Dakota Ultrasonics ZX-3 Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge

Dakota Ultrasonics ZX-3 Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge

The Dakota Ultrasonics ZX-3 is a handheld ultrasonic thickness gauge used to measure material thickness without cutting or damaging the inspected item. Designed for corrosion inspection and general thickness measurement, it helps technicians assess pipes, tanks, boilers and other components. Measurements require access to only one side of the material.

The ZX-3 uses a dual-element probe to transmit sound pulses into the material and receive returning echoes. It calculates thickness from the sound’s travel time and the selected material velocity. Technicians apply coupling fluid between the probe and surface to help sound pass into the material and produce a stable reading.

The gauge helps identify thinning caused by corrosion and can locate hidden pitting or internal discontinuities that affect ultrasonic readings. By taking measurements at different points, inspectors can evaluate remaining wall thickness and identify areas needing further investigation. These capabilities support maintenance and condition assessment.

Its high-speed scan mode records the lowest thickness encountered while the probe moves across a surface, helping locate localized thinning. Adjustable gain, probe-zero functions and calibration settings allow technicians to adapt the gauge to different inspection conditions. Results can be displayed in either inches or millimeters.

An aluminum housing, sealed keypad and backlit LCD support field use. The instrument runs on two AA batteries and includes a reading-stability indicator, low-battery indication and automatic shutdown. Its compact design makes it practical for routine inspections where a portable numerical thickness measurement is needed.

Features:

• Single-sided, nondestructive thickness measurement.
• Measuring range of 0.63–914.4 mm, depending on material and probe.
• Resolution of 0.01 mm or 0.001 inch.
• Selectable millimeter and inch units.
• Dual-element probes, with supported frequencies from 1–10 MHz.
• High-speed scan mode at 100 readings per second, displaying the lowest thickness found.
• Adjustable gain from 40–52 dB in 3 dB steps.
• Manual or automatic probe zeroing.
• Selectable probe diameter to improve measurement linearity.
• Material sound-velocity adjustment and velocity measurement for nodularity testing.
• Backlit LCD with selectable brightness.
• Reading-stability bar graph.
• Durable aluminum housing and sealed keypad.
• Two AA batteries, providing approximately 45 hours of typical alkaline-battery operation.
• Low-battery indicator and automatic shutdown after five minutes of inactivity.