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INNOVATION: PRESENT&FUTURE
© Automation Dr. Nix
The new QNix 9500 thickness gauge developed by Automation Dr. Nix.
INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE
An Innovative, High-Tech, Easy-to-Use Portable Tool: The QNix 9500 Thickness Gauge
Adriano Antonelli
Tecno Supply - Ibix Srl, Santa Maria in Fabriago (Ravenna) – Italy adriano.antonelli@tecnosupply.com
In the field of surface treatments, coating quality control has become essential to guarantee complete customer satisfaction. The engineers at Automation Dr. Nix – a German manufacturer of portable instruments for nondestructive thickness measurement on metal substrates, distributed in Italy by Tecno Supply, a division of Ibix Srl – have developed a new, innovative thickness gauge that meets even the most complex requirements, called QNix 9500.
In many industries, such as contract liquid and powder painting, coatings are being required to meet increasingly high quality standards in terms of aesthetics, durability, and reliability while costs are simultaneously rising; quality assurance and order documentation are therefore indispensable for a coating process. In other sectors, including surface treatments, galvanising, and Eloxal, functional coatings give the processed surfaces precise anti-corrosion and wear-resistant properties for use in the automotive or mechanical industries, for example. Especially in the automotive sector, quality assurance is particularly crucial because the layers of paint applied are very thin and the tolerance range is relatively small. Thickness gauges are therefore indispensable for the evaluation of a vehicle; they are essential for carrying out an assessment after an accident or estimating the value of a vehicle, for taking out a lease, buying a used car, or checking and documenting bodywork and paintwork. QNix 9500, a thickness gauge that is robust, accurate, versatile,
and easy to understand, has been launched after a three-year design phase. The engineers aimed at developing a state-of-the-art instrument that would meet any measurement requirement. Produced by Automation Dr. Nix and distributed in Italy by Tecno Supply, a division of Ibix Srl, this thickness gauge stands out for its unrivalled robustness and ease of use combined with excellent quality, versatility, and precision. The advantages of QNix 9500 are particularly clear in the fields of heavy-duty corrosion protection, industrial coating, and surface treatments for both in-house and contracting operations. Critical issues related to compliance with norms and standards, verification of incoming and outgoing specifications, or internal controls related to processes and quality are overcome thanks to its software package, which allows creating the necessary documents quickly and easily with customised reports.
The main features of QNix 9500
The QNix 9500 thickness gauge guarantees high standards of accuracy and correctness and it features as follows: • high accuracy over the entire measurement range; • high repeatability of measurement results; • thermal compensation directly in the sensor; • precise measurements also on curved surfaces and small parts; simple adjustment on rough, smooth, and curved substrates; • sturdiness and durability for reliable and long-lasting use even in adverse conditions; • fibreglass-reinforced five-part body with IP65 dust and water resistance properties; • three-layer protection to absorb shock; • H6 chemical and scratch-resistant LCD screen; • operating temperature from -20 °C to +70 °C; • stainless steel probes with an anti-dust membrane (IP65).
A systematic procedure and, often, impeccable documentation are required for carrying out and monitoring coating operations in the heavy-duty corrosion protection sector. Hardly any other application field has as many provisions, standards, and directives: here, demands on people, machines, and tools are significantly high. For this reason, a great deal of importance was attached to making QNix 9500 particularly robust and ergonomic. Its five-part fibreglass-reinforced plastic body for reduced shock effects, its display, and its electronic components are designed for this purpose, as is the cable, conceived for use at an industry-standard distance and easily replaceable on site if required. Numerous pre-configured parameters simplify the setting of limit values and calibration in compliance with standards including, for
QNix 9500 can measure thicknesses on all ferrous and non-ferrous substrates. The analysis of user requirements enabled a thorough design development of the new measuring instrument.
© Automation Dr. Nix © Automation Dr. Nix
The complete kit of the new QNix 9500 thickness gauge. QNix 9500 comes complete with a cable and an interchangeable probe.
example, ISO 19840, SSPC PA2, and IMO SSPC. If the minimum limit value is not reached or the maximum limit value is exceeded, this is signalled by an acoustic alarm, an optical alarm (a sudden colour change on the display), and an RGB LED in the probe tip. This enables the operator to concentrate fully on the points to be measured. The high measurement speed (up to two measurements per second) guarantees fast operations on large components. The simple, user-friendly menu makes it easy to become familiar with the instrument.
Ergonomic design for fast measurement
With the aim of saving time and effort at work, even with continuous use, the QNix 9500 thickness gauge includes as follows: • direct feedback through the probe’s RGB LED and the display showing the limit values; • 2.4”, 600 lm, high light intensity IPS LCD colour screen with a reading angle of 70°; • excellent readability even under direct solar radiation. Automatic or manual brightness adjustment; • automatic or manual screen rotation by 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°; large, soft touch keys and low centre of gravity.
A flexible and interchangeable structure
With its interchangeable probes, QNix 9500 is one of the most innovative instruments on the market. Some of the features that make it so are as follows: • portable instrument for Fe, NFe, and Dual probes; • quick switch to cable probes; • an integrated probe and a cable probe with one instrument; • greater versatility thanks to the quick probe change operation; quick adaptability to different measuring tasks.
A user-friendly configuration
QNix 9500’s intuitive use saves time and costs thanks to the following features: • simple calibration; • portable instrument and software user-friendly interface: only 3 clicks are required to get a report; • one quick access button to customise with a chosen function; • pre-configured norms and standards.
The QNix 9500 probes
The new QNix® standard probes have been developed in a highly innovative way. Small and particularly robust, they are suitable for measurements on iron and steel (Fe), non-ferrous materials (NFe), or both (Dual). Some of their technical features are listed here below: • stainless steel probes with a protective membrane and IP65 dust and splash water resistance;
• durable measuring head in polished ruby; • chemical resistant material, cleanable with solvents (acetone, nitro thinner); • limit value indication LED on the probe tip; • PUR adapter cable for use in cable drag chains. A digital copy of the last calibration certificate is stored on each probe and can be integrated into a report via PC software. All standard interchangeable probes of QNix 9500 can also be used with the new QNix 5500 tool for maximum customer flexibility.
The QNix 9500 software programme
During the design process, particular attention was paid to the graphical user interface, which is user-friendly, easy to understand, and quick to use. In the preliminary phase, numerous interviews were carried out with users from a wide range of industries in order to define the main practical requirements for the PC software package. This resulted in the creation of intuitive software that is easy to
© Automation Dr. Nix
The new QNix® probes are small and particularly robust.
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© Automation Dr. Nix navigate, saves time, and optimises work. The QNix 9500 software programme is completely browser-based and requires no installation, making it independent of the Windows version being used. The operating logics of the new PC software package has also been applied to the user interface of the QNix 9500 portable instrument. All configurations made on the tool can also be set up via PC software. Thanks to the powerful statistical functions integrated, measurements can be checked and documented in just 3 clicks. Pre-configured and freely placeable text modules for tables and charts allow creating professional report templates with dragand-drop functionality. Logos, photos of the measured object, the last calibration certificate, the measured values history, statistical data, jobs, and areas can easily be included in the report. All these features make QNix 9500 an innovative, high-tech, convenient, and easy-to-use tool for all professionals in the coatings industry.
