This past week I have my first experience using an ultrasonic gun. (Ultraprobe 9000MPH). I skimmed the manual and fiddled with the controls. A few questions still remaining:

1 - What does the db level represent? Is it like an overall that tells all the energy being received? Or is it associated with teh demodulated/heterodyned signal? In other words, is the db level affected by the setting of the frequency ?

2 - I noticed there are some "store" features. Is there a playback feature? Can the signal be transferred to a pc? What format or what program is needed to read the data on pc?

3 - The contact probe ("stethoscope") worked fine. The airborne probe ("focusing probe") gave no output. Any troubleshooting suggestions?

Thanks

I have found UE Systems support to be good. They can be reached at 914-592-1220. They also have a user forum at their website.

Jim Hall could also be of assistance: (770) 517-8747

I am accustomed to the Ultraprobe 2000, but my "standard sensitivity test" when using the "focusing probe" is:
rub your forefinger slightly with your thumb (money ) and adjust the sensitivity switch.



This one impresses everyone, once somebody asked me even if I was able to overhear what the bosses where discussing in the adjacent room

If still nothing, use the warbletone generator to check if there is a problem with the sensor.

electricpete, I am sorry I just saw your posting. You probably know more about ultrasonics now than I do.

I understand the db level is the loudness level at the frequency the tool is tuned to. The "store" function in my 9000 is to record route information for trending purposes. I think it records the location point (001-400), the db level of the displayed frequency, and possibly the frequency setting, and the time and date. I have never used this function.

Pete,

Our UE10000 db level increases as you change frequency and sensitivity. I always tell my guys to make sure the settings are set at our "standard" level before doing any comparison type work.

Aubrey

Thanks for the help everyone. The project slipped to my back burner, but I'll be having a need to use the UE probe again in the near future and these tipes will be helpful.

We have a vertical pump / motor with a loud ticking noise coming from the motor stool cutout area... can't decide if it's motor lower bearing area, coupling area, or pump stuffing box. My ear says it might be impacting at 1x. Vibration shows some 1x impacting present in the TWF and lots of harmonics in the spectrum. Paradoxically, that vibration is highest at top of the motor (not where the noise is coming from). I will post some more details on vib forum when I get a chance.

Thanks again.

When you do I will be glad to assist you. For your information regarding your vertical pump just remember that unlike your vibration meter the ultrasound is high-frequency and the sound wave you are listening to is short wave approx. 1/8-5/8" long. Using the contact probe first make sure that the probe is not broken or has a crack where the rod is screwed into the module.
*ALL UE contact probes are notorious for cracking at the phenolic (compressed resin material) and causing DISCONTINUITY. You hear nothing or very little. A good test would be to place very little pressure on contact probe while listening to motor and see if your sound cuts in & out. Some of the newer contact probes they (the manufacturer) have changed the design and the "length" of the rod to limit this from happening due to "candle-levering" (too much force asserted upon the rod while holding pressure upon the module usually, at the 45' deg position.
Your motor, using the contact probe and the UE unit at frequencies 28-32 kHz taking your time to listen you may be able to hear the click or popping noise. If you are hearing the popping with the naked ear, it is a low-frequency sound the you should start at 20 kHz+ first. If you have an older less expensive ultrasound unit chances are that unit is in the ultrasonic/sonic range and may hear the clicking sound.
If you are hearing the clicking sound with the UE9k currently just use the higher bearing frequencies to try and locate the sound.
Don't forget to also try the vibration/ultrasound combination. Hook your UE to a vibration meter. What happens there is the high-frequency module hears in the high-frequency and heterodynes to the low-frequency of which your vibration meter is a low-frequency instrument.
Using anyones ultrasound unit with a vibration meter can be helpful. Just remember the low-frequency signal "output" is the headphone jack (use a Radio-Shack stereo headphone splitter ($4.95) or make a splitter cable). This application is specifically good for outer/inner race problems.
Something else worth mentioning...I noticed that if I take an SDT unit with the auxiliary cable and attach the cable to a typical vibration accelerometer (low-frequency accelerometer), I could hear the bearing that it was attached to and get a decibel reading. Interesting how hearing the low-frequency sound of the bearing was a lot like listening with the ultrasonic transducer? Love to hear how you make out...ultra-soundtech.com I am vendor-neutral. I do not sell equipment.

Tune the freq so the noise of concern (ticking) is loudest, then use the tool to find the area the noise seems to be coming from. As Jim said, ultrasound is very shortwave sound, very directional, easily blocked, but it will echo easily. The tool should enable you to easily zero in on the source.

Thank you WPUGH, people do read these...have a great day.