Brand: Dakota NDT

Dakota ZX5-DL Corrosion Thickness Gauge

Name: Dakota ZX5-DL Corrosion Thickness Gauge – Datasheet & Quote
Brand: Dakota NDT

Description

Overview

The Dakota ZX5-DL is a data-logging ultrasonic corrosion thickness gauge built for inspection programs that require both accurate single-point readings and a permanent, downloadable record of every measurement taken. It serves asset-integrity teams, NDT contractors, and maintenance departments across Oman and the GCC that need auditable thickness data for pipework, storage tanks, pressure vessels, and structural steel.

Where a basic thickness gauge only displays a number on screen, the ZX5-DL captures each reading into onboard memory as part of an organized inspection route, letting technicians download a complete, traceable dataset back at the office instead of transcribing readings by hand in the field.

Operating Principle

The ZX5-DL uses pulse-echo ultrasonic measurement with a dual-element transducer (separate transmit and receive elements) operating in the 1 to 10 MHz frequency range. A sound pulse is sent into the material and the transit time of the returning echo from the back wall is converted into a precise wall-thickness value, with differential and alarm modes available to flag readings outside a set tolerance band during a scan.

Engineering Design of the Dakota ZX5-DL

The defining feature of the ZX5-DL is its 32 megabit flash memory, organized into 40 files of 250 readings each for a total capacity of 10,000 stored readings, with USB download to a PC for reporting and archiving. The instrument covers a measurement range of 0.025 to 36.00 inches (0.63 to 914.4 mm) at a resolution of 0.001 inch (0.01 mm), with an adjustable sound-velocity range of 0.0120 to 0.7300 in/µs. Its 4.5-digit liquid crystal display uses 0.500-inch digits with an adjustable backlight and a bar-graph stability indicator, making individual readings easy to read even in bright outdoor field conditions.

Key Features

Onboard data logging: 32 megabit flash memory, 10,000 readings in 40 files of 250
USB download for reporting and record-keeping
Pulse-echo dual-element transducer, 1-10 MHz
Measurement range 0.025-36.00 in (0.63-914.4 mm), resolution 0.001 in (0.01 mm)
Differential and alarm measurement modes for tolerance-band scanning
Adjustable sound-velocity calibration, 0.0120-0.7300 in/µs
4.5-digit LCD with adjustable backlight and stability bar graph

Industrial Applications

Across Muscat, Sohar, and Salalah, the ZX5-DL supports formal corrosion-monitoring programs on refinery and petrochemical piping, storage tank floors and shells, and pressure vessels, where a documented, downloadable history of wall-thickness readings is required for fitness-for-service assessments and regulatory compliance. Its data-logging capacity makes it particularly suited to grid-based corrosion mapping surveys covering many measurement points per asset.

The gauge is also used in marine and shipyard inspection across Oman’s ports, and in general fabrication QA/QC where recorded, traceable thickness data is a contractual deliverable rather than just a field observation.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Specification
Measurement Method	Pulse-echo ultrasonic, dual-element transducer
Transducer Frequency	1-10 MHz
Measurement Range	0.025-36.00 in (0.63-914.4 mm)
Resolution	0.001 in (0.01 mm)
Data Logging	32 megabit flash memory, 10,000 readings (40 files × 250)
Download	USB to PC
Display	4.5-digit LCD, 0.500 in digit height, adjustable backlight
Velocity Range	0.0120-0.7300 in/µs

Is the ZX5-DL the Right Gauge for Your Program?

The Dakota ZX family covers several levels of capability, so it is worth matching the model to the job. The ZX5-DL is the logical choice when readings are taken mainly on bare or ground metal and every value must be stored against a known location. Where most assets are painted and coating removal is not acceptable, the through-paint ZX6-DL is the better fit. If only spot checks are needed with no recorded history, a non-logging gauge can be enough.

Choose the ZX5-DL for grid-based corrosion mapping, CML (condition monitoring location) surveys and QA records on uncoated steel.
Confirm the transducer size and frequency against the thinnest and thickest sections you expect, and against surface temperature.
Plan file names to match your inspection routes, for example one file per tank, line or vessel.

Setting Up and Calibrating in the Field

Accurate readings depend more on setup than on the instrument. Before each survey, zero the dual-element probe as described in the Dakota manual, then set the sound velocity for the material being measured. The most reliable method is a two-point calibration on a step block of the same material, covering a thin and a thick step close to the expected range. Use a suitable couplant, clean loose scale from the test point and hold the probe steadily until the stability bar graph settles before storing a value.

