subject: Why Measuring Coating Thickness Is Vital To Many Industries [print this page] When materials are coated, it is sometimes the most important variable for the product's quality. This will play a large role in the process and cost control. Of course, it all depends on the material that is being coated. There are a few different ways that coating thickness measurement is determined. It will be determined by size, shape, and material of the product in the long run which you always need to keep in mind.
Magnetic film thickness gauges are mostly used on structures, which are coated on steel and iron products. They do not cause any damage to products which is a plus but will still get the job done to ensure that the coating thickness measurement is correct. The magnetic pull-off gages are inexpensive, which is a bonus for many business owners along with it being portable. This is a great way to save money if your company does not require all materials to be measured but only a few which come through the production line.
You do not need to spend tons of monies on a gauge with something used here and there rather than with every product made. They are pencil like gauges which again do not take up a lot of room, so make sure you place this in a safe area so you do not misplace this meter.
Another type of product is what is known as a rollback dial model. This looks like a calibrator. These are spring activated along with a rotating dial for your fingers. This works somewhat like the magnetic gauge but read by a dial rather than digital. They both will give you the proper reading and are also portable and small. Many that use these types of gauges would be small powder coating operations and painting contractors since they are safe in explosive environments which is a plus.
Other coating thickness measurement tools would be the electronic magnetic gauge which is a bit more bulky and a bit more expensive. These are sometimes used for those who do need to measure each product which is coated since it is a bit easier being electronic. These also will print out the results for further examinations at the end of the production line to determine if they are having the proper readings across the board.
If you are looking for a coating thickness measurement tool for a nonmetal material such as wood or plastic, you may be interested in the ultrasonic pulse-echo gauge. This will measure the thickness of the coat without damaging the product since it is nonmetal and a bit more delicate. This ultrasonic transducer will send a pulse through the coat which will then provide a reading signal from the waves which are formed.
No matter which form of coating thickness measurement gauge you choose, you want to make sure you are purchasing the one which will be useful for you and the products which you need to measure. Of course many of the gauges are for metal products, but there will always be something out there for any type of material you need to measure before the production is complete.
