Karl DEUTSCH Crack Depth Meter RMG 4015, Particularly precise measurement by means of a material characteristics curve with multipoint material correction
Determination of depth and orientation of surface cracks
Our new crack depth gauge RMG 4015 measures crack depths on workpieces of iron, ferrous and austenitic steels and can also be used for cracks in copper, brass, aluminium and other non-ferrous metals. For the measurement of oblique cracks a special oblique cracks probe is available.
Description
Crack Depth Meter RMG 4015
Particularly precise measurement by means of a material characteristics curve with multipoint material correction
Measurement according to the potential probe principle
A probe with four spring-loaded and gilded contact pins is positioned across the crack to be measured on the workpiece. A constant alternating current is passed via two of the pins into the workpiece; the two other pins measure the voltage drop across the crack, where the crack depth is derived from. The a.c. of the instrument utilizes the skin effect, which forces the current flow to the surface of the conductor and therefore follows the contour of the crack. The operation and measured value formation are monitored by the microprocessor of the gauge. Incorrect handling or faulty measurements caused by wrong attachment or imperfect contacts therefore are out of question.
Measurement of oblique cracks
In addition to common cracks running in most cases perpendicularly to the surface, the real life often shows oblique cracks, where usually it is not the expansion of the cracks which is of interest, but the oblique orientation and the projection with reference to the surface. If you know these measures it can be decided whether the post-treatment of a workpiece with cracks is technically possibly and economically reasonable. Therefore the instrument was equipped with an additional measuring function for the determination of oblique cracks, which permits to determine the inclination of the crack with respect to the material surface.
The measurement is executed by means of an special four-pin probe, which permits to connect an external current pole which can be positioned left and alternatively right to the crack. Via the differences of the readings and the crack depth measured as well, the meter reliably will determine the inclination and the projection perpendicularly to the surface.
Measurement is possible on all common magnetic and non-magnetic steels, with certain restrictions also on many non-iron metals. Thus the new pocket-sized instrument for crack measurement may be used universally for all types of naturally occurring cracks.
Interface for printing and connection to a PC
Via the RS232 interface, test reports can be printed on small-sized printer (available as accessory) or the instrument can communicate with a PC. For this purpose, the PC program iCom is available, which not only acquires the measured values, but also offers data administration and graphical display. Furthermore, test reports or other documentations can be created.
Physical Background of Crack Depth Measurement
Crack depth determination with the potential probe method is based on the measurement of the electrical resistance between two points on the surface of a metallic workpiece.
If there is a crack between these two points, the electrical resistance is higher than for a crack-free surface. The resistance will grow with the unknown crack depth. In this new approach, a four-pole technique is used:
Two current poles Sl and S2 enforce a constant current through the workpiece. The voltage U is measured between the other two measurement poles Ml and M2 and it is proportional to the electrical resistance between them. Therefore, the voltage U depends, in a characteristic manner, upon the unknown crack depth h, the known distances of the measurement poles 2a and the current poles 2s, and the electrical and magnetic properties of the material.
In case of alternating current (AC), the skin-effect shifts the electrical field and the current lines towards regions just below the surface. Also, the current density is increased. The following formula gives the penetration depth in terms of the frequency and the material properties.
The higher the frequency, the more severe is this effect, i.e. the current will flow along the crack faces. As for a wire with reduced cross-section, an increase of the resistance is observed.
For direct current (DC), no skin effect occurs and the current follows the path of lowest resistance, which corresponds to the shortest geometrical distance.For a precise crack depth determination with low measuring currents, AC has to be used. Low currents will avoid burnt contact spots to protect the surface of the workpiece and the current poles. Furthermore, the power consumption in case of battery operation will be drastically reduced.
Because the skin effect increases the voltage drop across the crack, the effective current path between the poles can be reduced with respect to conventional instruments. Smaller, more practicable probes can therefore be used and provide high resolution and accuracy. Even materials with high electrical conductivity, e.g. high-grade steels or Aluminium, can now be measured.
