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Carcheck System - Paint Thickness Measurement Gauge

A Paint Thickness measurement gauge sets new Standards in the industry. A menu-driven measuring system for cost effective management and systematic documentation of collision repair (paint) work, paint production processes and quality control in the automobile & insurance industries.

Author: Dr. Francis Awafong

Over many years, the costs associated with product quality control have been a topic that has drawn the attention of many experts from more or less all industries. In the American automobile manufacturing industry - a cornerstone of the economy over decades, the Japanese and Koreans have maintained quality level pressures on the US domestic manufacturers. To lessen cost and quality pressure, new innovations in (online) precision testing, measurement and data management will be required (Ealey, 1987, p. 21). The situation in the collision repair and car insurance industries is not different, where in addition to dealing with cost control issue, mitigating risk is also pertinent.

Figure 1: Report Creation with the QNix CarCheck System 8500

According to Lee Peterson (Manager of Insurance Industry Affairs for Chief Automotive systems), the collision repair industry has officially entered the high tech age. “As vehicles have become increasingly complex and insurance companies more demanding in their need for verification and documentation, information has quickly become as important as iron to any collision repair center that hopes to successfully compete in the 21st century”. Chief automotive has developed a computerized system to analyze damages on the vehicle frame. This method of analysis enables trained professionals to quickly recognize what damages are there and the repair procedures required to repeal them.

Quintessentially, the use of more cost effective systems in one industry can reduce the costs and risks in another industry- see the interaction between the collision repair (or automobile manufacturing industry) and the car insurance industry. Insurance companies will benefit from the automobile manufacturers in terms of costs reduction as proper documentation from the manufacturer will lead to better determination of car damages and costs for repairs.

Figure 2: Master data entry for car information &customer management

In the same line, collision repair industry will benefit from the manufacturer as proper documentation will lead to better comparison of the history to real state of a to-be worked car panel. This so called inter-industrial cost transfer can become a chain that impacts the US economy in the future, creating new opportunities and securing jobs. Until now, paint coating thickness, corrosion protection, service and damage analysis as well as assessment works are predominantly carried out by means of taking single readings, using hand held measuring gauges. Documentation is accomplished with crumb sheets of paper that are too often thrown in trash and unfortunately, in circumstances of need are not available. This antiquated method of data management belongs to the past. It reminds us of the stop watches during the early days of Formula One.

In contrary, a genuine innovative documentation in coating thickness measurement will provide the automobile industry with a new perspective: One kind of such a system that could accomplish, complement and also expand the scope of effective costs reduction measures in these (collision repair and automobile manufacturing) industries is the QNix CarCheck Paint meter system 8500 (coating Thickness Gauge with Software)- a world novel menu driven measuring system for checking and documenting paint coating thickness measurements of car body:- this System will optimize quality control and damage assessment.

Today and certainly in the near future, taking single readings will continue to be part of an important process in the automobile industry as these measurements enable manufacturers to check the various quantity and depth of paint applied.

Figure 3: The Coating Thickness Gauge- QNix CarCheck System 8500 -Paint meter

AUTOMATION Dr. Nix, one of the leading specialists in non-destructive coating thickness measuring technology - world wide, has now reacted to this drift with a new pioneering solution. For the first time, a measuring System impressively allows the end user to meet the high and indispensable requirements in an industry - The CarCheck Coating Thickness measuring System now offers a completely new perspective in terms of costs management, quality control and damage assessment in the automobile industry. A structured design of the measuring task, systematic and verifiable documentation of readings and analysis of measuring values, combined with intelligent menu navigation brings in considerable advantages in cost and quality control.

CarCheck Coating Thickness gauge System also allows the use of a defined network of coordinates to systematically generates, record and document - for statistical quality control purposes - values from measurement spots of a car body with a menu driven device.

In combination with the modular system gauge QNix 8500 paint meter, which uses the Hall effect sensor technology and the eddy current principles, measuring according to ASTM B 499, ASTM D 7091, ISO 2178 and ISO 2360, the CarCheck Coating Thickness gauge Software has been designed to depict a car panel with different accident sensitive spots such as Header and Nose panels, bumpers, fenders, radiators, doors, tailgates trunk lids, hoods, roof, etc, for the above mentioned reason. The body gauge QNix 8500 Coating Thickness gauge operates with an interchangeable dual probe 200 mil, for direct insertion into the gauge or via an extension cable.

Figure 4: Illustration of car information, data collection on a table and car raster

Unlike the conventional paint coating thickness gauges, the CarCheck Coating Thickness gauge entails application specific selection between two different measurement programs during a production or repair process. After selecting the car type, it is possible to take three measurements on each defined spots (fender, hood, side part, etc.). This is the so-called “base measurement”. The “intensive measurement” requires that at least six measurements on each defined spots is taken. To avoid errors, this system gives clear instructions on the gauge display. With a systematic modus operandi, the user is navigated to the next measuring spot on the “raster of coordinates”, until all measurements and results are finally taken, saved and documented in the system and can be made available in a database or network, facilitating the recovery of data for quality control management.

An interference free communication between measuring device and PC is achieved wirelessly via a provided USB-dongle. The readings are saved in the body gauge until the user intentionally deletes them using the system software, which is part of the scope of supply. The gauge’s menu is – similar to modern cell phones – designed in such an easy and guiding way that a safe and intuitive operation of the measuring system is guaranteed. Since the CarCheck Coating Thickness gauge software is very similar to MS-Office applications, handling of the system is straightforward.

Figure 5: Customizing the Software with Company Logo

Another advantage of this system is that it allows for many users to use the software at the same time. To avoid data misuse, only registered users can use, protocol and document readings. Users can view measurement data statistics including mean, standard deviation and display graphics. Automobile manufacturers, collision repair and body shops can always customize this software with their logos and can create a proper customer data base and hence car panel history for evidence and court cases or insurance claims.

Figure 5: Customizing the Software with Company Logo

The scope of supply for the CarCheck Coating Thickness gauge System 8500 includes the following items: -Body gauge QNix 8500, Dual probe 200 mil, probe extension cable, reference zero plates(Fe & NFe), 2 Mignon batteries 1,5volts (alkaline), Soft pouch with belt clip, instruction manual, calibration certificate, CarCheck Coating Thickness gauge software, USB interface, carrying case for safe transportation.-Software is compatible with Windows XP+ and available in English and German, with other languages to be integrated in the near future.

(For Information from TestCoat, Inc. Phone 717-334-3372 or mail us at sales@testcoat-usa.com).

Reference
Ealey, L. (1987, July). QFD Bad Name for a great system. Automotive Industries, CLXVII(7), 21.

TestCoat, Inc.
1685 Baltimore Pike, Suite C
Gettysburg, PA 17325