OKO-NDT — SONOCON-B Portable Ultrasonic Flaw Detector

Thickness Gauge Version | Complete Field Kit with AccessoriesSKU: SONOCON-B

Overview

The OKO-NDT SONOCON-B Thickness Gauge version is a next-generation portable ultrasonic instrument that combines the functionality of three devices in one compact, lightweight, and field-ready package — an advanced A-Scan thickness gauge, a corrosion monitor, and a full-featured ultrasonic flaw detector. Engineered by OKOndt GROUP, a company with over 30 years of experience in designing and manufacturing NDT equipment for industrial customers worldwide, the SONOCON-B represents the current state of the art in handheld ultrasonic testing technology.

This listing is for the SONOCON-B in the Thickness Gauge software version — the configuration that activates the instrument's advanced A-Scan thickness gauging and corrosion mapping capabilities, making it the ideal solution for wall thickness measurement, corrosion survey, and remaining wall thickness assessment on pipelines, pressure vessels, storage tanks, and structural components. Supplied as a complete field kit including straight beam and angle beam probes, connection cable, Mascot Type 2542 charger, hand strap, carrying case, battery unit, PC software, full documentation set in English, and a calibration certificate for the thickness gauge probe — the SONOCON-B Thickness Gauge kit is ready to deploy immediately, straight out of the box.

What's Included

Box Dimensions & Shipping Weight (Estimated)

Dimensions and weight are estimates based on typical packaging for portable UT flaw detector kits of this class. Please verify with your freight forwarder prior to shipping.

Key Instrument Specifications

3 Instruments in 1 — Thickness Gauge, Corrosion Monitor & Flaw Detector

The SONOCON-B's software-switchable multi-instrument architecture means a single physical unit covers three distinct inspection functions:

• A-Scan Thickness Gauge (this configuration) — precision wall thickness measurement with full A-Scan waveform display, allowing the operator to verify that the correct echo is being measured and confidently distinguish genuine back wall signals from noise or geometry artifacts
• Corrosion Monitor — corrosion survey and mapping capability for systematic remaining wall thickness documentation across large areas of pipelines, vessels, and structures
• Flaw Detector — full ultrasonic flaw detection functionality available via software upgrade to the UT Basic version (sold separately)

The Thickness Gauge version is the most widely deployed SONOCON-B configuration for in-service inspection programs, corrosion monitoring, and remaining life assessment of pressure equipment and structural components.

Performance Features

A-Scan Display — The Critical Advantage Over Blind Gauges Unlike simple numeric-only thickness gauges that display a number with no waveform, the SONOCON-B's A-Scan display shows the full ultrasonic waveform alongside the digital thickness readout. This allows the operator to visually verify that the instrument is measuring the correct echo — a critical capability when measuring through coatings, in areas of heavy corrosion, on rough or pitted back walls, or in any situation where a blind gauge might produce a false or unreliable reading.

Dual Mode Pulser The SONOCON-B supports both Spike Wave and Square Wave (SWP) pulser modes with adjustable damping — giving the operator precise control over pulse characteristics to optimize performance for any probe type or material being gauged.

A-Scan Averaging Built-in averaging from ×2 to ×64 raises the Signal/Noise ratio dramatically — enabling reliable measurements on difficult surfaces, at high gain settings, or through thick coatings where signal quality would otherwise be marginal.

Echo-to-Echo Measurement Mode The echo-to-echo measurement mode allows the SONOCON-B to measure the true material wall thickness between two back wall echoes — effectively ignoring the coating layer and measuring through paint, epoxy, and other surface coatings without the need for coating removal. This saves significant time and cost on large-scale corrosion survey programs.

B-Scan Mode The integrated B-Scan mode builds a real-time cross-sectional thickness profile along the scan line as the probe is moved across the surface — providing a visual map of wall thickness variation that makes it easy to identify localized corrosion pits, general wall thinning, and areas of minimum remaining thickness at a glance.

Probe Library A comprehensive built-in probe library allows operators to select their probe and have all related settings — frequency, element size, delay, and calibration parameters — loaded automatically, eliminating manual entry errors and accelerating inspection setup.

User-Friendly Interface

The SONOCON-B's design philosophy is simple: "Don't browse menus, just push a button." All the most frequently used functions are placed directly on the physical keyboard and accessible in one or two button presses — making calibration, measurement, and data recording significantly faster than menu-heavy competing instruments.

Three additional features support fast operator onboarding:

• Context backlight — relevant buttons are highlighted when a group of buttons is expected to be used, guiding the operator intuitively through the workflow
• Menu item hints — non-obvious menu items display a description when activated, reducing dependence on the manual during routine operations
• Menu presets — three selectable configurations (Full, Simple1, Simple2) allow experienced operators to access the complete function set or new users to work with a simplified, single-page interface

Built for Harsh Field Environments

• IP65 rated — fully protected against dust ingress and water jets in all directions
• Sunlight-readable display — high-contrast color LCD remains clearly readable in direct sunlight
• -30°C to +50°C operating range — reliable performance from arctic cold to hot desert environments
• Ionizing radiation resistant — suitable for use in nuclear and radiation-rich inspection environments
• Single-hand operation — ergonomic form factor with hand strap allows comfortable one-handed use at height, in confined spaces, or in any orientation
• Left- and right-hand compatible — ambidextrous design accommodates all operators

PC Software — Data Management & Reporting

The included PC software package provides:

• Organization and management of instrument setups and inspection configurations
• Storage, retrieval, and review of thickness measurement results and A-Scan data
• B-Scan data visualization and analysis on screen
• Corrosion map display and minimum wall thickness reporting
• Report generation for quality documentation and remaining life assessment programs
• Upload of new setups and configurations to the instrument

Compliance & Standards

The SONOCON-B Thickness Gauge version supports inspection to the following codes and standards:

• ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code — Section V (Ultrasonic Testing)
• API 510 — Pressure Vessel Inspection Code
• API 570 — Piping Inspection Code
• API 653 — Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction
• ASTM E797 — Standard Practice for Measuring Thickness by Manual Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Contact Method
• ASTM E114 — Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Straight-Beam Contact Testing
• EN ISO 16809 — Non-destructive testing: Ultrasonic thickness measurement

Ideal Applications

• In-service wall thickness measurement and corrosion monitoring of pipelines and piping systems
• Pressure vessel and storage tank corrosion survey and remaining life assessment
• Offshore platform and ship hull corrosion mapping
• Heat exchanger tube sheet and shell thickness gauging
• Structural steel thickness measurement for integrity assessment
• Pre- and post-weld heat treatment thickness verification
• Oil and gas facility inspection — tanks, vessels, and process piping
• Power generation — boiler tube gauging, turbine casing measurement
• Any application requiring fast, reliable, A-Scan-verified wall thickness measurement in the field

SONOCON-B Version Comparison

Both versions are housed in the identical SONOCON-B instrument body. Software upgrades between versions are available — contact us for details.

About OKOndt GROUP

OKOndt GROUP is an internationally recognized group of companies with over 30 years of experience in researching, developing, and manufacturing non-destructive testing equipment for industrial customers worldwide. From portable flaw detectors and thickness gauges to multi-channel automated inspection systems, OKOndt GROUP's products are trusted by NDT professionals across aerospace, oil and gas, railroad, metallurgy, power generation, and heavy industry in markets around the globe.

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