Gauge Advisor Tool
Instantly convert common gauging units for film and rigid sheet extrusion. Essential for quality control and material specifications.
(1 mil = 0.001 inch)
(1 µm = 0.001 mm)
(1 Gauge = 0.01 mil)
(Metric Base Unit)
(Imperial Base Unit)
How to Use:
Enter a value into any of the five units. The other four fields will automatically update in real-time, providing the precision needed for your extrusion quality standards.
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This tool is for informational and theoretical purposes only. Consult your material safety data sheets (MSDS) and quality control department for official production specifications.
In the film and rigid sheet extrusion industries, thickness is the most critical metric for quality control and material cost management. However, the mix of metric and imperial units across global supply chains often introduces unnecessary risk and confusion. While your machinery on the shop floor might display Microns (μm) or Millimeters (mm), incoming material specifications, customer orders, or older documentation might rely solely on Mils (thou) or Inches (in).
This calculator acts as a necessary bridge. Failing to accurately convert between 1 mil (0.001 inch) and 25.4 microns can lead to scrap, customer rejections, and incorrect settings on your in-line gauging systems. Rely on this tool for instant, high-precision conversions, allowing your team to focus on minimizing gauge variation and maximizing material yield.
Linking Film Thickness to Basis Weight
While thickness (or gauge) is a linear measurement, most material costs are calculated based on Basis Weight (mass per area, typically in mass/area units or GSM). To convert thickness to basis weight, you must know the specific density of the polymer you are running. Small deviations in thickness lead to large shifts in basis weight, which can cost thousands of dollars over a production run. By instantly knowing your exact thickness in the required units, you are better equipped to calculate and control your material consumption.
The Shift to Automated Gauging
Manual measurements with hand-held micrometers are inherently slow and prone to human error, providing only small snapshots of the product. The demand for tighter tolerances and immediate process feedback has driven the industry toward automated, non-contact solutions.
Our partner Scantech specializes in high-speed, in-line measurement systems that continuously measure the thickness profile of the entire sheet or film web, allowing for immediate process adjustments. If you are tired of manual conversions and chasing quality control issues, it is time to move from periodic measurement to real-time process control.
Ready to eliminate gauge variation and ensure 100% material quality?
If you are tired of manual conversions and chasing gauge variation, it’s time to upgrade to real-time, in-line measurement. We help you implement systems that guarantee material yield and scrap reduction.
