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  • Automotive Exterior
  • Automotive Interior
  • Furniture
  • Metal Finishing
  • Plastics
  • Polished Stone
  • Yacht Manufacturer

Rhopoint IQ Flex 20-S

  • Designed for the measurement of small and curved surfaces
  • DOI / RIQ Meter, (quantify orange peel)
  • Hazemeter (reflectance haze)
  • Custom adaptors for the measurement of non-flat surfaces

£4,730

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The Rhopoint IQ Flex 20 quantifies surface quality problems such as orange peel and haze that are invisible to a standard glossmeter. It profiles how light is reflected from a surface.

Previously only available for measuring flat surfaces, this technology is now available in a new format specifically designed for curved surfaces, as well as small and delicate parts. Flex 20 gloss measurements are fully compatible with existing Rhopoint IQ results.

The Rhopoint IQ Flex 20 can measure:

  • 20° Gloss
  • Reflectance haze
  • Reflected Image Quality (RIQ)
  • Distinctness of Image (DOI)
  • Goniophotometric curves
  • RSPEC (peak specular reflectance)
IQ flex 20 application
IQ flex 20 application

What does the IQ Flex 20 measure?

The Rhopoint IQ Flex 20 quantifies surface quality problems such as orange peel and haze that are invisible to a standard glossmeter. It profiles how light is reflected from a surface.

Combined gloss, haze and orange peel (DOI/RIQ values) information has made the IQ essential for controlling appearance finish. The Rhopoint IQ Flex 20 brings this technology to a new format specifically designed for curved surfaces, as well as small and delicate parts.

IQ Flex 20 application

Measurement of curved surfaces

Conventional gloss instruments are suited to large flat test areas, as curved surfaces will cause errors. The small footprint of the IQ Flex 20 makes it much more effective on curved surfaces than a conventional glossmeter; its compact size and shape also allows access to difficult to reach areas.

IQ Flex 20 application

Measurement of small surfaces

The Rhopoint IQ Flex 20 can be customised with magnetically attached adaptor plates. These can be easily interchanged for different applications. The measurement spot size of these adaptor plates can be reduced to as low as 2mm.

Measure Complex - 3D printed

3D printed adaptors

Bespoke 3D printed adaptor jigs for repeatable control of curved surfaces (requires a .dxf drawing of the part to be measured).

Interchangeable adaptors

Interchangeable adaptors

Easy customisation for every application with bespoke measuring adaptors.

The Rhopoint IQ Flex 20 can be customised with magnetically attached adaptor plates to allow for the measurement of irregular surfaces. These can be easily interchanged for different applications.

Small surfaces adaptor
Small surfaces
Reduced spot size adaptor
Reduced spot size
3D printed adaptor
3D printed adaptor
Convex surface adaptor
Convex surface
Complex curve adaptor 3d printed
Complex curve
Concave surface adaptor
Concave surface

Why measure gloss?

The gloss level of an object is one of the visual attributes used by a consumer to determine whether or not that object is fit for purpose.

Gloss has been defined as ‘The attribute of surfaces that causes them to have shiny or lustrous, metallic appearance.’

Manufacturers design their products to have maximum appeal: from highly reflective car body panels to glossy household appliances or matt finish automotive interior trim.

This is especially noticeable where parts may be produced by different manufacturers or factories but will be placed adjacent to one another to create the finished product.

Gloss can also be a measure of the quality of the surface, for instance a drop in the gloss of a coated surface may indicate problems with its cure, leading to other failures such as poor adhesion or lack of protection for the coated surface.

The gloss of a surface can be greatly influenced by a number of factors, for example the smoothness achieved during polishing, the amount and type of coating applied or the quality of the substrate.

It is for these reasons that many manufacturing industries monitor the gloss of their products, from cars, printing and furniture to food, pharmaceuticals and consumer electronics.

It is important therefore that gloss levels are achieved consistently on every product or across different batches of products.

How is gloss measured?

Gloss is measured by shining a known amount of light at a surface and quantifying the reflectance.

Which angle should I use for my application?

ISO 2813 and ASTM D523 (the most commonly used standards) describe three measurement angles to measure gloss across all surfaces.

Gloss is measured in gloss units (GU) and is traceable to reference standards held at NIST (USA).

Universal Measurement Angle: 60°

All gloss levels can be measured using the standard measurement angle of 60°. This is used as the reference angle with the complimentary angles of 85° and 20° often used for low and high gloss levels respectively.

Low Gloss: 85°

For improved resolution of low gloss a grazing angle of 85° is used to measure the surface. This angle is recommended for surfaces which measure less than 10GU when measured at 60°.

This angle also has a larger measurement spot which will average out differences in the gloss of textured or slightly uneven surfaces.

High Gloss: 20°

The acute measurement angle of 20° gives improved resolution for high gloss surfaces. Surfaces that measure 70GU and above at the standard angle of 60° are often measured with this geometry.

The 20° angle is more sensitive to haze effects that affect the appearance of a surface.

Speciality measuring angle: 45°

This measuring angle is in accordance with the ISO 2457 standard for the gloss measurement of plastic films and solid plastic parts as well as according to the standard ASTM C346 for the gloss measurement of ceramics

Universal Measurement Angle: 60°

All gloss levels can be measured using the standard measurement angle of 60°. This is used as the reference angle with the complimentary angles of 85° and 20° often used for low and high gloss levels respectively.

Low Gloss: 85°

For improved resolution of low gloss a grazing angle of 85° is used to measure the surface. This angle is recommended for surfaces which measure less than 10GU when measured at 60°.

This angle also has a larger measurement spot which will average out differences in the gloss of textured or slightly uneven surfaces.