Cheap sonic testers on eBay
#1707319
12/06/14 04:31 PM
12/06/14 04:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,496 Minnesota
Hemi_Joel
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,496
Minnesota
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Has anyone used the $100 sonic testers from eBay for thickness testing on cylinder walls, etc.? What were the results, are they any good? Here is an example: http://m.ebay.com/itm/321336644253?nav=SEARCHthanks, Joel
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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Re: Cheap sonic testers on eBay
[Re: Hemi_Joel]
#1707326
12/06/14 10:21 PM
12/06/14 10:21 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 361 Canada
onig
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 361
Canada
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I was looking at those last week and was wondering the same thing. After you get it, report back as to how accurate it is.
69 Dart
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Re: Cheap sonic testers on eBay
[Re: onig]
#1707327
12/07/14 12:56 AM
12/07/14 12:56 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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The problem with a lot of those is that they dont offer a radius head/sensor... you will still get a reading(in most cases) through the gel but it also is reading the thickness of the gel
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Re: Cheap sonic testers on eBay
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1707328
12/07/14 02:11 PM
12/07/14 02:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439 Val-haul-ass... eventually
BradH
Taking time off to work on my car
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Taking time off to work on my car
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
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I bought my tester off eBay a couple of years ago from a company called Testing Equipment based out of Houston, TX. The same model is probably available for less from some of the China-direct vendors on eBay, but I wanted a USA point of contact to scream at should something go wrong w/ the deal.
They offer(ed?) two versions, the MT150 and MT160. I bought the 150 version because it was less expensive, but maybe should have bought the 160 in hind sight. The key functional differences are (a) the 160 gives readouts to .00x" accuracy (e.g., .157") and (b) has some PC download capability that I don't need. The 150 reads to .0x" accuracy, (e.g. .16"), which is fine except on the thinner readings such as .08", so I don't know if the wall thickness is closer to .076" or .084".
The vendor offers the same testers with different probes / transducers. I purchased mine w/ the N07 model, which has a 6mm diameter face and is the smallest they offer. I contacted them directly about buying a second N07 at the same time, because I suspected I was going to have to hand-fit one of them to read the curved surface of a cylinder bore properly... and I was right. I spent some time w/ 600-grit wet-or-dry profiling the face of the probe to have a concave surface that appeared to seat properly against the inside of my 4.375" tapered ring compressor.
Although the instructions give some different methods for calibration, especially considering I was working w/ curved surfaces, I think the best approach was the one that AndyF suggested: measure the thickness at the top of two adjacent cylinders w/ a caliper, then take a reading w/ the tester at the identical spot and calibrate the tester to match that.
I don't recall the cost of the individual components, but the invoice I found for the total transaction (sonic tester kit w/ probe) was just under $400. IIRC, the 160 model is $50-60 more, which I didn't feel was worth it at the time.
I hope this helps. I've used the tester to read a couple of different 440 blocks and have been able to get consistent readings after finding the best calibration approach and some hands-on experience to get the best "feel" for positioning the probe, etc.
Brad
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Re: Cheap sonic testers on eBay
[Re: lucky13]
#1707330
12/07/14 07:59 PM
12/07/14 07:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,247 Mt. Vernon, Ohio
dartman366
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,247
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
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Quote:
For what its worth, the cheap ones only read in mm's. I know it can be converted over, just letting people know
noticed that myself, but since I do that every day in my profession then its no big deal for me.
Light travels faster than the speed of sound,,,this is why some people seem bright untill you hear them speak.
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