New Probes for the Crack Depth Measurement
The new probes made by KARL DEUTSCH are generally equipped with four poles. Four decades of experience and continuous development in crack depth gauging have led to our most recent patent: DE3828552C2!
A straight probe and an angled version are available. The straight-type probe has a square-shaped arrangement of the contact pins which therefore allows for measurement on very small or strongly curved surfaces.
In contrast to the linear pole configuration with the current poles outside, the probe has to be placed in such a manner that the crack is in the center of both, measurement and current poles. In this case, the voltage drop, is measured a few millimeters besides the current path. Current and measuring poles consist of spring-loaded, tip-hardened and gilded contact pins. They guarantee optimum electrical contact and require low attachment pressure only.
The angled probe has a prism-shaped attachment area which ensures that the contact pins are pressed onto the surface by their spring-force only. Similar pressure is obtained for each pin during the measurement providing reliable results. The prismatic shape of the attachment area makes positioning on curved surfaces (e.g. pipes) easier. The angled probe can also be positioned on the inner surfaces of pipes or other hard-accessible workpiece areas.
The contact pins can be exchanged without tools: when worn, they are pulled out of the guiding sleeve of the probe and replaced by new ones. The probes themselves are maintenance-free. For rough or oxidized surfaces, self-twisting contact pins are the optimum solution: they turn around their axes, when pressed against the surface. Thus, a thin, non- or poorly conducting layer will be punctured for a safe contact with the conductive base material.
The built-in electronic circuitry inside the probe contains a preamplifier. Thus, the measured signal is safely transferred to the instrument. Furthermore, a memory unit is built into the probe. It stores the individual probe data and the material characteristics.
Technical Details of the RMG 4015
The current through the workpiece is, similar to other conventional instruments, 500 mA. But in contrast to the existing devices where the current flows continuously as long as the probe is attached, the current is a pulse of a few milliseconds duration for one measurement. The repetition rate allows approximately one measurement per second. The display is updated accordingly. Therefore, the battery-operated instrument can measure for up to 12 hours with permanently attached probe. In case of rechargeable batteries, the instrument does not have to be opened. The batteries can be recharged while in the instrument by means of an external charger unit.
The foil keyboard consists of push buttons, permitting a direct access to the basic measuring functions of the instrument. More parameters may be displayed with the menu key. The parameters are shown in clear language (English or German possible). Therefore, the operation is as simple and easy as with conventional Wall or Coating Thickness Gauges.
The data logger of the instrument can handle up to 3850 measurements, which can be stored in up to 300 separate batches. A built-in real-time clock automatically records date and time of a measurement. The measurements can be printed via an serial interface. The same interface also permits communication with a PC. For this purpose, the WINDOWS-based program iCom is available. It allows not only the transfer, but also the handling and graphic display of the measured values. Besides this, test reports and other kinds of documentation can be provided.
The crack depth measurement using the potential probe principle, up to now accompanied by many uncertainties, is converted into a reliable and user-friendly measuring method by the RMG 4015. The reduction to pocket size, the simple operation of the probes, the easy-to-use program and the low price make the RMG 4015 a low-cost, simple and reliable test instrument. It is a useful supplement of the magnetic particle examination and penetration testing. It is always recommended when, for bigger or expensive workpieces, a reworking is needed, or when crack growth (e.g. in production lines) has to be monitored.
NEW: From now and without extra charge all RMG 4015 come with a multipoint material correction function. This new feature permits the customer to acquire an individual material characteristics curve (which exactly meets the specimen under test and permanently is stored in the device), simply by creating test pieces, which only need to be fitted with saw cuts of different depth. Up to now, such “special characteristics curve” could be programmed into the device only by the manufacturer. From now, the multipoint material correction function allows for reliable measurements also with those materials which were judged to be “difficult” due to their unusual magnetic and electrical qualities.
On request, older devices can be retrofitted with the new multipoint material correction function during a QM recurring test.