Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Flaw Detectors

Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Flaw Detectors

Highly Reliable, American-Made Ultrasonic Flaw Detector & Multi-Mode Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge.

One on Hand, Two on the Job

The DFX-8 series by Dakota is both an Ultrasonic Flaw Detector & a Multi-Mode Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge all in one quality instrument. The DFX-8 features an easy-to-use interface, a fantastic test range (from 0 inches to 100 feet), is lightweight (4.5 lbs) and cased in rugged IP-65 metal housing, making this machine a top-notch fully loaded instrument that doesn't skimp on quality.

Key Features:

  • American made and supported.
  • Economically priced
  • Great performance as either a flaw detector or thickness gauge
  • Rugged aluminum housing (not plastic)
  • Highly reliable
  • Backup battery compartment - uses "AA"

Product Demonstrations

DFX-8 Flaw - Angle Beam Demo

DFX-8 Flaw - Straight Beam Demo

DFX-8 Thickness Gauge Demo

Flaw Detector Features:

  • TRIG: Trigonometric display of beam path, depth. surface distance and curved surface correction
  • DAC: Up to 8 points DAC curve:
    • Reference: -2, -6, -10 (-6/-12), (-6/-14) and (-2/-6/-10) dB
    • Amplitude displayed in %DAC, dB or %FSH.
  • AWS: Automatic defect sizing in accordance with AWS D1.1.
  • AVG / DGS: Automatic defect sizing using probe data
  • Storage: up to 64 custom setups
  • TCG: Time corrected gain. 50 dB dynamic range, up to 8 points for curve definition.
  • Measurement Mode: Pulse-Echo (P-E) measures from 0.025 inches to 100 ft (0.63mm to 3048 cm)
  • Auto-Calibration: Provides automatic calibration with two reference points.
  • Detection Modes: Zero Crossing, Flank and Peak
  • Display Freeze: Holds current waveform on screen
  • Peak Memory: Captures peak signal amplitude

Thickness Gauge Features:

  • Pulse-Echo Mode (P-E) - (Pit & Flaw Detection)
  • Pulse-Echo Coating Mode (PECT) - (Material, Coating, Pit & Flaw Detection)
  • Pulse-Echo Temperature Compensation Mode (PETP) - (Pit & Flaw Detection) Auto temperature compensation
  • Echo-Echo Mode (E-E) - (Thru Paint & Coatings)
  • Echo-Echo Verify (E-EV) - (Thru Paint & Coatings)
  • Coating Only Mode (CT) - (Coating Thickness)
  • Measures from 0.0005 to 0.100 inches
  • One and two point calibration options for material and coating
  • Auto probe zero, recognition and temperature compensation
  • High speed scan up to 50 readings per second
  • Audible alarm with hi / lo limits
  • Built in differential mode for QC inspections
  • 64 custom setup configurations

Other Features:

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • 2-year warranty
  • Large (5.7") daylight-readable LCD display
  • Lightweight (4.5 lbs)
  • 18 hour battery life + AA battery backup
  • Easy to document test results
  • Rugged, IP-65 metal housing
  • Software and free updates included
  • Made in the USA

Additional DFX-8+ Features:

The DFX-8+ boasts all the same features as the DFX-8, plus the following:

  • Pulser Type: Two tone burst pulsers
  • Pulser Voltage: 100 - 400V
  • Broadband 1.8 - 19MHz (-3dB). Four narrow bands at 1MHz, 2MHz, 5MHz and 10MHz. Additional narrow bands at 0.5MHz and 15MHz.
  • Can be used with B-Scan encoders (crawlers).
  • Proportional outputs (amplitude or distance), 0-10 volts.
  • Automatic adjustments of interface gate for immersion testing (water paths).
  • Additional coating gauge feature in thickness gauge mode

