Accurate Thickness Measurement of Package Materials

Package materials come in various types, including metal, non-metal, glossy and non-glossy options. They can be single-layered, complex, or co-extruded. Thickness is an important factor affecting both cost and productivity. Thinner materials are generally less expensive and allow for faster production. Thickness testing is essential for quality control.

Several types of thickness testers are available, including laser, capacitive, eddy current, and mechanical testers. Each has limitations. Non-contact testers may not work for all materials, while mechanical testers can be used for a wider range of materials.

Mechanical thickness testers use a precision sensor to measure the displacement of a presser foot contacting the material. They are accurate but require a lab environment to avoid errors caused by temperature and wind. The Labthinkabthink C640 Thickness Tester is a high-resolution mechanical thickness tester.

There are two main challenges in designing mechanical thickness testers: controlling the pressure of the presser foot and ensuring parallelism between the presser foot and the anvil.

Flexible package materials can compress when pressed. The tester must apply the correct pressure according to the testing standard. Different standards specify different pressures. Failing to meet these requirements can lead to inaccurate measurements.

The presser foot and anvil must be parallel and the presser foot movement must be perpendicular to the anvil surface. This is critical for ensuring measurement accuracy. The Labthink C640 Thickness Tester uses an automatic leveling structure to address this challenge.

Mechanical thickness testers are the preferred choice for testing the thickness of many package materials. It is important to choose a tester that meets the requirements of the testing standard, including pressure and parallelism. By following these guidelines, manufacturers can ensure accurate and reliable thickness measurements.

As the demand for functional packaging materials grows, testing methods are evolving to ensure a more comprehensive evaluation of packaging films. Labthink encourages collaboration with packaging industry companies for quality control! Visit the website www.labthink.com to learn more!