NDTE3101 Ultrasonic Testing I

NDTE 3101 Lab 3: Normal Beam Calibration Rev.B-2021

Name: Date:

Purpose: Calibrate the instrument for thickness measurements using various calibration blocks and
various normal beam transducers and record results.

Equipment: Your UT lab case: UT set(USM36), cable, transducers 2.25Mhz&5.0Mhz, Rompas, couplant.

New equipment needed from UT Lab office: IIW Block (this is the main weld calibration block in UT), step
wedge in steel and Aluminum

Record the following, only at the end of the lab if you have time (the information is important and must
always be recorded for every inspection by the inspector, however for the purpose of our lab and time it
is not necessary):
a) UT set: Record Make, Model and Serial #
b) Normal beam transducers: Record Make, Size, Frequency and serial#

c) IIW block serial #.

Instructions:
To determine an appropriate range calibration on the instrument you need to use your scale/ruler to
measure the thickness or dimension of the test piece. Good range settings usually consist of numbers
increasing by factors or 5 or 10 mm for example 10 or 25 or 50 or 100mm full screen. This makes for
easier thickness (Sound travel) readings off the scale on the display which is always in 10 divisions. You
should also know what the material is, steel, aluminum etc to set the appropriate velocity (Longitudinal
or Shear) from a table, the instrument pre-sets or a value provided to you.

Exercise #1: using the IIW block, set the range to 100mm on the instrument, velocity to 5890m/sec, the
probe and display delay to zero. Measure the thickness of the IIW block. Should be 25.0mm

Before starting the calibration exercise, fill in the expected position in the table below. Couple each
probe to the 25mm thickness. You should get 4 signals on screen. To get an accurate calibration adjust
the probe delay increasing it slightly so that each Backwall reflector signal lines up at 25, 50 etc.
Complete the table by recording the actual reading in mm from the screen position to 1 decimal place.
In the comment column note any difference in the readings. Should there be? There is something that
changes. What is it?

Use Gain (dB) to adjust BW amplitudes so you can see all, then set Gain so that first BW is at 80%FSH:
WHAT is your dB: _______
Indication Expected Actual reading BW signal Comment
Position 2.25 Mhz %FSH
1st BW
2nd BW
3rd BW
4th BW

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 NDTE3101 Ultrasonic Testing I
NDTE 3101 Lab 3: Normal Beam Calibration Rev.B-2021

Exercise #2 : With the 25mm thickness of IIW or Rompas block calibrate for 25mm full screen. Using a
steel step wedge and the 5.0Mhz probe measure thickness of each step with a ruler and the UT set and
record results in the table below.

Question: change transducer correctly first, then set instrument, WHAT DO YOU DO?:
_________________________________________________________________________

After coupled what do you need to do first to clearly read BW signal peaks?

What is your Gain? ___________dB

Step # Measured UT Reading Comment

mm Reading Difference?
1st Step
2nd Step
3rd Step
4th Step
5th Step May be difficult to read

Exercise #3:

Now place your transducer on the Aluminum step wedge and take UT instrument readings of steps 1
and 2.

Step # Measured UT Difference in Comment

Reading Reading Readings?
1st Step
2nd Step

What do you need to do in order to correctly take measurement (distance/depth/thickness) readings

from the UT instrument?

Learning outcomes; 1) to calibrate the instrument for distance so that the whole volume of the material
is inspected, you need a known dimension of a test piece to establish sound travel and set the
appropriate range to cover the thickness or distance examined to show what you need. 2) set the range
value in multiples of 5 or 10mm for example will align with screen divisions and match depth or thickness
values off screen to material. 3) the correct velocity in material being tested must be entered. 4) for
accurate range readings calibration is required, with a slight adjustment of probe delay, reason being
that there is a wearface protecting the crystal which increases the reading slightly. Also, over longer
sound paths velocity will need to be adjusted- Calibrated to your specific specimen.

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