Surface Profile Gauges are used to measure the profile height of a surface. The degree of the surface profile on the surface affects a coating's overall performance and determines aspects such as adhesion, coverage and overall volume of coatings used.
Profile is usually measured using a CMM due to the complexity of some of the surfaces that are called out. The CMM would compare the 3D scan of the profile to the dimensions called out on the drawing to see if it was in spec.
Dry Film Thickness can be measured on either magnetic steel surfaces or non-magnetic metal surfaces such as stainless steel or aluminium using a digital coating thickness gauge. The principle of electromagnetic induction is used for non-magnetic coatings on magnetic substrates such as steel.
An optical comparator (often called just a comparator in context) or profile projector is a device that applies the principles of optics to the inspection of manufactured parts. It is a useful item in a small parts machine shop or production line for the quality control inspection team.
Plug gauges, in some cases called pin gauges, are metrology tools whose purpose is to gage the inside diameters of holes that have been drilled or machined into a manufactured part, component, or assembly.
Magnetic paint gages are used to nondestructively measure the thickness of a nonmagnetic coating on ferrous substrates. Most coatings on steel and iron are measured this way. Magnetic gages use one of two principles of operation: magnetic pull-off or magnetic/electromagnetic induction.
The anchor pattern or anchor profile is a series of “peaks and valleys†that exist on a substrate. This anchor profile is extremely important to coatings, like paint or powder coating. Each coating has an optimal anchor pattern that allows maximum adhesion of the coating to occur.
A second method of measuring a blast profile is a digital gauge depth micrometer. This tool uses a probe that is pressed onto the surface profile and measures the height from the peak to depth of the blast profile.
Sa 2.5 is a cleanliness standard, not a surface roughness standard. An example of a surface roughness standard would be ISO 8503. One reason cleanliness is required is because paint will not adhere properly to a dirty surface.
By placing the Tqc replica tape on the surface and rubbing over it, the Rt (total roughness) or peak-to-valley height of the profile can be taken and then measured with a film thickness meter.
Replica tape consists of a layer of compressible foam affixed to an incompressible polyester substrate of highly uniform thickness (50 µm +2 µm). When pressed against a roughened steel surface, the foam forms an impression, or reverse replica, of the surface.
Average roughness is typically measured in either microns (µm) or micro-inches (µ-in, µâ€). One micron equals roughly 40 micro-inches (µâ€). Also note that "micron" and "micrometer" are equivalent, and both terms are commonly used.
