A 609/A 609M

PROCEDURE A—FLAT-BOTTOMED HOLE

CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
4. Apparatus
4.1 Electronic Apparatus:
4.1.1 An ultrasonic, pulsed, reflection type of instrument
that is capable of generating, receiving, and amplifying fre-
quencies of at least 1 to 5 MHz.
4.1.2 The ultrasonic instrument shall provide linear presen-
tation (within 65 %) for at least 75 % of the screen height
(sweep line to top of screen). Linearity shall be determined in
accordance with Practice E 317 or equivalent electronic means.
4.1.3 The electronic apparatus shall contain a signal attenu-
ator or calibrated gain control that shall be accurate over its
useful range to 610 % of the nominal attenuation or gain ratio
to allow measurement of signals beyond the linear range of the
instrument.
4.2 Search Units:
4.2.1 Longitudinal Wave, internally grounded, having a ½ to
1! in. [13 to 28 mm] diameter or 1-in. [25-mm] square
piezo-electric elements. Based on the signals-to-noise ratio of
the response pattern of the casting, a frequency in the range
from 1 to 5 MHz shall be used. The background noise shall not NOTE 1—Opposite ends of reference block shall be flat and parallel
within 0.001 in. [0.025 mm].
exceed 25 % of the distance amplitude correction curve NOTE 2—Bottom of flat-bottom hole shall be flat within 0.002-in.
(DAC). Transducers shall be utilized at their rated frequencies. [0.051 mm] and the finished diameter shall be 1⁄4 + 0.002 in. [6.4 + 0.050].
4.2.2 Dual-Element, 5-MHz, ½ by 1-in. [13 by 25-mm], 12° NOTE 3—Hole shall be straight and perpendicular to entry surface
included angle search units are recommended for sections 1 in. within 0°, 30 min and located within 1⁄32 in. [0.80 mm] of longitudinal
[25 mm] and under. axis.
4.2.3 Other frequencies and sizes of search units may be NOTE 4—Counter bore shall be 1⁄2 in. [15.0 mm] diameter by 1⁄8 in. [5
used for evaluating and pinpointing indications. mm] deep.
FIG. 1 Ultrasonic Standard Reference Block
4.3 Reference Blocks:
4.3.1 Reference blocks containing flat-bottom holes shall be
TABLE 1 Dimensions and Identification of Reference Blocks in
used to establish test sensitivity in accordance with 8.2. the Basic Set (See Fig. 1)
4.3.2 Reference blocks shall be made from cast steels that
Metal Overall Width or Block
give an acoustic response similar to the castings being exam- Hole Diameter
Distance Length Diameter Identifi-
in 1⁄64ths, in.
ined. [mm]
(B), in.A (C), in. (D), min, cation
4.3.3 The design of reference blocks shall be in accordance [mm] [mm] in. [mm] Number

with Fig. 1, and the basic set shall consist of those blocks listed 16 [6.4] 1 [25] 13⁄4 [45] 2 [50] 16-0100
16 [6.4] 2 [50] 23⁄4 [70] 2 [50] 16-0200
in Table 1. When section thicknesses over 15 in. [380-mm] are 16 [6.4] 3 [75] 33⁄4 [95] 2 [50] 16-0300
to be inspected, an additional block of the maximum test 16 [6.4] 6 [150] 63⁄4 [170] 3 [75] 16-0600
thickness shall be made to supplement the basic set. 16 [6.4] 10 [255] 103⁄4 [275] 4 [100] 16-1000
16 [6.4] B B + 3⁄4 [B + 20] 5 [125] 16-B00B
4.3.4 Machined blocks with 3⁄32-in. [2.4-mm] diameter flat-
A
bottom holes at depths from the entry surface of 1⁄8 in. [3 mm], Tolerance 61⁄8 in. [3 mm].
B
Additional supplemental blocks for testing thickness greater than 10 in. [250
1⁄2 in. [13 mm], or 1⁄2 t and 3⁄4 in. [19 mm], or 3⁄4 t (where t =
mm], see 4.3.3.
thickness of the block) shall be used to establish the DAC for
the dual-element search units (see Fig. 2). dance with this practice shall be familiar with the following:
4.3.5 Each reference block shall be permanently identified 5.2.1 Ultrasonic terminology,
along the side of the block indicating the material and the block 5.2.2 Instrument calibration,
identification. 5.2.3 Effect of transducer material, size, frequency, and
4.4 Couplant—A suitable couplant having good wetting mode on test results,
characteristics shall be used between the search unit and 5.2.4 Effect of material structure (grain size, cleanliness,
examination surface. The same couplant shall be used for etc.) on test results,
calibrations and examinations. 5.2.5 Effect of test distance on test results,
5.2.6 Effect of nonlinearity on test results,
5. Personnel Requirements 5.2.7 Effect of thickness and orientation of discontinuities
5.1 The manufacturer shall be responsible for assigning on test results, and
qualified personnel to perform ultrasonic examination in con- 5.2.8 Effect of surface roughness on test results.
formance with the requirements of this practice. 5.3 A qualification record (see Note 2) of personnel consid-
5.2 Personnel performing ultrasonic examinations in accor- ered suitable by the manufacturer to perform examinations in

