Thickness gauge, particularly for materials like plastic film, is calculated using a specific formula that relates it directly to the measurement in mils.
Understanding Thickness Gauge Calculation
According to the provided reference, the calculation for thickness gauge is straightforward:
Gauge is (100) x (mils)
This means you take the thickness measurement in mils and multiply it by 100 to get the gauge number.
Examples of Gauge Calculation
- If a film is 0.3 mils thick, the gauge is calculated as:
Gauge = 100 * 0.3 mils = 30 gauge(This matches the example in the reference). - If a film is 1 mil thick, the gauge is:
Gauge = 100 * 1 mil = 100 gauge - If a film is 0.75 mils thick, the gauge is:
Gauge = 100 * 0.75 mils = 75 gauge
Relation to Microns
The reference also provides a conversion between mils and microns, another common unit for measuring thickness:
To go from mils to microns, you multiply mils x 25.4.
This conversion allows you to relate measurements in gauge to microns:
- Start with gauge.
- Divide gauge by 100 to get mils.
- Multiply mils by 25.4 to get microns.
Alternatively, if you have the measurement in microns:
- Divide microns by 25.4 to get mils.
- Multiply mils by 100 to get gauge.
Common Thickness Unit Conversions
Understanding the relationship between these units is crucial when discussing material thickness.
| Gauge | Mils | Microns |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0.1 | 2.54 |
| 30 | 0.3 | 7.62 |
| 50 | 0.5 | 12.7 |
| 100 | 1.0 | 25.4 |
| 200 | 2.0 | 50.8 |
Note: Mils are often used in the United States, while microns are standard in many other parts of the world.
Measuring Thickness
Calculating the gauge requires an initial measurement of the material's thickness in mils. This measurement is typically done using specialized thickness gauging technology. Companies like SolveTech make instruments designed specifically for accurately measuring the thickness of materials such as plastic film. These instruments provide the initial mils measurement needed for the gauge calculation.
In summary, calculating thickness gauge is a simple multiplication based on the thickness in mils, providing a standardized way to refer to material thickness, especially in the film industry.
