BYK-Gardner expands its range of quality control tools presenting spectro2profiler, a brand-new instrument to measure colour and gloss and analyse the 3D topography of the surface texture.
The colour, gloss and structure of the surface influence our visual quality perception and together they provide an overall judgment in terms of visual rating. Until now, the grain or surface structure could only be judged visually or with highly sophisticated microscopes, but with spectro2profiler everything changes.
The innovative instrument presented by BYK-Gardner, worldwide partner of the automotive, paint and plastic industries for quality control of colour, is able to measure all 3 parameters simultaneously in a robust and portable tool.
spectro2profiler - supports you through ups and downs to achieve colour and grain harmony
The new BYK instrument uses a circumferential illumination at 45° with 0° viewing. The company's proven and innovative LED technology guarantees exceptional performance. Short-term, long-term and temperature stability are unequalled in the industry. Highly repeatable and representative readings are guaranteed by the extra-large measurement spot with homogenous illumination. All together highest accuracy and inter-instrument agreement are ensured and allow the use of digital standards - the key for global colour management.
"The real innovation is represented by the 3D-structure analysis. spectro2profiler examines multiple images under different illumination directions to estimate the curvature of the surface. In this way, it is possible to have objective measurements for the cell size (mm²) and perceived cell amplitude (P-μm). Different types of grains can be easily differentiated, making it ideal for the design and approval of new suppliers", explains Dr. Christopher Groh, R&D Project Manager at BYK-Gardner.
Additionally, the new spectro2profiler provides a 2D camera-based reflectivity measurement for structured surfaces. The perceived depth of a leather-like surface is dependent on the reflection behaviour on the hills and valleys. Therefore, a 2D reflectivity measurement is aligned with the 3D image data to separate the reflection of hills and valleys. The new measurement parameter, reflectivity contrast Rc, is an ideal measure for production QC of injection or slush moulded parts. To compare historical data, the instrument also measures traditional 60° gloss according to international standards.
By using specific algorithms, spectro2profiler can be used to objectively analyse structures of different applications: leather-like for injection or slush moulded parts, coarse paint for powder coatings and fine paint for plastic parts or fine textured paint.
Spectro2profiler has a large colour touchscreen with an icon-based menu which ensures intuitive operation. Thanks to an integrated camera, it is possible to have a live preview of the measurement spot. This avoids false readings on imperfections or scratches.
A smart-chart software analyses data relating to colour, gloss and 3D topography. In addition, this tool boasts a powerful management that allows you to determine Pass/Fail tolerances for all these three parameters.