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Press-O-Film HT
 

"How To" Video:

Using Testex Tape
with a Spring
Press-O-Film HT Instructions
Micrometer
Quick Start Instructions (Inch Units)
Linearization and the
PosiTector RTR Quick Start Instructions (Metric Units)
Replica Tape Reader
NEW Instructions for Linearizing Gage
Optical Grade Tape
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DETAILED STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING PRESS-O-FILM WITH A "TESTEX DIAL

THICKNESS MICROMETER GAGE":

Note: The graphic on each piece of tape will help you remember the new (Step 9) averaging
procedure.

Step 1: Locate a representative site for measurement.

Step 2: Select an appropriate grade of Press-O-Film replica tape based on your target profile:

      For 0.8 to 2.5 mils (20 to 64 um)        => “Coarse” grade

      For 1.5 to 4.5 mils (38 to 115 um)      => “X-Coarse” grade

The primary range for measurement with replica tape is 0.8 to 4.5 mils (20 to 115 um).

Use of Coarse Minus grade (<0.8 mil or <20 um) or X-Coarse Plus grade tape (>4.5 mil or >115
um) should be restricted to checking measurements at the lower or upper ends of the primary
range. Further information (pdf format) on X-Coarse Plus grade tape is available here.

Step 3: Prepare the snap gage: clean anvils, adjust zero point to read minus 2.0 mils, the thickness
of the incompressible substrate. On a conventional Testex thickness gage a setting of minus 2.0
mils is equivalent to a setting of (plus) 8.0 mils. (Pre-setting the gage in this way subtracts the
thickness of the incompressible plastic substrate automatically from all readings.)

Step 4: Pull a single piece of adhesive-backed tape free of its release paper. The Press-O-Film
replica material is the 0.4 inch (1.0 cm) square white plastic film at the center of the adhesive-
backed paper. A “bulls eye” circle of paper should remain behind on the release paper (i.e., it is not
used in the measurement.)

Step 5: A pre-check of film thickness is good practice. Uncompressed X-Coarse grade has a foam
thickness of 5.5 mils ( 140 μm ) ± 0.5 mils ( 12 μm ).

Step 6: Apply film to blasted surface. Press adhesive-backed paper to hold it firmly in place.

Step 7: Firmly compress replica film with the smoothest surface on the round-end rubbing tool
provided, applying sufficient pressure to produce a replica with a uniform pebblegrain appearance.
(In a pinch, the rounded edge of the tape dispenser is also an acceptable tool.) Use either a circular,
or x-y rubbing motion. Fully compress all parts of the film but be careful not to slide the film with
respect to the blasted surface by bumping edges of the circular paper cutout. In general, too much
compression is safer than too little.

Step 8: Remove replica and place between anvils of micrometer gage, making sure replica is
centered between anvils. Gage reading is a measure of average maximum peak-to-valley height of
the blasted surface (when snap gage is adjusted as in step 3). If differing numerical values are
obtained for the same site, the lowest value will tend to occur where the replica foam has been most
completely compressed and therefore be the most reliable. Double check using a comparator.

Step 9: If a measurement with either Coarse or X-Coarse grade is in the 1.5 to 2.5 mil (38 to 64
μm) window (inclusive), take a 2nd reading with the OTHER grade. If both readings are in the 1.5
to 2.5 mil (38 to 64 μm) range, record the average as the observed profile.

0.8 and 1.4 mils (20
   Readings made with either grade that are outside this range - i.e., between
to 37 μm) or between 2.6 and 4.5 mils (65 and 115 μm)  - should be used as is, i.e. without
averaging. Note: The graphic on each piece of tape will help you remember this new averaging
 procedure.
      Note 1: Rolls of old formulation (non-HT) Press-O-Film can be safely used with these new
instructions.
      Note 2: If user circumstances warrant, the new (HT) tape can continue to be used with the old
(non-averaging) instructions.
      Note 3: “Average” = add the Coarse reading to the X-Coarse reading and divide by 2.
      Note 4: Measurements made using the new POF-HT averaging procedure should be marked
“HT”. If measurements are made without averaging, they should be marked “non-HT”.

Tape Range Illustration