Technical Specifications

DFX-8 and DFX-8+ Specifications

General Specifications

Dimensions 2.5"L x 8.5"W x 6.5"H (70 x 216 x 165mm). 
Weight 4.5 lbs (2.04 kgs), with batteries.
Case Extruded aluminum body with nickel plated aluminum end caps (gasket sealed).
Display Blanview sunlight readable QVGA TFT color display (320 x 240 pixels). Viewable area 4.54" x 3.40" (115.2 x 86.4 mm), or 5.7" (144.78 mm) diagonal. 16 color palette, multiple color options and variable brightness.
Screen Refresh Rate 60 Hz
Display Views Flaw Detector: Full wave, +/- Rectified, or RF. Thickness Gauge: Digits, +/- Rectified, RF, or B-Scan.
Timing Precision TCXO timing with single shot 100 MHz 8 bit ultra low power digitizer.
Measurement Gates Two independent gates (Flaw), and three gates (thickness). Start & width adjustable over full range. Amplitude 5-95%, 1% steps. Positive or negative triggering for each gate with audible and visual alarms
Operating Temperature 14° to 140°F (-10°C to 60°C).
Environmental Meets IP65 requirements.
Warranty 2 year limited

 

Pulser Specifications

  DFX-8 DFX-8+
Pulser Type Two adjustable square wave pulsers Two tone burst pulsers
PRF 8 to 2000Hz in selectable steps (8, 16, 32, 66, 125, 250, 333, 1000, 2000 Hz).
Pulser Voltage 100 - 200 volt peak amplitude, rise/fall time < 10ns into 50ohm. 100 - 400v.
Pulse Width 40 to 400 ns. Selectable step options 40,80 & 400 ns (labeled spike, thin & wide).

 

Receivers Specifications

 

  DFX-8 DFX-8+
Gain 0 to 110dB with 0.2dB resolution. Manual and AGC control.
Damping 50, 75, 100, 300, 600, & 1500 ohms.
Frequency Bands Broadband 1.8 - 19 MHz (-3dB). Four narrow bands at 1MHz, 2MHz, 5MHz, 10MHz. Additional narrow bands at .5MHz, 15MHz.
Horizontal Linearity +/- 0.4% FSW.
Vertical Linearity +/- 1% FSH.
Amplifier Linearity +/- 1 dB.
Amplitude Measurement 0 to 100% FSH, with 1% resolution.
Delay 0 - 999" (25,375mm) at steel velocity.

 

Power Specifications

Lithium Ion Pack 10.8v, 2 amp hrs, typical operation 18hrs.
Battery Backup Emergency battery backup. Six 1.5V alkaline, 1.2V AA Nicad cells, 1.2V AA NI-MH, or other other equivalent power source. Battery life (continuous use): Alkaline (12 hrs), Nicad (5hrs), and NI-MH (12hrs), with default settings.

 

Connections Specifications

  DFX-8 DFX-8+
USB Direct USB 1.1 PC connectivity.
Power Connector 12v @ 2amps, adapter 100-240 VAC, .7 Amps, 50-60 Hz.
RS232 Output RS232 PC serial interface. For use with B-Scan encoders (crawlers).
Alarm Outputs Two independent alarm outputs triggered by the gates.
Analog Out N/A Proportional outputs (amplitude or distance), 0-10 volts.
Transducer Connectors Two LEMO 00 connectors.

 

Calibration Specifications

Automatic Calibration Longitudinal (straight), or Shear (angle)
Probe Types Single Contact, Dual, Delay, and Angle
Units English (in), Metric (mm), or Time (μs)
Velocity 0.0100 to .6300 in/μs (256–16,000 m/s)
Test Range 0 to 0.076" (1.93 mm) minimum, to 1200" (30,480 mm) maximum at steel velocity. Continuously variable
Zero Offset (Probe Zero) 0–999.999 μs
Material Velocity Table Contains longitudinal and shear velocities for a variety of material types

 

Video Specifications

Remote Commander Java PC software allows remote display and control for training/presentation purposes, and custom system integration.

