What is the Elcometer Triple-Angle Statistical Glossmeter and why choose it?
The Elcometer 480 Triple-Angle Statistical Glossmeter is a portable, high-precision instrument designed to measure gloss, percentage reflectance and haze on coated and uncoated surfaces. Using advanced LED optics and fast electronics, it can measure at 20°, 60° and 85° simultaneously at up to 10 readings per second. Its robust, ergonomic design, large color display and extensive on-board statistics make it ideal for laboratory and production quality control across paints, plastics, ceramics and metals.
Main features
- Triple-angle geometry: 20°, 60° and 85° in a single instrument, covering low, medium and high gloss ranges.
- High-speed measurements: technology with fast LED enables up to 10 readings per second and 3–10 readings per second in standard use.
- Accurate, repeatable and reproducible: advanced electronics and optics ensure tight repeatability and reproducibility across the full range.
- Multiple measurement units: gloss units (GU), haze units (HU) and percentage reflectance (%).
- Extensive memory: stores up to 40,000 readings in as many as 2,500 user-defined alphanumeric batches, each with date and time stamp.
- Smart display options: view gloss, % reflectance or haze, statistics, trend graphs, analog scan bar, and differential readings with pass/fail indication.
- Standard limits and pass/fail: up to 40 user-programmable standard limits for master standards with automatic pass/fail evaluation.
- Three measurement modes: Standard, Auto Repeat (10–180 readings per minute) and Scan (10 readings per second).
- Robust and ergonomic: impact, water and dust resistant body with scratch and solvent resistant 2.4" TFT color screen.
- Flexible connectivity: USB and Bluetooth data transfer to PC and compatible iOS or Android mobile devices.
- Automatic calibration with RFID: self-calibration tile recognition by RFID on advanced models, plus automatic gauge and tile diagnostics.
- Multi-language user interface: intuitive menu structure available in more than 30 languages.
Technical specifications
Measurement geometry and ranges
- Measurement geometries: 20°, 60°, 85° (triple-angle model).
- Measurement area:
- 20°: 10 × 10 mm
- 60°: 8 × 16 mm
- 85°: 4 × 55 mm
- Measurement range:
- 20°: 0 – 2,000 GU
- 60°: 0 – 1,000 GU
- 85°: 0 – 160 GU
Accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility
- Repeatability:
- 0 – 10 GU: ±0.1 GU
- 10 – 100 GU: ±0.2 GU
- 100 – 2,000 GU: ±0.2 %
- Reproducibility:
- 0 – 10 GU: ±0.2 GU
- 10 – 100 GU: ±0.5 GU
- 100 – 2,000 GU: ±0.5 %
Resolution
- Gloss (GU): 0.1 GU (0 – 100 GU); 1 GU (>100 GU).
- % reflectance: 0.01 % (0 – 10 %); 0.1 % (10 – 100 %).
- Haze (HU): 0.1 HU (0 – 100 HU); 1 HU (>100 HU).
Display and user interface
- Display: 2.4" (6 cm) QVGA TFT color screen, 320 × 240 pixels.
- Screen properties: scratch and solvent resistant.
- Screen rotation: automatic, 0° and 180°.
- Ambient light sensor: automatic brightness adjustment.
- On-screen statistics (user-selectable): number of readings, mean, standard deviation, highest reading, lowest reading, range, coefficient of variation, nominal value, maximum and minimum limit values, number of readings above maximum limit and below minimum limit.
Measurement modes and data handling
- Modes:
- Standard mode: single spot readings.
- Auto Repeat mode: programmable 10–180 readings per minute while sliding over the surface.
- Scan mode: continuous 10 readings per second; stores mean, maximum and minimum values at the end of the scan.
- Differential mode with pass/fail indication.
- Standard limits:
- Up to 40 programmable limit standards.
- Gauge- and batch-specific limits.
- Memory: up to 40,000 readings in a maximum of 2,500 batches.
- Batch management: alphanumeric batch naming, fixed batch size mode, date and time stamp for each reading.
- Last reading management: option to delete the last reading.
Connectivity and software
- Data output:
- Dynamic readings via USB.
- Batch download via USB (Model T).
- Bluetooth connection to PC or iOS/Android mobile devices (Model T).
- Power: USB (via PC) or 2 × AA batteries (approximately 50,000 readings).
- Compatible software: ElcoMaster data management and reporting software (Model T), including standard limit library and combined inspection reporting.
