Many physical and cosmetic properties of the final coating can be affected by film thickness. Film thickness affects the color, gloss, surface profile, adhesion, flexibility, impact resistance and hardness of the coating. If insufficient powder coating is applied, it will not provide adequate coverage and protection. The thickness of the powder coating can also affect the application's impact resistance, flexibility, hardness, edge coverage, chip resistance, weather resistance, salt spray resistance and ability to maintain gloss. Therefore, in the powder coating process, the detection of coating thickness is a necessary index item.
Measuring the thickness of a powder coating can be done using different methods, depending on whether the test is done before or after the powder has cured. Most sprayers use a dry Film Thickness Gauge to measure the thickness of the powder coating after it has cured. But waiting for the powder to cure means costly and labor-intensive rework if defects are found. A desirable solution is to measure the powder before it cures in the oven.
Typically, people use a wet film gauge or wet film comb to test the uncured coating thickness. While a powder wet film comb is easy and inexpensive to use, it requires a relatively large flat area to measure and can leave marks in the powder. Because the powder shrinks during curing, the wet film comb readings need to be corrected using a reduction factor.
Based on this deficiency, defelsko produced a PC non-contact powder coating Thickness Gauge, PosiTest PC uses proven ultrasonic technology to accurately predict the thickness during curing - no powder contact. It displays the predicted cured thickness, similar to what a DFT gauge would provide after the part has passed through the oven.
It measures more than three times faster, making it easier to use when measuring on moving lines and wobbling parts.
Enhanced technology also provides better measurements on awkward geometries and diameters as small as one inch.
In addition to improved electronics, the PosiTest PC features an ergonomic all-in-one design that requires no cables or Bluetooth.
The new icon-based color interface makes operation easy. Best of all, it's available at a much lower purchase price than the previous generation.
Using PosiTest PC is easy. When operating for the first time, it needs to be zeroed using the included zeroing jig. Once complete, the instrument is ready to take measurements.
To measure, start with the tip of the instrument about two to three inches from the part. Press and hold the check button and bring the tip close to the part, making sure it is plumb.
When in range, the target board will appear with a distance paddle showing the distance from the instrument to the part, and a horizontal line in the middle showing the target distance. The width of the paddle indicates how perpendicular the instrument is to the surface.
Once the instrument is held vertically at the target distance, the range dial will turn green and the measured value will be displayed.
With the updated technology of the new PosiTest PC, any operator can quickly take uncured thickness measurements with just a few minutes of practice.
The PosiTest PC also includes professional features to suit various applications.
By default, the instrument stops measuring after a reading is obtained. In scan mode, it continuously takes measurements for quick inspection of the entire part.
Built-in memory stores up to 1000 readings, which can be downloaded to the included PosiSoft Desktop software for further analysis.
It also features a USB keyboard emulation mode for immediate streaming of readings into custom software or PLCs used in industrial automation.
The new PosiTest PC offers enhanced technology at a significantly lower price. It comes with everything you need to start measuring in a convenient hard case. Complete powder inspection kits are available which also include a PosiTest DFT or PosiTector 6000 dry Film Thickness Gauge for post-cure measurements.
