One thing that we’ve noticed over the years is that there isn’t one correct or standard way that customers manage the data on their thickness gauges. Whether a customer wirelessly transfers all thickness readings back to an asset management program on a tablet, manually exports A-scans over USB, or simply writes down results by hand, there are a large range of practices employed by inspectors across industries.
Benefits of Using Wireless Connectivity on Your Thickness Gauge
With the release of the 39DL PLUS™ (39DLP) ultrasonic thickness gauge, we’ve introduced more ways to connect your instrument while supporting and improving the tried-and-true methods. Built in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® capabilities* bring new functionality for users, enabling new workflows incorporating things like remote monitoring or pushing waveform data to a tablet.
For those who are considering implementing wireless connectivity on a thickness gauge or are on the fence, there are many benefits to implementing it into your workflow:
- Reducing human error: Manually creating reports introduces the possibility that a user could create a typo whenever information needs to be re-entered from one device or program to another. Using human factor tools, such as the phonetic alphabet and three-way communication, can reduce these errors but are not always applied consistently.
- Time saved: Not only does reducing manual entry decrease errors but it can also save time, especially if using a report generator.
- No need to hunt for cables: We’ve all been there; running around a jobsite trying to find a cable isn’t a good use of anyone’s time, and it’s frustrating!
- Better recordkeeping: Information tends to get lost; pushing data to an external source adds another place to store it besides on the device itself.
All the Ways to Connect Wirelessly on the 39DLP Gauge
So, how can you use wireless capabilities in practice to save time, reduce errors, take better records, and streamline your workflow? Here’s a rundown of what a 39DLP ultrasonic thickness gauge can do wirelessly to make your thickness inspections more efficient:
1. Built-in Wi-Fi® capabilities
With the addition of Wi-Fi® connectivity, 39DLP users now have access to advanced functionality, including:
- Communication with third-party applications and software
- Single send of thickness data and waveforms
- Streaming a live waveform to another device up to 30 Hz
Wi-Fi® streaming of a waveform on a PC.
The 39DLP gauge greatly expands the remote command capability, providing the ability to integrate into third-party APIs. This includes single send, which sends the waveform data packet to a program to use that information as configured by the user. Notably, users can now perform live waveform streaming up to 30 Hz, providing live data to be continuously monitored or recorded. This information could be integrated with drones, inspection software, asset management programs, or tablet-based apps.
Imagine this scenario: a facility has a 39DLP gauge attached to a wall-crawling drone, set to monitor a tank that isn’t accessible by scaffolding. The data is live streamed to a PC, with built-in alarm thresholds set to alert the operator if the wall thickness is below tolerance. With the 39DLP gauge set for remote monitoring on a remote-controlled drone, difficult-to-reach areas can be assessed without the need for dangerous climbing and a reduction in staging time.
2. Built-in Bluetooth® capabilities
Bluetooth® capabilities on the 39DLP ultrasonic thickness gauge can be used for a wide range of applications, including:
- Communicating with the Evident iOS Link Plus app
- Direct input thickness to isometric pipe drawings via the Inspection Project Manager (IPM) app
- Interface with Link-Wedge software to send thickness readings directly to most Windows-based programs
Link-Wedge software on iOS.
From simply sending a reading to a tablet with the press of a button on the 39DLP gauge, to interfacing with our Evident Connect applications such as the Inspection Project Manager, there is a range of useful functionality that can improve your workflow. The Link Plus app can be used with an iOS device to collect data and export or attach it to an email or text message in either CSV, TXT, or FTP formats. The IPM app provides a way to view inspection points on an isometric drawing and create detailed reports.
View inspection points on an isometric drawing in the IPM App (iOS).
All the Wired Data Transfer Capabilities on the 39DLP Gauge
Customers who use more advanced functionality may wonder why you‘d skip using the wireless connection when transferring files from a 39DLP gauge. There are many reasons, but here are a few:
- Industries with strict Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® rules, such as government, military, or nuclear
- Inspection areas that require two people, such as rope-access only, enabling one person to transcribe results
- Strict regulations regarding wireless usage of devices in some countries
- Company policy
For those who prefer wired data transfer or are locked into a specific procedure or methodology, we provide manual connection options to support the way you work.
Here are all the wired options on the 39DLP ultrasonic thickness gauge:
Data transfer using a microSD™ memory card
- Export data in a CSV file to a microSD card
- Export data in a survey file for transfer to the GageView™ PC software
Wired transfer over USB or RS-232 ports to a PC
- Directly export a CSV file to your PC
- Directly export a survey file to GageView software
- 4–5X faster data transfers compared to the predecessor model
GageView PC software
- Two-way transfer of thickness readings via USB
- Create custom note files and attach them to survey files
- Generate or print color-coded grid reports, along with statistics
- View A-scans and readings
GageView software is a Windows-based application that collects, creates, prints, and manages data from the 39DL PLUS gauge.
Wrap Up on Wireless and Wired Options
Inspectors from many industries and areas rely on the 39DLP ultrasonic thickness gauge, and accordingly there are many ways to use it. With built-in wireless capabilities, inspectors have more opportunities to change their workflow to be more efficient, or even to use a 39DLP instrument in ways they couldn’t use a thickness gauge before!
If you’d like to learn more about the 39DLP thickness gauge and its connection options, reach out to us for an in-person or virtual demo.
*Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® are pending certification in some regions. Contact your local Evident representative for details on their availability.
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Evident Corporation is under license.
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