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©  PCE Instruments 

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4.7 

"Conductivity" Mode 

Basics of Conductivity 

The  SI  derived  unit for  conductivity  is  the  Siemen  per meter,  but conductivity  values  are  often 
reported as % IACS. IACS is an acronym for International Annealed Copper Standard, which is 
the  material  used  to  make  traditional  copper  electrical  wire.  The  conductivity  of  the  annealed 
copper is 5.8 x 107 S/m and copper is defined to be 100 % IACS at 20 °C. All other conductivity 
values are related back to this conductivity of annealed copper. 
 
Conductivities  of  metals  at  ambient  temperature  are  typically  in  the  range  of  1  to  60 
MegaSiemens per meter. 
 
The PCE-USC 30 measures the conductivity of non-magnetic metals and alloys in the range 0.8 
to 110.0 % IACS. It uses the Eddy Current technique for measuring the conductivity of materials 
in % IACS, or MSiemens/meter. 
 
It is important to understand that eddy current measurement is essentially a ‘skin’ effect. 
 
The  eddy  current  field  intensity  is  greatest  at  the  surface  and  decreases  exponentially  with 
depth. The depth at which the field strength reduces to 1/e (37 %) of its surface value is referred 
to as the ‘standard depth of penetration’. This depends primarily on the operating frequency and 
the conductivity of the metal. 
 
It  is  generally  considered  that  materials  of  thickness  greater  than  3  standard  depths  of 
penetration can be measured without any correction factors being required. For  example, at 60 
kHz  this  figure  (the  “effective  depth  of  penetration”)  is  around  0.05”  (1.25  mm)  in  Aluminium 
Alloys (conductivity approximately 35 

% IACS) and 0.32” (8 mm) in Titanium alloy, (conductivity 

approximately  1%  IACS).  At  500 kHz  the  corresponding  values  are  0.02”  (0.5 mm)  and  0.11” 
(2.8 mm). 
 
Care  must  also  be taken  when measuring  non-homogeneous materials,  for  example materials 
which have been surface heat-treated, clad or plated, or where the surface is rough or corroded. 
Measurements at different frequencies will give different results due to the different distribution 
of  energy  within  layers  of  different  conductivity.  Care  must  be  taken  to  always  measure  such 
materials at the same frequency (usually 60 kHz). 

 
Setting  up  the  device  for  measuring  the  conductivity  and  the  thickness  of  non-
conductive coatings 

To use the PCE-USC 30 for Conductivity measurement requires the following: 

PCE-USC 30 flaw detector; 

Standard 60 kHz Probe (CP-13) and Cable (Lemo 12 - Lemo 04 Conductivity). 

Conductivity standards of known value in a range from 0.59 MS/m (1.02 % IACS) to 63.8 MS/m 
(110  %  IACS).  To connect  the flaw  detector  with  Cable and  the  eddy  current  probe  CP-13  for 
measuring the electrical conductivity. 
Connect  the  flaw  detector  with  cable  and  the  eddy  current  probe  CP-13  for  measuring  the 
electrical conductivity. 
 

ATTENTION!

  THE  INSTRUMENT  SETUP  AND  ELECTRIC  CONDUCTIVITY 

MEASUREMENT  SHOULD  BE  CARRIED  OUT  AT  AN  AMBIENT  AND  TEST  OBJECT 
TEMPERATURE  OF  20  ˚  С  (68  ˚  F).  BEFORE  CARRYING  OUT  THE  SETTING  UP 
PROCEDURE  AND  ELECTRIC  CONDUCTIVITY  MEASUREMENT,  IT  IS  REQUIRED  THAT 
THE  INSTRUMENT  TO  BE  OPERATED  AT  LEAST  OF  15  MINUTES  AT  A  TEMPERATURE 
OF 20 ˚ С (68 ˚ F). 

Summary of Contents for PCE-USC 30

Page 1: ...ts PCE USC 30 User Manual User manuals in various languages Deutsch fran ais italiano espa ol portugu s nederlands t rk polski can be downloaded here www pce instruments com Last change 6 January 2017...

