Special Instruments

The Dakota NDT Special Instruments category brings together the instruments dedicated to specialist application sectors where standard instrumentation is not sufficient or not optimal. Today the catalogue in this category comprises sonic testers designed specifically for motorsport — the R9 and the RX8-DL — developed for the needs of engine builders, high-performance workshops and competition teams that have to measure quickly and accurately the thickness of cylinder walls, head ports, engine decks, chassis tubing, roll cages, body panels and windscreens. Both use dual element probes at frequencies of 1-10 MHz and are calibrated with NIST-traceable calibration.

Why a sonic tester in motorsport

In modern motorsport, component stress levels reach extreme limits. A cylinder bored too deeply, a roll cage tube with its wall reduced by internal corrosion, a body panel with a thickness that does not comply with the regulations — all of these scenarios can compromise safety, homologation and performance. The ultrasonic method is the only one that allows the material in service to be measured non-destructively, without damaging the part and without costly disassembly.

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R9 vs RX8-DL comparison

Feature	Dakota R9	Dakota RX8-DL
Part Number	Z-309-0002	Z-158-0004
Data logger	No	Yes (Grid + Engine Map)
Bitmap capture	No	Yes (.tif)
Echo-Echo mode	No	Yes (2.54-101.6 mm)
Time-based B-Scan	No	Yes
Coating Thickness Display	No	Yes
Scan mode	100/sec fixed	10-200/sec configurable
AGC gain	No	Yes, 50 dB range
USB / PC software	No	Yes + Engine Mapping Software
Power supply	2 × AA	3 × AA + USB
Battery life	45 h alkaline	35 h alkaline
Weight	312 g	383 g
Warranty	5 years	Manufacturer standard
Ideal scenario	Workshop, race pit, amateur use	Pro teams, engineering workflow

Applications in motorsport

Engine cylinders (cylinder walls)

Benchmark application: measuring the cylinder wall thickness before boring. With High Speed Scan, dragging the probe from the bottom of the cylinder upwards, a complete map is obtained in a few seconds. This makes it possible to assess the margin available for boring, to identify areas of reduced section caused by internal corrosion (water jacket) and to decide whether to proceed. The RX8-DL adds time-based B-Scan to display the profile graphically.

Roll cages and chassis tubing

Safety cages and chassis tubing are subject to strict technical regulations (FIA Appendix J, NASCAR, IMSA). Sonic testers make it possible to verify that the wall thickness complies with the regulations even after years of use — internal corrosion, stress damage or repairs may have thinned critical sections without being visible from the outside.

Head ports, decks, panels

Porting work requires constant monitoring of the remaining thickness. Body panels in championships with strict regulations (GT, Touring) have a regulated minimum thickness. The RX8-DL with EE mode makes it possible to measure without removing the paint.

Application guides from the blog:

• Measuring engine cylinder walls: a technical guide for race preparers and mechanics
• Echo-Echo and ThruPaint™: measuring thickness through paint
• How to choose the right ultrasonic transducer

Who these instruments are for

Recommended probes

The instruments in this category use Dakota dual element transducers with frequencies between 1 and 10 MHz: low frequencies for attenuating materials such as cast iron, high frequencies for thin walls, small-diameter probes for difficult access. The part numbers are listed on the Probes and accessories page: tell us the material, the expected thickness and the geometry of the part and we will confirm the right part number.

Standards and certifications

• NIST-traceable factory calibration and MIL-STD-45662A
• EN 14127 and ASTM E797 compliance
• CE marking and EMC compliance
• 5-year warranty on the Dakota R9
• Calibration certificate supplied as standard

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Do you work in motorsport?
Whether you are a professional team or an independent engine builder, we help you choose the instrument suited to your workflow and the right probe for your engine (cast iron, aluminium, special alloys). Contact us for dedicated advice or for a demonstration in your workshop.