Material Thickness and Hardness Testing Equipment
How to Choose Material Thickness and Hardness Testing Equipment: Distinguish Material Thickness, Coating Thickness and Metal Hardness
To check the thickness of sheet, pipe or the workpiece itself, consider a thickness gauge. To measure paint, corrosion-protection layers or other coatings on metal surfaces, compare coating thickness gauges. To check metal hardness, select a hardness tester based on the material, workpiece size and specified hardness scale.
When requesting a recommendation, first explain “which layer, which location, and what data” you need to measure. Then confirm the measurement principle, sample conditions and customer acceptance requirements. Overall material thickness, coating thickness and hardness are different test items and cannot be replaced by the same instrument.
Choose Equipment by Test Objective
Material Thickness | Thickness Gauges and Ultrasonic Thickness Gauges
For sheet, pipe wall or workpiece thickness, start by comparing thickness gauges. If you can access only one side of the sample, consider ultrasonic measurement; stable echoes depend on the material, thickness and surface condition.
For ultrasonic measurement, confirm the material sound velocity, probe, couplant conditions and curvature at the test point. If you need to measure the substrate through a coating, distinguish multiple layers or measure a surface coating, check the model capability separately; ultrasonic thickness gauges do not all serve the same purpose.
Coating Thickness | Coating Thickness Gauges
For paint or corrosion-protection layers on steel or aluminum, compare coating thickness gauges. Provide both the substrate and coating materials, and confirm the test area, curvature and thickness range.
Magnetic measurement applies to non-magnetic coatings on magnetic metal substrates; eddy-current measurement applies to non-conductive coatings on non-magnetic metal substrates. For metal plating, multiple coating layers, or coatings on plastic or wood, confirm the method and instrument separately.
Metal Hardness | Leeb and Webster Hardness Testers
For large metal workpieces or on-site spot checks, consider a Leeb hardness tester. For quick checks on thin-walled aluminum alloy profiles, compare Webster hardness testers. Confirm suitability based on the material, workpiece thickness and weight, test point and support method.
For small, thin-walled or difficult-to-secure workpieces, do not select a Leeb model based only on portability. If the customer specifies Rockwell, Vickers or Brinell testing, confirm that the actual method and any conversion values meet the acceptance requirements.
Provide These Four Items When Requesting a Recommendation
- Sample structure: Material, dimensions and photos; for coating measurements, provide the substrate and each coating layer.
- Measurement objective: Overall material thickness, substrate thickness, coating thickness or hardness, and the expected range.
- On-site conditions: Whether the test point is curved, access to one or both sides, workpiece weight and the support method.
- Acceptance and data: Specified test method, hardness scale, acceptance range, and record or report requirements.
Fulcrum Technology can compare equipment based on your samples and inspection needs, and provides selection consultations in Taiwan, product demonstration arrangements and after-sales technical support. Please confirm demonstration models, stock, delivery time and repair services based on the model and your requirements.
