The Dakota range of transducers for flaw detectors comprises single element probes, shear wave probes and angle wedges for inspecting welds, forgings and composite materials to the international NDT standards.
- Types: shear wave, single element, wedges
- Wedge angles: 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 70 degrees
- Frequencies: 2.25 – 3.5 – 5 – 10 MHz
- System: quick change and standard
- Compatibility: FX70-DL FX71-DL FX81-DL
- Modes: TRIG and DAC supported
- Standards: AWS D1.1 EN ISO 17640 ASME
Ultrasonic flaw detection calls for transducers different from those used on thickness gauges: single element probes for normal inspection, shear wave probes paired with angle wedges for weld inspection to AWS D1.1 and EN ISO 17640. Dakota offers all three families with a modular quick change system that allows the angle to be changed without changing the probe.
RODER SRL supplies all Dakota transducers for the FX70-DL, FX71-DL and FX81-DL flaw detectors, with immediate availability from our warehouses in Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. Our technical expertise supports your ISO 9712 certified inspectors in choosing the optimal probe + wedge combination for the type of flaw to be detected and for the standard applicable to your industry.
Typical applications include the inspection of butt welds, fillet welds, castings, forgings, laminated composites, piping for oil and gas, shipbuilding, and the railway and aerospace sectors. Trigonometric (TRIG) mode on Dakota detectors locates the flaw in 2D, DAC classifies it by size.
Need help choosing the right product?
The five families of flaw detector transducer
Dakota ultrasonic flaw detectors (FX70-DL, FX71-DL, FX81-DL) support five distinct families of transducer, each optimised for a type of application and for a specific sector standard.
Shear Wave Quick Change
Quick change probes are single element transducers with a threaded tip that allows the angle wedge to be changed in seconds without unscrewing. Ideal for inspections where several angles are needed on the same weld, or when the frequency is changed while keeping the same wedge. The standard Dakota thread guarantees optimal coupling between probe and wedge.
Shear Wave Standard
Standard shear wave probes have the wedge fixed with two screws, a rugged configuration for intensive inspections on large welds. The mechanical rigidity of the screw fixing guarantees angular repeatability over time even after many inspection cycles, and it is preferred in the metrological laboratory and in series production.
Single Element Contact and Single Element
Single element transducers are used in normal beam mode for inspection perpendicular to the surface. They serve to detect planar flaws parallel to the surface (delamination in composites, lamellar tearing in steels, central porosity in castings). They are available in various frequencies (2.25-25 MHz) and in contact and contact precision configurations.
Transducer wedges
Wedges are made of a plastic material (Plexiglas or equivalent) and deflect the ultrasonic beam to a set angle relative to the normal of the material surface. They are paired with shear wave probes to produce transverse waves in the material inspected. They are available in three standard angles (measured in steel):
- 45° — for butt welds and the inspection of vertical planar flaws
- 60° — the intermediate angle, covering most AWS applications
- 70° — for fillet welds, T-joints and root pass inspection
Representative models from the catalogue
A selection of representative models from the 143 Dakota flaw detector codes. They include shear wave quick change, shear wave standard, single element flaw detector probes and angle wedges.
T-5025-2845
5.00 MHz Ø 1/4″ — quick change shear wave, high gain, to be paired with an interchangeable wedge.
T-5045-2845
5.00 MHz Ø 1/2″ — quick change shear wave, high gain, to be paired with an interchangeable wedge.
T-8044-1858
Standard shear wave transducer 2.25 MHz, 1/2″ × 1/2″, BNC connector.
T-8054-2858
Standard shear wave transducer 5 MHz, 5/8″ × 5/8″, BNC connector.
T-402-2507
5.00 MHz Ø 1/4″ — delay line single element, top Microdot connector.
T-4023-2845
5.00 MHz Ø 1/4″ — Finger Tip contact single element, high gain, side Microdot connector.
X-004-0017
45° wedge for standard shear wave transducers, 1/2″ × 1″.
X-004-0023
45° wedge for Snail-type transducers, 5/8″ × 5/8″.