Environmental conditions, dimensions and weight
- Operating temperature: -10 °C to 50 °C (14 to 122 °F).
- Relative humidity: 0 to 85 % RH.
- Dimensions (H × W × D): 68 × 155 × 50 mm (2.68 × 6.10 × 1.97").
- Weight: 534 g (1 lb 3 oz), including batteries.
- Construction: robust, impact resistant, water and dust resistant housing.
Standards compliance
The Elcometer 480 range is designed in accordance with the following standards:
- AS/NZS 1580.602.2
- ASTM C584, ASTM D523, ASTM D1455, ASTM D2457, ASTM D4039, ASTM E430, ASTM E2387
- BS 3900 D5
- DIN 67530
- ECCA T2
- EN 12373-11, EN 13523-2
- ISO 7668, ISO 2813
- JIS K 5600-4-7, JIS Z 8741
- TAPPI T 653 (20°)
Scope of supply
The Triple-Angle Statistical Glossmeter package includes:
- Elcometer 480 glossmeter.
- Integrated calibration tile.
- Calibration certificate.
- 2 × AA batteries.
- Wrist strap.
- Operating instructions.
- Plastic carrying case.
- ElcoMaster software (Model T only).
- USB cable (Model T only).
Available accessories
- Low gloss calibration tile, nominal value 22 GU at 60°.
- Medium gloss calibration tile, nominal value 55 GU at 60°.
- High gloss calibration tile, nominal value 97 GU at 60° (supplied with the gauge on selected models).
- Mirror gloss calibration tile, nominal value 1900 GU at 20°.
- Soft material sample holder with three sample trays (for soft, powder or viscous materials).
- Replacement sample trays for soft material holder (set of 3).
- Cleaning cloth for gloss tile.
- USB cable.
Applications and use cases
The Elcometer Triple-Angle Statistical Glossmeter is suitable for quality control and inspection where visual appearance and surface finish must be quantified. Typical use cases include:
- Paint and coatings: evaluation of gloss level on high-gloss, semi-gloss and matt coatings on cars, machinery, architectural components and consumer goods.
- Plastics: assessment of surface reflectance and uniformity on plastic parts and molded components.
- Ceramics: gloss measurement on tiles and ceramic finishes.
- Metals and anodized surfaces: reflectance control on anodized metals, where measurements at 20°, 60° and 85° provide a complete picture of specular reflectance between coating and metallic substrate.
- Production line control: use of standard limits and pass/fail mode for rapid comparison to customer-approved master standards.
- Quality documentation: storage of batches and transfer of data to ElcoMaster for combined inspection reports including other parameters such as coating thickness, adhesion or oven temperature profile.
FAQ
1. What angles does the Triple-Angle Statistical Glossmeter measure?
It measures gloss at 20°, 60° and 85° simultaneously, covering high, medium and low/matt gloss ranges.
2. What measurement units are available?
The instrument displays gloss units (GU), haze units (HU) on dual and triple models, and percentage reflectance (%).
3. How many readings can be stored?
Up to 40,000 readings can be stored in a maximum of 2,500 user-defined alphanumeric batches, each with date and time stamp.
4. How fast can it take measurements?
The fast LED technology allows up to 10 readings per second. In Auto Repeat mode, between 10 and 180 readings per minute can be programmed.
5. Does the glossmeter provide pass/fail information?
Yes. Up to 40 standard limits can be stored. In differential mode the gauge shows the measured value, the difference from the nominal target and a pass/fail indication, with out-of-limit readings highlighted in red.
6. What connectivity options are available?
The instrument can output dynamic readings via USB and, on Model T, can download batches via USB and transmit data by Bluetooth to PCs and compatible iOS or Android mobile devices.
7. How is the instrument powered?
It is powered either through USB (via PC) or by two AA batteries, providing approximately 50,000 readings.
8. Is the instrument suitable for use in harsh environments?
Yes. It has a robust, impact resistant housing that is water and dust resistant, and a scratch and solvent resistant color display.
9. What statistics can be viewed on the gauge?
On-screen statistics include number of readings, mean, standard deviation, highest and lowest readings, range, coefficient of variation, nominal value, maximum and minimum limits, and counts above or below the limits.
10. What is included in the delivery?
The standard kit includes the glossmeter, integrated calibration tile, calibration certificate, AA batteries, wrist strap, operating instructions, plastic carrying case, and on Model T, ElcoMaster software and a USB cable.
*Contenido generado por IA
