Patent ID: 6793865
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: B26D,G01B,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for measuring and recording the thickness of an automotive trim panel material comprising the steps of:providing an automotive trim panel polymeric material having a known shape, an outer surface and an inner surface defining a thickness of between 0.001-0.500 inches, and a region in which the thickness of said trim panel material maybe measured; providing a holding form having essentially the same shape as at least a portion of said trim panel material of known shape wherein the portion of the holding form which corresponds to the region of the trim panel material to be measured is metallic; contacting the outer surface of said automotive trim panel material with said holding form such that said region to be measured is in contact with said metal; contacting the inner surface of the material at a first position in the region to be measured with a shielded inductive sensor; and generating a first output signal; converting the first output signal of the sensor into a value that represents the thickness of the material at said first position; contacting the inner surface of the material at a second position with said inductive sensor; and generating a second signal; converting the second output signal of the sensor into a value of electrical current or voltage that represents the thickness of the material at said second position, and generating a cross-sectional thickness profile of said material as between said first and second positions.