Non-contact paint thickness measurement system for industrial deployment

Abstract

We present a non-contact, multi-layer coating thickness sensor based on the use of pulsed terahertz light.

The coated surface is illuminated from a short distance with a terahertz light pulse. The reflected signal, containing reflections at the interface of adjacent coating layers, is analysed to determine the thickness of each layer.

The unit has been designed and tested for deployment in manufacturing environments and is available in both manual and automated (robotic) forms.

Being non-contact, it offers significant advantages over existing technologies: for example, line scans and measurement of curved surfaces, including windshield flanges.

The system has been tested by a number of automobile manufacturers. Summary results of trials are discussed.

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Also, see http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=13544