Evident (formerly Olympus IMS) · thickness gauge

Olympus EPOCH 600 Ultrasonic Flaw Detector

The Olympus EPOCH 600 is a portable ultrasonic flaw detector and thickness gauge used for non-destructive examination of metals, welds and composites. The instrument supports conventional pulse-echo ultrasonic testing for thickness measurement, weld inspection, corrosion mapping and flaw detection across a wide frequency range (0.25-25 MHz). The EPOCH 600 is widely used in marine, structural-steel and pressure-vessel inspection, with stated thickness measurement accuracy of better than 0.1 mm in typical applications. Data is logged to internal memory and exported via USB for reporting.

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TRSC Application Commentary

TRSC uses the Olympus EPOCH 600 on structural-steel investigations where remaining wall thickness, weld integrity or corrosion-damage depth must be quantified. Typical applications include marine-environment steel column and beam thickness measurement (Marina Mirage marine substructure inspection), facade-anchor stud-bolt inspection, and post-disaster steel-element verification (Q1 Tower spire steel-frame inspection following Cyclone Albert). Two operational notes: first, transducer selection is critical — different probe frequencies and contact-shoe configurations are required for different element thicknesses, surface conditions and access geometries; TRSC carries a transducer set covering the typical range of structural-steel applications. Second, calibration is mandatory at the start of each survey on a known-thickness reference block, and re-calibration on each transducer-change or significant temperature change. The EPOCH 600 produces a numeric thickness reading and an A-scan waveform; TRSC retains the A-scan for any reading that approaches a structural-decision threshold to support the engineering interpretation. The instrument is paired with the Olympus 38DL PLUS dedicated thickness gauge on some surveys where high-density thickness mapping is the primary objective; the EPOCH 600 is preferred where flaw detection (cracks, lamination, weld defects) is also in scope. The EPOCH 600's data-export workflow integrates with TRSC's standard reporting templates, with the A-scan waveforms and thickness readings indexed to the same survey location plan used for any parallel GPR or visual inspection, producing a single coordinated investigation deliverable rather than parallel disconnected datasets that the asset owner has to reconcile after the fact, which is the standard reporting practice that distinguishes professional structural NDT from generic equipment hire.

Enabled Investigations
  • Steel element wall-thickness measurement
  • Weld integrity inspection
  • Marine corrosion-damage depth quantification
  • Post-disaster structural steel verification
Frequently Asked Questions

Application questions about Olympus EPOCH 600 Ultrasonic Flaw Detector

What surface preparation is required for ultrasonic thickness testing?
Couplant (typically water-soluble gel or grease) is required between the transducer and the test surface, and significant scale or coating must be removed locally to expose sound metal at the test location. TRSC removes coatings to a minimum 30 mm radius around each test location to ensure consistent transducer coupling and accurate readings.
How accurate is corrosion-damage depth measurement on weathered steel?
On clean prepared metal the EPOCH 600 typical accuracy is better than 0.1 mm. On weathered or pitted surfaces accuracy degrades to ~0.3-0.5 mm depending on surface condition; TRSC reports the surface condition and applies appropriate uncertainty bands to the residual-thickness estimate used for capacity calculations.
Can ultrasonic testing detect cracks in welded steel connections?
Yes — the EPOCH 600 supports angle-beam (shear-wave) inspection for weld-defect detection including cracks, lack of fusion, slag inclusions and porosity. TRSC uses appropriate angle-beam transducers and weld-inspection protocols (typically per AS 1554 / EN 12668) for any weld-integrity inspection on critical structural connections.
Relevant Services
Structural Investigation
Condition Assessment
Post Disaster Assessment
Sources & Further Reading