Good Practice for Logged Surveys

Record the calibration block, velocity and probe serial number at the start of every file.
Use the alarm mode to highlight any reading below the minimum allowable thickness while still on site.
Download to the PC at the end of each shift so that data is backed up before the memory is reused.
Re-check the zero and calibration after battery changes or large changes in probe temperature.

Troubleshooting Unstable Readings

Reading jumps or blank displays usually point to poor coupling, heavy pitting on the far wall, or a curved surface that is too tight for the probe footprint. Try more couplant, a smaller-diameter probe, or rotating the split line of the transducer across the pipe axis. A reading that is roughly double the expected value can indicate a doubling effect on thin material, so verify with a calibration step of similar thickness.

Oman and GCC Inspection Use

In the heat of summer in Oman, inspection windows are short, and a Dakota ZX5-DL lets a technician collect large numbers of CML readings quickly and hand the downloaded file straight to the integrity engineer. This supports RBI programs on oil and gas facilities, desalination plants and port infrastructure along the coast.

Supply and Accessories

Seven Star LLC supplies the gauge together with suitable transducers, cables, couplant and calibration blocks, so a complete, ready-to-use inspection kit can be delivered on one order.

Also available: Dakota CMX2-DL Corrosion Thickness Gauge

Request a Quote for Dakota ZX5-DL Corrosion Thickness Gauge

As the official authorized representative of Dakota NDT in Oman, Seven Star LLC supplies data-logging thickness gauges with technical support across Oman and the GCC. Contact our engineering team for a formal quotation and guidance on setting up route-based data logging for your corrosion-monitoring program.

Datasheets & Documents

Datasheet Dakota ZX5-DL Corrosion Thickness Gauge Datasheet Download
Instruction Manual Dakota ZX5-DL Thickness Gauge Instruction Manual Download
Datasheet Dakota ZX5-DL Thickness Gauge Datasheet Download

Reviews (0)

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

How would you rate this product?

About brand

Ultrasonic thickness gauging is the core of Dakota NDT, the Scotts Valley, USA maker that many inspectors still know as Dakota Ultrasonics. Its instruments measure remaining wall on corroded pipe and vessels, check precision parts, find flaws in welds and monitor bolt elongation.

Seven Star LLC is the Dakota NDT agency for Oman and the GCC. We list Dakota corrosion and precision thickness gauges, flaw detectors, transducers, delay line tips and calibration blocks, and supply them with the manufacturer's documentation.

Dakota NDT product families

Corrosion thickness gauges form the largest group: the CMX10-DL with full waveform capture, the CMX, CX and ZX series and the MX2-DL. For thin or tight-tolerance material Dakota builds the precision line, made up of the PZX1-DL, the PCX8-DL and the PMX series. The RX8-DL sonic tester, the PMX4-DL and the R9 sit in the specialty group. Flaw detection is handled by the handheld FX71-DL and the bench-top FX81-DL, and bolt tension by the BT1-DL, the BT2-DL and the MultiMax remote monitoring system. Dual element transducers pair with corrosion gauges, single element and delay line probes with precision gauges. DakMaster and DakView software take care of data transfer and reporting.

Where Dakota ultrasonic thickness gauges are used

Typical jobs are wall-loss surveys on pipelines, tanks, boiler tubes and pressure vessels in oil and gas plants and power stations, thickness checks on machined, drawn or molded parts, weld inspection in fabrication shops, and bolted joints on flanges and turbines where clamp load matters more than torque.

Ordering Dakota gauges and probes: what we need

A useful inquiry names the gauge model, the material, its expected thickness span, the surface temperature and whether the surface is coated. For transducers send the frequency, element diameter, connector type and the gauge the probe will be used with. For calibration blocks give the material and the step sizes you need. If you already own a Dakota instrument, a photo of its label and of the current probe lets us check the match against the manufacturer's documentation.

FAQ

Questions about the Dakota ZX5-DL Corrosion Thickness Gauge

Answers from our engineering team on installation, compatibility and integration.

01What is the main advantage of the ZX5-DL compared to ZX1 and ZX3 models?

The ZX5-DL adds internal data logging and enhanced measurement control, making it suitable for professional inspection and reporting applications.

02Does the ZX5-DL support ultrasonic data storage?

Yes, the instrument includes built-in memory for storing thickness readings during inspections.

03What materials can the ZX5-DL measure?

It is primarily designed for steel and other common metallic materials used in industrial service.

04Is the ZX5-DL suitable for harsh industrial environments?

Yes, its rugged aluminum housing and stable electronics are designed for demanding field conditions.

05Does the ZX5-DL support through-paint measurement?

No, it uses standard pulse-echo measurement and is intended for uncoated or lightly coated surfaces.