Page 2: ...Structure 21 4 5 TEST Menu 22 4 6 Guidelines for Overload Processing 33 4 7 Conductivity Mode 34 4 8 General Settings Menu 38 4 9 View 40 4 10 Memory Menu 41 4 11 Results Menu 42 4 12 Settings Menu 43...

Page 3: ...es the maintenance inspection operating repair and calibration 56 9 2 Intervals between the maintenance inspections are set depending on the industrial conditions but no less than once per month Conne...

Page 4: ......

Page 5: ...e device to shocks or strong vibrations The case should only be opened by qualified PCE Instruments personnel Never use the instrument when your hands are wet You must not make any technical changes t...

Page 6: ...ymbol Designation description General warning sign ATTENTION Non observance can cause damage to the device and injuries to the user 2 Specifications 2 1 Technical specifications Range of operating fre...

Page 7: ...hase the range of signal turn from 0 to 360 with a step of 0 1 1 10 filtering of ECP signal there are 5 types of filters Averaging Differential Low pass High pass Bandpass formation of a mix of two fr...

Page 8: ...ings fine cracks etc for conductivity and thickness measurement The flaw detector can be applied for the testing of products during their manufacture and operation by NDT services and laboratories of...

Page 9: ...Side Panels Rear panel of the flaw detector 1 Ethernet port for connecting a communication cable to PC 2 USB port for updating the flaw detector software and recording the testing results on the exter...

Page 10: ...Ethernet port Contact Description Ethernet ERA 0S 304 CLL front view 1 Data of transmitter 2 Data of transmitter 3 Data of receiver 4 Data of receiver Table 2 Description of connector for the instrum...

Page 11: ...PCE Instruments 7 English Front Panel Fig 2 PCE USC 30 Front Panel...

Page 12: ...phone connection 2 Charger connector 3 Switching On Off the instrument Fig 3 PCE USC 30 Left Side Panel Table 3 Description of LEMO jack for headphones with microphone connection Cont Signal EGG 0B 30...

Page 13: ...view 1 Charging device 2 Not used 3 Charging device 4 Sync signal output Right side panel of the flaw detector 1 Single coil parametric eddy current probe ECP connector 2 Universal connector for eddy...

Page 14: ...ERA 00 250CLL 1 Parametric ECP 2 Common for parametric ECP Table 6 description of encoder Enc connector Cont Signal Lemo EGG 1B 308CLL front view 1 Positive signal input A 2 Power 5V 3 Negative signa...

Page 15: ...irst and second frequencies respectively and by the mix of the 1st and 2nd frequencies as well as overloading alarm square If ALARM triggers during testing the signal amplitude and phase are automatic...

Page 16: ...selects a digit letter decreases the selected parameter in the mode of name editing selects a digit letter cancels the selection in the mode of name editing selects a digit letter pressing the key res...

Page 17: ...the entered name of the file or folder while operating in MEMORY menu quick access to CALIBRATION menu automatically sets the parameters of single coil parametric ECP with switched On Single input se...

Page 18: ...PCE Instruments 14 English 4 Design of the Flaw Detector 4 1 Instrument Appearance Fig PCE USC 30 eddy current flaw detector...

Page 19: ...urally the flaw detector consists of a casing and cover plate with the membrane keypad indicators of ALARM and overloading Ethernet port for connection to PC USB port for external flash card connectio...

Page 20: ...ded in 3 areas of signal reflection and display area title Working field display areas complex plane time charts Bottom horizontal field data line Navigation menu o FREQ test frequency o PRE AMP pream...

Page 21: ...unds per minute for the eddy current rotary scanner o ROT PRESENT type of connected rotary eddy current scanner The flaw detector displays two time charts of time dependence of signal and eddy current...

Page 22: ...ig 8 The Flaw Detector Interface Note Parameter T shows 1 The value of a signal amplitude at the input of the receiving circuit expressed in from the maximum possible 2 Input circuit is not balanced a...

Page 23: ...event for example the threshold level exceeding by the signal An operator is able to adjust the reaction to an event Reaction to an event can be the following LEDs illuminating on the instrument panel...

