Transducer Selection

MX-5 Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge

The MX-5is inherently capable of performing measurements on a wide range of materials, from various metals to glass and plastics. Different types of material, however, will require the use of different transducers. Choosing the correct transducer for a job is critical to being able to easily perform accurate and reliable measurements. The following paragraphs highlight the important properties of transducers, which should be considered when selecting a transducer for a specific job.

Generally speaking, the best transducer for a job is one that sends sufficient ultrasonic energy into the material being measured such that a strong, stable echo is received by the MX-5. Several factors affect the strength of ultrasound as it travels. These are outlined below:

∙Initial Signal Strength

The stronger a signal is to begin with, the stronger its return echo will be. Initial signal strength is largely a factor of the size of the ultrasound emitter in the transducer. A large emitting area will send more energy into the material being measured than a small emitting area. Thus, a so-called "1/2-inch" transducer will emit a stronger signal than a "1/4-inch" transducer.

∙Absorption and Scattering

As ultrasound travels through any material, it is partly absorbed. If the material through which the sound travels has any grain structure, the sound waves will experience scattering. Both of these effects