 

Transducers Specifications

Delay Line High Frequency single element delay line style for precision testing of thin materials
Pencil High Frequency single element delay line style for testing of materials in tight access areas and difficult geometries
Contact Single element contact style for general purpose longitudinal & Shear wave flaw detection
Dual Pitch/Catch dual element style for longitudinal & Shear wave corrosion inspections
Flaw Detector Specifications

  DFX-8 DFX-8+
TRIG Trigonometric display of beam path, depth, surface distance, and curved surface correction. Used with angle beam transducers
DAC Up to 8 points may be entered and used to digitally draw a DAC curve. Reference -2, -6, -10, (-6/-12), (-6/-14), (-2/-6/-10) dB. Amplitude displayed in %DAC, dB, or %FSH
AWS Automatic defect sizing in accordance with AWS D1.1 structural welding code
AVG/DGS Automatic defect sizing using probe data. Stores up to 64 custom setups
TCG Time corrected gain. 50 dB dynamic range, 20 dB per microsecond, up to 8 points for curve definition
Measurement Mode Pulse-Echo (P-E) measures from 0.025 in to 100 ft. (0.63mm to 3048 cm)
Auto-Cal Provides automatic calibration with two reference points
Detection Modes Zero Crossing, Flank and Peak
Display Freeze Holds current waveform on screen
Peak Memory Captures peak signal amplitude
Auto Interface Gate N/A Automatic adjustment of interface gate for immersion testing (water path).
Thickness Gauge Specifications

Measurement Modes (Dual Element):

Pulse-Echo Mode (P-E) (Pit & Flaw Detection) measures from 0.025 in to 100 ft. (0.63mm to 3048 cm)
Pulse-Echo Coating Mode (PECT) (Material, Coating, Pit & Flaw Detection): Material: 0.025 in to 100 ft. (0.63mm to 3048 cm). Coating: 0.001 to 0.100 inches (0.01 to 2.54 millimeters).
Pulse-Echo Temp Comp Mode (PETP) (Pit & Flaw Detection) Auto temperature compensation -measures from 0.025 in to 100 ft. (0.63 mm to 3048 cm).
Echo-Echo Mode (E-E) (Thru Paint & Coatings) measures from 0.050 to 4.0 inches (1.27 to 102 millimeters). Will vary based on coating
Echo-Echo Verify (E-EV) (Thru Paint & Coatings) measures from 0.050 to 1.0 inches (1.27 to 25.4 millimeters). Will vary based on coating
Coating Only Mode (CT) (Coating Thickness) Measures from 0.0005 to 0.100 inches (0.0127 to 2.54 millimeters). Range will vary +/- depending on the coating
One and two point calibration option for material &coating, or selection of basic material types
Auto probe zero, recognition and temperature compensation
High speed scan up to 50 readings per second
Audible alarm with hi/lo limits
Built-in differential mode for QC inspections
64 custom setup configurations

Product Literature

Description Part # Saved Price Select Option Add to
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Kit Includes: Unit, Operating Manuals, DakView3 PC Software & USB Cable, 4 oz. Couplant, Lithium Ion Battery, Line Power Adaptor, Universal Power Cable, Hard Carrying Case and Calibration Certificate UT-DU-DFX-8
$5,075.00
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8+ Kit Includes: Unit, Operating Manuals, DakView3 PC Software & USB Cable, 4 oz. Couplant, Lithium Ion Battery, Line Power Adaptor, Universal Power Cable, Hard Carrying Case and Calibration Certificate UT-DU-DFX-8+
$6,075.00
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Series - Instrument Case With Straps UT-DU-DFX-8-F-250-0006
$185.00
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Series - Plastic Carrying Brief Case (spare/replacement) UT-DU-DFX-8-A-250-6002
$100.00
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Series - Lithium Ion Battery Pack (spare/replacement) UT-DU-DFX-8-B-040-3200
$250.00
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Series - External Smart Battery Charger UT-DU-DFX-8-B-030-0000
$275.00
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Series - Power Adapter (12 volts @ 2 Amps with 6' cable) UT-DU-DFX-8-N-250-0001
$105.00
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Series - Universal Power Cable (spare/replacement) UT-DU-DFX-8-N-506-0060
$17.00
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Series - USB to Serial Adapter UT-DU-DFX-8-N-402-0510
$40.00
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Series - RS232 PC Cable (9 pin) UT-DU-DFX-8-N-306-0410
$85.00
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Series - Operators Manual DFX-8 (Thickness) (spare/replacement)* UT-DU-DFX-8-P-250-0003
$22.50
Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 Series - Operators Manual DFX-8 (Flaw) (spare/replacement)* UT-DU-DFX-8-P-250-0004
$22.50