Page 24: ...the voltage phase or amplitude are required for estimating the defect size in conformity with the selected calibration curve Such curve compares the parameters of signal amplitude or phase with the d...

Page 25: ...PCE Instruments 21 English Fig 11 Circuits of probe connection 4 4 Menu Structure Fig 12 Menu Structure...

Page 26: ...immediately after switching On the instrument see Figure13 and contains main settings an operator will need to set during operation Fig 13 TEST menu In this menu an operator can set change the setting...

Page 27: ...oving through the vertical menu of the electronic unit parameters is carried out by keys In order to change the value of any parameter one should use keys A step of parameter variations can be changed...

Page 28: ...t automatically Balancing should be applied in case if ECP type was changed One of following parameters was changed ECP frequency gain coefficient preamplification coefficient ECP excitation voltage T...

Page 29: ...gain between 0 dB and 30 dB The display shows the overall gain simultaneously for X and Y coordinates 4 H GAIN horizontal gain for amplifying the probe voltage varied in the range from 0 to 30 dB wit...

Page 30: ...selected low pass filter Since electronic noise is usually caused by high frequency signals the noise on the screen is lower if the frequency of the low pass filter is set low too The low pass filter...

Page 31: ...rial the dot then returns to the selected compensation point The filters are intended to improve the signal noise ratio and or supress undesired signals so that the signal evaluation and test sensitiv...

Page 32: ...left centre of the screen in the left bottom corner in the bottom centre of the screen in the right bottom corner per channel display when operating in double frequency mode 10 Grid variants of markin...

Page 33: ...YCi Y1i M1 Y2i M2 Where XCi X1i X2i horizontal components of the mix of the 1 st and 2 nd frequencies respectively YCi Y1i Y2i vertical components of the mix of the 1 st and 2 nd frequencies respectiv...

Page 34: ...set up threshold type frame operator should select Type in special item of settings ALARM see Fig 15 Fig 15 Setup of Type threshold level H parameter variation allows change the height of the thresho...

Page 35: ...iation allows change turning angle of threshold level relative to the complex plane centre Turn angle variation is carried out in the range from 0 to 359 with a step of 1 10 100 see Fig 16 parameter v...

Page 36: ...arameter variation is carried out in the range from 0 to 32768 with a step of 1 10 100 1000 10000 see Fig 17 Y1 parameter variation allows to change the angle position of threshold level in Y1 directi...

Page 37: ...Lightning of the right overload indicator pos 10 Fig 8 indicates the general overload of the input of the receiving circuit General overload may include overload by the input of the receiving circuit...

Page 38: ...t 60 kHz this figure the effective depth of penetration is around 0 05 1 25 mm in Aluminium Alloys conductivity approximately 35 IACS and 0 32 8 mm in Titanium alloy conductivity approximately 1 IACS...

Page 39: ...the menu TEST under the position Current set to choose by buttons the appropriate setting for the measurement at a specified frequency and to press the button to activate the settings CP13 60 kHz CP13...

Page 40: ...accurate is the measurement Before beginning the calibration at the positions of Cond 1 the lower conductivity value and Cond 2 higher conductivity value there must be set the values of the conductivi...

Page 41: ...with the measurement of electric conductivity at real objects During the operation it is required periodically to check the accuracy of measurement of electric conductivity at calibration blocks In c...

Page 42: ...thickness should be 0 5 mm 0 020 inches The surface to be measured should be flat or of the same curvature as the calibration standards Where curved surfaces must be measured additional error may be i...

Page 43: ...s deleted at the switched on Persistence from 0 1 s 0 5 s 1 s 2 s 3 s 4 s olor scheme 1 Light for operation with faint outer lighting 2 Dark for operation with intense outer lighting 3 Standard standa...

Page 44: ...nts are made between two points situated at the max distance from each other in cursor width Cnt Pk the measurements are made between the cursor centre and the point situated at the max distance from...

Page 45: ...he cursor width in such way that the signal from defect stays within the cursor width In this case the amplitude A phase P and estimated defect size in millimetres or percent D will be displayed in th...

