The Dakota ZX-1 is a fixed-velocity ultrasonic thickness gauge: you calibrate it by scrolling to the velocity of the known material and use it without any specialist training. It is the instrument for those who need to measure remaining wall thickness reliably, not to set parameters.
- ✓ Pulse-Echo measurement from 0.63 to 914.4 mm
- ✓ No training required: set the velocity and measure
- ✓ 120 MHz FPGA timing, 150 V square wave pulser
- ✓ LCD display for low temperatures, down to −30 °C
- ✓ Extruded aluminium housing, keypad resistant to water and hydrocarbons
- ✓ 45-hour battery life with AA alkaline batteries
- ✓ 5-year limited warranty
Not every thickness measurement calls for a complex instrument. In a great many industrial situations the problem is simple: knowing how much is left of a steel wall, at an accessible point, on a clean surface. An instrument with A-Scan, six measuring modes and a data logger does not add accuracy in that case: it adds parameters to get wrong.
The ZX-1 was created for exactly this. Calibration is done by scrolling to the material velocity, the display shows a large, legible number, and the seven-key keypad is sealed against water and petroleum products. The manufacturer covers it with a five-year warranty, twice that of the higher models: a statement about how hard it considers the instrument to break.
Need help choosing the right product?
The limitation to be aware of is equally clear: the ZX-1 does not measure through paint and does not store readings. If the coating cannot be removed, or if the measurements have to be documented, the choice moves up the range — the alternatives are shown below.
Positioning within the ZX series
| Model | What it adds | Data logger |
|---|---|---|
| ZX-1 | fixed velocity, ready to use | no |
| ZX-3 | adjustable gain, high-speed scan | no |
| ZX6-DL | Echo-Echo through paint | yes, 10,000 readings |
For the full picture of the family: Dakota ZX Series.
When to choose the ZX-1
- Routine inspection rounds on plant, on a limited budget
- Measurements on bare metal, with no coating to measure through
- Non-specialist operators who have to work without a training course
- Cold environments: the display stays legible down to −30 °C
- Workshops and sites where the instrument takes knocks
- A second instrument to keep in the department alongside a more advanced one
Documentation downloads
Official Dakota NDT technical documentation. Files open in a new tab.
 | Datasheet Dakota ZX1 Official manufacturer datasheet — PDF, in English |
Key features
Ease of use
- Calibration by selecting the material velocity, without reference blocks
- Seven keys with tactile feedback on a sealed membrane
- Adjustable material velocity to suit different alloys
Ruggedness
- Extruded aluminium body with nickel-plated aluminium end caps, gasket-sealed
- Membrane keypad resistant to water and petroleum products
- Operating temperature −30 / +75 °C
- 5-year limited warranty
Electronics
- 120 MHz FPGA timing
- 150 V square wave pulser
- Dual element transducers from 1 to 10 MHz with quick-release LEMO connectors
- Low-battery indicator with automatic shutdown
Full technical specifications
Data taken from the manufacturer’s official datasheet.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Part Number | Z-300-0000 |
| Measuring mode | Pulse-Echo |
| Measuring range | 0.63 – 914.4 mm, depending on material and transducer |
| Resolution | 0,01 mm |
| Timing | FPGA a 120 MHz |
| Pulser | square wave, 150 V |
| Transducers | dual element, 1 – 10 MHz, quick-release LEMO connectors |
| Cable | standard 4 ft; special transducers on request |
| Display | multifunction 7-segment LCD, 4.5 digits, 12.7 mm digit height; two 14-segment fields |
| Keypad | sealed membrane, 7 keys with tactile feedback |
| Power supply | two AA cells: 1.5 V alkaline, 1.2 V NiCad or 1.5 V lithium |
| Battery life | 45 hours with alkaline, 23 hours with NiCad |
| Operating temperature | −30 / +75 °C |
| Housing | extruded aluminium, nickel-plated aluminium end caps, gasket-sealed |
| Weight | 312 g (11 oz) con batterie |
| Dimensions | 63,5 × 131,3 × 31,5 mm |
| Units of measurement | millimetres or inches |
| Warranty | 5-year limited |
Typical applications
Periodic checks on pipework
Verification of remaining wall thickness on accessible, uncoated runs. For the method: How to measure the thickness of pipes and tubing with an ultrasonic thickness gauge.
Incoming quality control
Sample checks on the thickness of plates and sections at goods receipt: see Thickness measurement in incoming goods quality control.
Maintenance in cold environments
The low-temperature display stays legible down to −30 °C, a condition that rules many competing instruments out of outdoor winter plant and cold stores.
Compatible probes
The ZX-1 works with dual element transducers from 1 to 10 MHz. The choice of frequency depends on the expected thickness, the material and the surface condition: see How to choose the right ultrasonic transducer for each application and the probes for corrosion thickness gauges.
Standards and certifications
- NIST-traceable factory calibration, compliant with MIL-STD-45662A
- Usable for measurements according to EN 14127 and ASTM E797 on uncoated materials
- 5-year limited warranty
For the regulatory framework: NDT standards for thickness measurement: EN 14127, ASTM E797 and EN 15317.
Frequently asked questions
No. The ZX-1 works in Pulse-Echo mode only and requires a clean surface or removal of the coating. To measure without removing the paint you need Echo-Echo mode, available on the ZX6-DL.
No, the ZX-1 has no data logger: readings must be written down manually. If you need to archive the data, you need a DL model such as the ZX6-DL.
That calibration is carried out by selecting the material’s propagation velocity from a list, instead of performing a calibration on reference blocks. The velocity nevertheless remains adjustable to suit different alloys.
No. The manufacturer presents it as an instrument that requires no specialist training. The general principle of non-destructive testing still applies: the reliability of the measurement depends on surface preparation and on the choice of probe.
For a quotation or for help choosing the probe best suited to your application, contact our technical department.
Further information and contacts
Systems division and sensor integration partner : www.roder.it
More information about RODER SRL : about us
Contact for general information : info@roder.it
Contact for information about these products : info@roder.it
The information contained on this web page is provided for information purposes only. Although it has been compiled with the utmost care, it does not constitute a contractual offer or a binding commitment to supply. It may contain transcription, translation or typographical errors. For precise and up-to-date information, please contact our company directly.
Some images on this website have been intentionally generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is because, for many applications and projects, it is not possible to disclose photographs of the installation or of the actual system due to confidentiality agreements, confidentiality clauses and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).