Dakota CMX2-DL – Corrosion Gauge with A-Scan

A thickness gauge without an A-Scan gives a number and nothing else. When that number is plausible, fine; when it is odd, the operator has no way of knowing whether he has read the back wall of the part, an inclusion, half an echo or a bounce off corrosion on the opposite side. On plant in service that uncertainty translates into repeated measurements, arguments at reporting stage and, in the worst case, wrong decisions about a remaining wall thickness.

The CMX2-DL’s A-Scan shows the waveform as it is: you can see where the gate latched onto the echo, how clean the signal is, whether there are intermediate echoes. It is the difference between reading a measurement and validating it, and in advanced corrosion — where the back surface is irregular and echoes split — it is often the only way to work with confidence.

Compared with the CMX3-DL only the display changes: the CMX2-DL has a greyscale VGA screen, the CMX3-DL a colour AMOLED with faster refresh and portrait views. Electronics, modes, range and memory are identical, and battery life in greyscale is almost three times longer.

Position within the CMX series

Model	A-Scan	Display	Alkaline battery life
CMX1-DL	no	greyscale VGA	35 h
CMX2-DL	yes	greyscale VGA, 25 Hz	35 h
CMX3-DL	yes	AMOLED colour, 60 Hz	12 h
CMX10-DL	yes, Full Wave Capture	colour	see datasheet

For the complete picture: Dakota CMX Series.

When to choose the CMX2-DL

Main features

A-Scan display

• Rectified A-Scan (flaw view) and RF (full waveform)
• Screen refresh at 25 Hz
• Large digits 17.78 mm high for quick reading of the thickness
• Cross-sectional time-based B-Scan, from 10 to 200 readings/s

Signal control

• Gain adjustable over a 110 dB range, manual or automatic (AGC)
• Linear TDG with adjustable slope
• Adjustable damping 50 – 1500 ohm: matches the instrument to the material
• 100 MHz DSP platform on FPGA technology
• Two channels with dual square wave pulser and dual receiver
• Repetition frequency up to 250 Hz

Measuring mode

• P-E — Pulse-Echo on bare metal, 0.63 mm – 30.48 m
• PECT — Pulse-Echo Coating: metal and coating together
• PETP — automatic temperature compensation
• E-E and E-EV — Echo-Echo through paint, with verification
• CT — coating thickness only

Full technical specifications

Data taken from the manufacturer’s official datasheet.

Parameter	Value
Part Number	Z-172-0000
Measuring mode	P-E, PECT, PETP, E-E, E-EV, CT
Pulse-Echo range	0.63 mm – 30.48 m
Platform	100 MHz DSP on FPGA technology
Channels	two, dual pulser and dual receiver
Pulser	dual square wave
Receiver	dual, manual gain or AGC over a 110 dB range
Damping	adjustable 50 – 1500 ohm
PRF	up to 250 Hz
Timing	precision TCXO, 100 MHz 8-bit digitizer
Display	greyscale VGA 1/8 in, 240 × 160 pixels, 62 × 45.7 mm area, EL backlight, 25 Hz refresh
Views	large digits (17.78 mm), rectified and RF A-Scan, B-Scan
Transducers	dual and single element, 1 – 20 MHz; contact, matching layer, delay line and pencil
Connectors	quick-release LEMO 00; standard 4-foot cable
Keypad	membrane, 12 keys with tactile feedback
Memory	4 GB internal
Data output	USB-C, Windows interface software
Power supply	three AA cells, or USB-C from a PC or a socket
Battery life	alkaline 35 h, NiCad 10 h, NiMH 35 h
Operating temperature	−10 / +60 °C
Housing	extruded aluminium, nickel-plated aluminium end caps, gasket sealed
Weight	383 g (13.5 oz) with batteries
Dimensions	63.5 × 165 × 31.5 mm

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Typical applications

The manufacturer names aerospace, automotive, energy, infrastructure, mining, oil & gas, pipeline and rail as its reference sectors.

Advanced corrosion on process plant

Where the back surface is irregular and the numerical reading alone is not enough. See Monitoring uniform corrosion and Pipeline corrosion inspection according to API 570.

Difficult materials

Cast iron, composites, strongly attenuating materials: adjustable damping and 110 dB of gain make it possible to work where fixed-parameter instruments cannot read. Further reading: How to improve results on difficult materials.

Documented campaigns

4 GB memory and PC software for reporting: see DakMaster™ and Data logger vs manual recording.

For more on choosing the probe: probes for corrosion gauges and the guide How to choose the right ultrasonic transducer. For a quotation, please state the order code and quantity.

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Documentation download

Official Dakota NDT technical documentation. The file opens in a new tab.

Datasheet Dakota CMX2-DL and CMX3-DL Manufacturer’s official datasheet — PDF, in English

Standards and certifications

• Factory calibration NIST-traceable and compliant with MIL-STD-45662A
• Suitable for measurements to EN 14127 and ASTM E797
• Suitable for campaigns to API 570 and API 653

For the regulatory framework: NDT standards for thickness measurement and API 570 and API 653.

Frequently asked questions

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For a quotation or a demonstration on your own parts, contact our technical office.