2
 A 609/A 609M

NOTE 1—Entrant surface shall be 250 µin. [6.3 µm] or finer.

NOTE 2— The 3⁄32-in. [2.4 mm] flat-bottom hole must be flat within 0.002 in. [0.05 mm]. Diameter must be within +0.005 in. [0.13 mm] of the required
diameter. Hole axis must be perpendicular to the block and within an angle of 0°, 30 min.
NOTE 3—Hole shall be plugged following checking for ultrasonic response.

in. [mm] in. [mm]

⁄
18 [3] 11⁄4 [32]
1⁄4 [6] 11⁄2 [38]
1⁄2 [13] 13⁄4 [44]
3⁄4 [19.0] 2 [50]
1 [25] 10 [254]

FIG. 2 Ultrasonic Standard Reference Block for Dual-Search Unit Calibration

accordance with this practice shall be available upon request. indication height for each of the applicable blocks on the
NOTE 2—SNT-TC-1A, Ultrasonic Testing Method, provides a recom-
cathode ray tube shield. Draw a curve through these marks on
mended procedure for qualifying personnel. Other personnel qualification the screen or on suitable graph paper. The maximum signal
requirement documents may by used when agreed upon between the amplitude for the test blocks used shall peak at approximately
purchaser and the supplier. three-fourths of the screen height above the sweep by use of the
attenuator. This curve shall be referred to as the 100 % distance
6. Casting Conditions amplitude correction (DAC) curve. If the attenuation of ultra-
6.1 Castings shall receive at least an austenitizing heat sound in the casting thickness being examined is such that the
treatment before being ultrasonically examined. system’s dynamic range is exceeded, segmented DAC curves
6.2 Test surfaces of castings shall be free of material that are permitted.
will interfere with the ultrasonic examination. They may be as 8.3 The casting examination surface will normally be
cast, blasted, ground, or machined. rougher than that of the test blocks; consequently, employ a
6.3 The ultrasonic examination shall be conducted prior to transfer mechanism to provide approximate compensation. In
machining that prevents an effective examination of the cast-
order to accomplish this, first select a region of the casting that
ing.
has parallel walls and a surface condition representative of the
7. Test Conditions rest of the casting as a transfer point. Next, select the test block
whose overall length, C (Fig. 1), most closely matches the
7.1 To assure complete coverage of the specified casting
section, each pass of the search unit shall overlap by at least reflection amplitude through the block length. Place the search
10 % of the width of the transducer. unit on the casting at the transfer point and adjust the
7.2 The rate of scanning shall not exceed 6 in./s [150 mm/s]. instrument gain until the back reflection amplitude through the
7.3 The ultrasonic beam shall be introduced perpendicular casting matches that through the test block. Using this transfer
to the examination surface. technique, the examination sensitivity in the casting may be
expected to be within 630 % or less of that given by the test
8. Procedure blocks.
8.1 Adjust the instrument controls to position the first back 8.4 Do not change those instrument controls and the test
reflection for the thickness to be tested at least one half of the frequency set during calibration, except the attenuator, or
distance across the cathode ray tube. calibrated gain control, during acceptance examination of a
8.2 Using the set of reference blocks spanning the thickness given thickness of the casting. Make a periodic calibration
of the casting being inspected, mark the flat-bottom hole during the inspection by checking the amplitude of response