Thickness Measurement System: Methods and Applications

Thickness is commonly measured using contact gauges (mechanical calipers, micrometers), ultrasonic sensors, laser triangulation sensors, or advanced millimeter wave systems. Hammer-IMS uses proprietary M-Ray millimeter wave technology, which is a fully contactless, non-nuclear method capable of measuring thicknesses ranging from thin films to sheets up to 30 centimeters, without any physical contact with the material.

In industrial contexts, '1 mil' refers to one-thousandth of an inch (0.001 inch or approximately 0.0254 millimeters). It is commonly used when describing the thickness of thin plastic films, coatings, foils, and membranes. For example, a typical plastic shopping bag is around 0.5 to 1 mil thick. Hammer-IMS measurement systems can accurately resolve such fine thickness variations in continuous production environments.

Contactless thickness measurement uses electromagnetic waves—such as millimeter waves, ultrasonic waves, or laser light—to determine material thickness without physically touching the product. Hammer-IMS M-Ray technology emits millimeter wave signals through the material, analyzes the reflected or transmitted signal characteristics, and calculates precise thickness values in real time, even at speeds up to 500 meters per minute.

Hammer-IMS systems measure a wide range of industrial materials including plastic sheets and films (PE, PP, PMMA, PC), nonwovens and textiles, paper and pulp products, construction materials (MDF, OSB, plywood, mineral wool, gypsum board), and foam materials. The M-Ray technology works across all colors and many fill materials, making it highly versatile for multi-product production lines.

Non-nuclear M-Ray technology eliminates radiation safety risks, removes the need for regulatory licensing and controlled zones, and allows 24/7 personnel operation without health concerns. It also avoids radioactive waste disposal costs and reduces environmental impact. Hammer-IMS systems provide equivalent or superior measurement accuracy compared to nuclear gauges, while being safer, greener, and easier to operate and maintain.

Yes. Hammer-IMS offers both turnkey new installations (Marveloc-CURTAIN) and upgrades to existing production lines. The M-Ray OEM Module is specifically designed for integration into third-party machine builders' systems. Fixed and mobile sensor configurations provide flexibility to accommodate different line widths, material types, and production speeds without major line modifications.

Basis weight (or grammage) is the mass of material per unit area, typically expressed in g/m². It is closely related to thickness: for a known material density, thickness and basis weight can be mathematically linked. Hammer-IMS systems combine both measurements, giving manufacturers a more complete picture of material uniformity and enabling tighter control over raw material consumption and product specifications.

Yes. Hammer-IMS provides an Industry 4.0 IoT app for Android that allows remote monitoring of all Hammer-IMS measurement machines. Users can track real-time production data, analyze thickness trends, identify anomalies, and access smart factory data from anywhere. The platform supports data logging, analytics, and closed-loop production feedback to continuously optimize production quality and minimize waste.