Painted Surfaces

The 4D SurfSpec is the first surface measurement system for process control of coatings from substrate to clearcoat. Comprehensive, quantified results let you fingerprint the entire process—to ensure final coating quality, and to prevent further processing on parts which will lead to unacceptable final quality.

The portable 4D SurfSpec can be used either handheld or robot-mounted. Test any of the common locations-of-concern on a body-in-white, then retest the same locations after coating to trace results throughout the process. The 4D SurfSpec measures in any orientation, even upside-down, on verticals, and on curved surfaces.

Gloss or matte, 4D InSpec measures painted surfaces, and defects in painted surfaces. 

 On the painted sample above, we measured the step represented by the edge of the painted area. 4D InSpec readily measures the two different colored materials. The gloss finish of the paint and adjacent unpainted surfaces also are not a problem.

Notice that, because of the 3D area captured, it is not a laborious task to line up the instrument perpendicular to the step to get an accurate measurement. It’s much easier to find a perpendicular on the measurement plot, because of enlargement and the versatility of the profile line tool.

Reviewing the data (below), you can draw a profile across the transition area. Using area reference masking to average the height of the paint plateau, or more commonly the flatter unpainted lower area, the step becomes clearer and numerically quantifiable.