Compatible Dakota flaw detectors
- FX70-DL — portable flaw detector with A-Scan
- FX71-DL — advanced version with B-Scan and dual mode
- FX81-DL — top-of-the-range bench flaw detector
- CMX10-DL — with the Angular function for probe prove-up
Detection modes supported
- TRIG (Trigonometric): 2D location of the flaw, in depth and in projection
- DAC (Distance Amplitude Correction): classification of flaws by size
- DGS (Distance Gain Size): sizing referred to cylindrical reflectors
- A-Scan for time-amplitude signal display
- B-Scan (FX71-DL/FX81-DL) for cross-sectional profile scans
Reference standards
- AWS D1.1 — Structural Welding Code Steel (structural sector)
- EN ISO 17640 — Ultrasonic testing of welds, levels A-B-C
- EN ISO 11666 — Acceptance criteria for flaws
- ASME Sect. V — Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
- API 1104 — Welding pipelines oil and gas
Typical applications
- Weld inspection: butt, fillet and T-joint welds in heavy steelwork
- Pipelines for oil and gas, searching for fatigue cracks and weld flaws
- Marine sector: welded hulls, load-bearing structures, propulsion
- Railway sector: rails, wheels, axles, engine frames
- Aerospace: searching for delamination in composites, engine castings
- Forgings and castings: porosity, blowholes, segregation
Complementary accessories
For complete flaw inspection: high-viscosity couplants, calibration blocks (step blocks and DAC), probe cables with dedicated flaw detector connectors.
Field of application by industrial sector
Dakota flaw detector transducers are the reference for flaw inspection in every sector where structural safety is a non-negotiable requirement.
- Shipbuilding: inspection of hull welds, watertight bulkheads, load-bearing structures and propulsion piping. The reference standards are typically RINA, Lloyd’s Register, DNV and BV.
- Railway sector: inspection of rails, wheels, axles and engine frames to EN 13674 and UNI EN 13674. Shear wave probes at 70 degrees are the standard for detecting transverse fatigue cracks.
- Aerospace: inspection of engine forgings, castings of critical components and composite laminates. DAC mode on the FX detectors allows flaws to be classified to the most demanding aeronautical specifications.
- Oil and Gas: inspection of pipelines to API 1104, pressure vessels to ASME Sect. V, heat exchangers in refineries and petrochemical plants. Standard shear wave transducers with a 60 degree wedge are the typical configuration.
- Wind and nuclear energy: inspection of towers, foundations and rotor components. Dakota probes are compatible with the inspection protocols required by the certification bodies TUV, RINA and DEKRA.
- Heavy steelwork: inspection of welds in seismic-resistant buildings, bridges, viaducts, cranes and lifting equipment to CNR-UNI 10011.
Why choose original Dakota accessories
Every Dakota flaw detector transducer is an original certified product, with full support for the traceability of the production batch required by many specifications in the aerospace, railway and oil and gas sectors.
- Guaranteed compatibility with every instrument in the Dakota line
- Immediate availability from our warehouses in Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States
- Traceability of the batch and dedicated after-sales support
- Certificates and datasheets in compliance with the requirements of Directive 2014/68/EU PED where applicable
- Technical support dedicated to choosing the right component
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a quick change and a standard shear wave probe?
The quick change has a threaded tip and allows the angle wedge to be changed in seconds without unscrewing. The standard has the wedge fixed with two screws, a more rigid and repeatable configuration but slower to change. The choice depends on how often you change the angle during the inspection.
Which wedge angles are needed for weld inspection to AWS D1.1?
AWS D1.1 mainly calls for 70 degree wedges for inspecting butt welds of small to medium thickness. For fillet welds (T-joints) 60 degree wedges are required. The 45 degree wedge is used for greater thicknesses and for root pass inspection.
Are Dakota probes compatible with the EN ISO 17640 standard?
Yes: Dakota standard and quick change shear wave probes meet the requirements of EN ISO 17640 levels A, B and C. TRIG mode on the FX detectors locates flaws in 2D, DAC classifies them by size.
Can I use a single transducer for the complete inspection of a weld?
No: an inspection that complies with the standards generally requires two or three angles (45/60/70) and two different frequencies to cover every type of flaw. The Dakota quick change system allows a single probe to be combined with three wedges, keeping the working kit compact.
Do shear wave probes work on every material?
They work well on carbon steels, standard stainless steels and aluminium. On coarse-grained austenitic steels and on composite materials they may require lower frequencies (2 MHz) and dedicated wedges. For inspection on attenuating materials, our technical team will suggest the right combination.
Request availability and a quotation: contact us stating which Dakota detector you are using, the type of weld or component and the applicable standard.