For users like automobile manufacturer Audi, it is vital that visual deviations caused by tool wear in plastic injection molded parts are detected before they affect the production quality.

Audi sets very high standards for the instruments used to produce measurements. In this specific case, it needs to be a hand-held measuring device equipped with analysis software for evaluating the measurement results for weathering tests and objective measurement data. The device must be highly reliable both in laboratory conditions and in field operations.

To measure weathering, an environment is simulated and raw materials, components or products are checked using targeted weather exposure. It is used for quality assurance in terms of weather resistance and durability. The aim is to determine the most accurate life span of products exposed to weather influences. Weathering produces a series of damage symptoms, such as bleaching or chalking, that can be measured and analyzed, depending on the influencing factors and structure of the weathered system. Chalking becomes visible as color lightening caused by increased scattering of the pigment and filler particles. Bleaching also becomes apparent as color lightening.

At Audi, the automobiles are tested with the spectrophotometer before and after weathering. The 45G CT must evaluate and display the differences before and after weathering in comparison with the visual impression. The 45G CT provides objective data for evaluation, graphical representations and lists (e.g. change after 5 hours, 10 hours) and trend graphs.

The portable 45G CT spectrophotometer promises excellent accuracy and inter-instrument agreement and can simultaneously measure gloss level and color for quality control. Innovative 45/0 measuring geometry ensures compatibility with visual color perception while its modern, ergonomic design with its color display clearly shows multiple pass/fail tolerances.

For paints and coatings, such as coil coating, 45/0 measuring geometry is a standard applied globally.

The main advantages of the Datacolor 45G CT versus Audi’s previously used device, is the 45G CT’s sleek design, which enables measurements be taken in hard-to-reach places in vehicles and on individual components, as well as it utilizes the Datacolor TOOLS software and database.

Managing the measured data in the Datacolor Tools software helps to structure the wide range of measured data. The onboard software can save standards and samples, and provides a comprehensive display of all important colorimetric data with clear indications of pass/fail decisions. The portable spectrophotometer offers seamless integration in the Datacolor Tools software that comes as standard, synchronization of standard and sample results for generating quality reports as well as a simple management of comprehensive data. The spectrophotometer sets the standard for portable spectrophotometers in terms of accuracy, speed, user friendliness and value for money.

For more information about the Datacolor 45G CT visit our www.datacolor.com.