Olympus, a world leader in nondestructive testing technologies, is pleased to introduce the EPOCH 650 digital ultrasonic flaw detector that combines industry-leading conventional ultrasonic flaw detection capabilities with the efficiency of a highly portable, intuitive instrument.
The EPOCH 650 is a continuation of the popular EPOCH 600 flaw detector (launched in 2010) and provides excellent flaw detector performance and usability for a wide variety of applications. Its intuitive user interface is appropriate for both novice and experienced users, and its portability and rugged ergonomic design allow convenient operation in nearly any inspection environment.
Available in two hardware configurations, the compact EPOCH 650 offers the choice to adjust parameters with a knob or with a navigation area on the keypad. The large, color transflective VGA display is complemented by a full screen A-scan mode, providing a vivid A-scan representation in both low light and bright sunlight conditions. The EPOCH 650’s patented digital High Dynamic Range receiver meets the requirements of EN12668-1:2010, and the instrument allows a full range of standard and optional flaw detection features. Key standard flaw detection features include 400V PerfectSquareTM tunable square wave pulser, up to 30 digital filters for enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, flexible reporting capabilities direct to removable memory, dynamic DAC/TCG, onboard DGS/AVG, AWS D.1.1 / D1.5 weld rating software, and Echo-to-Echo measurements with gate tracking. Optional application-specific software programs include an Interface tracking gate, Backwall Echo Attenuator (BEA), API 5UE, and Waveform Averaging.
The EPOCH 650 also features an optional Corrosion Module mode which combines the ease of use and measurement precision of a dedicated corrosion thickness gage with the full functionality of a standard flaw detector. This mode includes an encoded B-scan function.
Weighing only 1.6 kg (3.5 lb.), the rugged case style of the EPOCH 650 is built to withstand the rigors of very harsh and hazardous inspection environments. The navigation pad configuration is designed to meet IP67 requirements for very wet or dusty conditions, while the knob configuration is designed to meet IP66 requirements. The instrument, with its rubber bumpers on all corners, is tested to high reliability standards for drops, shocks, vibration, and explosive atmosphere. And with a battery life between 15 and 16 hours, the EPOCH 650 is the perfect solution for remote and difficult-to-access inspection locations.
The EPOCH 650 allows several methods of storing, archiving, and reporting of inspection and calibration data. The instrument features onboard memory up to 100,000 individual waveform files, and allows rapid reporting of that data to a removable micro SD card in multiple file formats. These individual waveform files are augmented by a continuous video record feature, allowing onboard storage of multiple video files up to eight (8) minutes in length each. The EPOCH 650 is also fully compatible with Olympus’s PC interface program, GageView™ Pro. With quick file setup functions and flexible data management, logging, and reporting inspection data is simple and efficient.
“The EPOCH 650’s full screen A-scan feature and improved overall user interface speed are a huge benefit to any flaw detector user,” says Coleman Flanagan, Senior Product Manager of Ultrasonic and Phased Array Flaw Detectors at Olympus. “This instrument makes inspections faster and easier than ever, and the flexible onboard reporting capabilities help all of our users communicate their results quickly and effectively. It’s an exciting improvement to the EPOCH family.”
