piece based on the gated single
thickness value per index
– Most commonly used in corrosion scanning applications
 Single Value vs. Cross Sectional (cont.)
• Cross Sectional B-scan
– Much more similar to phased array images (zero degree linear scan)
– Draws the B-scan image based on full A-scan amplitude data,
regardless of gate position
– More commonly used in zero degree laminar applications
Reviewing Acquired B-scan Data
 Completing a B-scan
• Once you have acquired all the data from a particular section or
have finished your entire scan, you can choose to Stop or Freeze
the B-scan.
– Stopping a scan will complete the scan. New B-scans will be started
from the start coordinate
– Freezing a scan will bring you to Review mode. When the scan is
unfrozen you can continue the scan from the point where the scan was
frozen.

vs.

B Scan > Mode

[FREEZE]
 Saving Files
• B-Scan files may be stored in any file type in the EPOCH 1000. The
most common are:
– Calibration (CAL) Files: Used to store B-Scan setups
– Incremental (INC) Files: Used for most inspection data storage

• When the [SAVE] key is pressed the instrument saves the entire B-Scan
along with stored A-Scans and the instrument setup.

• Saved B-scan files can be recalled as a setup, if desired, through the

Files > Open menu in the datalogger
– After recalling a file, press the [FREEZE] key to enter Review Mode
 Start/Stop Function
• The Start/Stop function is used to end your B-scan
– For convenience, the [CHECK] key can also be pressed when Start is
highlighted to Stop a B-scan.
• Once a B-scan is stopped,
you will need to save and
recall the scan in order to
review the data.
• When the B-scan is started
again it will create a new scan
from the start point rather than
resume from the last captured
point.
 Freeze Function
• When you have finished your scan section, or to pause and
review your acquired data, press the [FREEZE] key to enter
Review Mode.
– An “F” icon will display to the
left of the scan to indicate that
you are reviewing a frozen
scan.
– The Start/Stop Mode controls
will be disabled when review
mode is active.
 Freeze Function (cont.)

• Entering Review Mode allows use of the following

functions/features, which are explained further in this
section:
1. Image cursors (D.T.)
2. Sizing cursors (X, Y)
3. Changing gate source data (Gate 1 or 2, single value or cross-
sectional)
 Cursors
• Once a B-scan is acquired, you can perform basic on-board analysis
in Review Mode using available cursors
– Sizing cursors (X, Y) and DT cursor are available in the Cursor menu
 Distance Traveled (D.T) Cursor
• The distance traveled (D.T.) cursor selects a specific distance or
timed point along the scan axis.
– For encoded B-scans, the D.T. cursor will select a specific position
along the scan axis in inches or mm.
– For timed B-scans, this cursor will correspond to a specific screen
pixel along the scan axis.

• To adjust the D.T. cursor

select Cursors > D.T.
– The cursor will display
as white lines on the
B-scan image.
 Distance Traveled (D.T) Cursor (cont.)
• If selected in B-scan setup, a compressed A-scan will be stored for
each point on the B-scan. The D.T. cursor is used to choose a
particular B-scan point to view the A-scan image.
• To view stored A-scans along with the B-scan, set the B Scan >
Screen view to A/B Scan
 Sizing Cursors
• Sizing cursors are available for basic flaw sizing on the B-scan image
– Based on your screen view, the X and Y cursors will be correspond to
part depth (thickness) and scan axis (distance or time)
• The X and Y cursors will form a shaded box around the selected
area for easier viewing.
• To turn the sizing cursors ON,
select Cursors > Cursors.
– The X and Y cursors can
then be adjusted to take
measurements in both
directions along the scan.
– If you are selected in
Auto mode, the relevant
cursor measurements will
be displayed in the
measurement boxes
above the scan.
 Compressed View
• Since encoded B-scans allow for data collection for lengths longer
than the screen width, you can compress a B-scan to view the entire
scan on screen all at once.
• To turn compressed view ON, select B Scan > Compressed
 Correlated View
• Aligns the thickness axis of the B-scan with the soundpath (depth)
axis of the A-scan
• Best used with cross-sectional B-scan which is plotted over the full
range of the A-scan
– The alignment of the
A-scan and B-scan will
match along the part
thickness and depth axis
 B-scan Analysis – Minimum Depth
• In Single Value B-scan, you can display critical thinning areas in red
by adjusting the Min Depth Alarm position
• To adjust the minimum depth select Gate 1 > Min Depth
 B-scan Analysis – Statistics
• NEW Tools menu allows the user to display Statistics on the current
acquired B-scan
• To view the information for the current B-scan, select Tools >
Statistics from Review mode
Encoder Calibration
 Encoder Calibration
• The Encoder Resolution for the B-scan buggy is 200 pulses/in.
(7.87 pulses/mm)
• If you are using a different encoder, you should perform an encoder
calibration to determine the encoder resolution.
• Required Equipment:
– Encoder and encoder cable
– Transducer and cable
– Ruler, ideally at least 6 in. (150 mm)
 Calibration Setup
• Once the encoder has been properly attached to your probe:
1. Enter the Encoder > Calibration menu
2. Press [P3] to Reset the encoder pulses and D.T. values
3. Set the Start and End points to be used for the calibration

Using a greater calibration

distance will increase encoder
resolution accuracy as error is
averaged over a larger distance.
 Encoder Calibration
4. Position the front of the probe at the zero mark (start point) on your ruler
5. Press [P1] Cal Start to begin the calibration
6. Move the probe until the front is at the end point on your ruler
7. Press [P1] End Cal to complete the calibration
 Encoder Calibration (cont.)
• After the calibration has been complete, the newly calculated
Encoder Resolution will display.
– The resolution for the encoder buggy should be 200 pulses/in.
• This value will automatically populate under Encoder Resolution in
the B Scan > Setup menu
• Press the [ESC] key to return to the live screen