Page 46: ...and pressing key F2 Create The existing catalogue is deleted by pressing key F3 Delete Having placed the cursor on an empty string or on the existing file function keys change their function for the o...

Page 47: ...Menu The calibration curve plotting will be illustrated using the calibration block To plot the calibration curve it is essential to set up all parameters of the flaw detector for operation with a sp...

Page 48: ...to CALIBRATION menu 1 Set a curve for evaluation of the defect depth Amplitude Phase 2 Select the units of defect measurement mm 3 Calibration marker by the registered calibration blocks 4 Calibration...

Page 49: ...al line of the cursor on the peak of signal from the min defect Move to the Width menu item and increase the cursor width to such an extent that only one friendly signal could get there i e the signal...

Page 50: ...ally assign the wanted depth to the defects 4 14 Communication with PC The flaw detector in a set with PCE USC 30 software ensures communication mode with a PC for the information input to the PC from...

Page 51: ...directory of PCE USC 30 This file can be located in the flaw detector memory or also be stored on hard disk drive of PC if previously copied to the hard disk drive 4 14 3 2 Double click of the mouse...

Page 52: ...ig 35 Selecting the interface language window Note Reload the program to change the interface language Select Exit subitem to finish the PCE USC 30 program When selecting Report item of the main menu...

Page 53: ...32 4 14 2 4 Signal display area active area In the display area of eddy current signals is displayed the eddy current signal which is represented by an image in the complex plane for the frequency se...

Page 54: ...position of the measuring cursor item 1 Fig 38 and when there is a cursor set the required width of a measuring cursor by holding the left mouse button down Signal angle allows to change the signal ph...

Page 55: ...3 1 Connecting the flaw detector to PC Connect the flaw detector to PC using the USB connecting cable that is included to the flaw detector delivery set Switch on the flaw detector by pressing the po...

Page 56: ...tector memory does not store this data automatically in PC memory 4 14 3 4 Printing out results of testing To print out the testing results it is required Select Report item in the main menu Fill in t...

Page 57: ...t Cable Lemo12 Lemo04 1200 mm Documentations Operation manual for ES 14327992 01 13 RE Operation manual for Mascot Passport for SOP 2353 08 PS with roughness Rz 40 material D16T Can be complemented wi...

Page 58: ...is necessary to perform balancing by pressing key 10 While testing aluminium alloys it is recommended to use the vertical gain V GAIN for the visual spread of signals from the distortion and signals f...

Page 59: ...sition set up On In displayed menu choose the type of the rotary scanner and press key 7 At R position firstly set the min rounds 600 8 Press the switched On button on the case of the rotary scanner T...

Page 60: ...n the industrial conditions but no less than once per month Connecting cable fixation condition of controls and indicators are checked during the maintenance inspection 9 3 The maintenance inspection...

Page 61: ...nglish 9 4 2 Open the contact terminal item 1 Figure 40 pressing the clip item 2 Figure 40 Fig 40 9 4 3 Remove the battery pack item 1 Figure 41 Fig 41 9 4 4 Battery pack mounting is carried out stric...

Page 62: ...us 20 C to plus 40 C 2 Transportation of the packed eddy current flaw detector may be shipped by any type of closed transport except for the sea one that protects the eddy current testing system from...

Page 63: ...tside the EU batteries and devices should be disposed of in accordance with your local waste regulations If you have any questions please contact PCE Instruments APPENDIX A Requirements to Charging De...

Page 64: ...Instruments 60 English Lemo FGG 1B 304 CL D42 Front Component side view 1 Charging device 2 3 4 Charging device Fig A 1 Soldering pattern of charging device output cable for the flaw detector connect...

Page 65: ...975 114 Fax 1 561 320 9176 Fax 44 0 2380 98703 9 Fax 39 0583 974 824 info pce americas com info industrial needs com info pce italia it www pce instruments com us www pce instruments com english www p...

Page 66: ...ts User manuals in various languages German French Italian Spanish Portuguese Dutch Turkish Polish Russian Chinese can be downloaded here www pce instruments com Specifications are subject to change w...

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