How to Choose a Coating Thickness Gauge for Fe and NFe Metals Malaysia
How to Choose a Coating Thickness Gauge for Fe and NFe Metals Malaysia
Content
Choosing a coating thickness gauge is not only about measuring range. One of the first things to understand is the type of metal underneath the coating.
For many applications in Malaysia, users need to measure coatings on both ferrous (Fe) and non-ferrous (NFe) metals.
A dual-substrate instrument such as the UNI-T UT343A Coating Thickness Gauge can be a practical choice because it supports both Fe and NFe measurement with a range of up to 1750 μm.
What Does Fe Mean on a Coating Thickness Gauge?
Fe refers to ferrous metal substrates, normally materials containing iron.
Common examples include:
Mild steel
Carbon steel
Iron
Steel structures
Steel automotive body panels
Fabricated steel components
A typical application is measuring paint or another non-magnetic coating over steel.
For example, a maintenance technician may use a coating thickness gauge to check whether painted steel equipment has a reasonably consistent coating thickness across different measurement points.
What Does NFe Mean?
NFe refers to non-ferrous metal substrates.
Common examples include:
Aluminium
Copper
Brass
Certain non-ferrous alloys
This becomes important because not every coating thickness gauge is designed to work with both substrate categories.
If your work involves a mixture of steel and aluminium components, choosing an Fe/NFe model can reduce the need for separate instruments.
Why Is Automatic Substrate Detection Useful?
During inspection, operators may move between different metal components.
The UNI-T UT343A can automatically identify Fe or NFe substrates, helping simplify routine measurements.
This is particularly useful for:
Automotive inspection
Different panels or components may use different materials.
Metal fabrication
A workshop may handle steel and aluminium products.
QA/QC inspection
Inspectors may need to check several types of finished components.
Maintenance work
Different machines, enclosures and structures can use different base metals.
How Much Measuring Range Do You Need?
Another important consideration is the expected coating thickness.
The UNI-T UT343A has a measuring range of 0–1750 μm.
A wider range provides more flexibility when the instrument will be used for different applications instead of only very thin paint layers.
Before purchasing, consider:
What coating are you measuring?
Paint, powder coating and other surface treatments can have different thickness requirements.
What is the substrate?
Determine whether it is steel, aluminium or another metal.
What thickness do you expect?
Check that the expected coating thickness falls comfortably within the instrument's measuring range.
Do You Need Single or Continuous Measurement?
For occasional spot checks, single measurement may be sufficient.
For checking multiple points across a larger component, continuous measurement can make inspection more convenient.
UT343A supports both modes.
For example, when checking a coated steel plate, measurements can be taken at the:
Top
Centre
Bottom
Left side
Right side
The readings can then be compared to identify possible coating variation.
Why MAX, MIN and AVG Are Useful
Looking at only one measurement can be misleading.
Suppose five readings are:
118 μm | 121 μm | 116 μm | 120 μm | 119 μm
The readings are relatively close together.
Now compare:
118 μm | 121 μm | 116 μm | 198 μm | 119 μm
The unusually high reading deserves further investigation.
Functions such as maximum, minimum and average help users understand a group of measurements rather than relying on a single point.
Should You Choose Fe-Only or Fe/NFe?
If you know that every component you inspect will always be steel, an Fe-only instrument may be sufficient.
However, if your applications include different metals, a dual Fe/NFe coating thickness gauge provides greater flexibility.
The UNI-T UT343A is particularly relevant for:
Automotive workshops
Used-car inspection
Metal fabrication
Painting contractors
Powder coating inspection
Manufacturing QA/QC
Maintenance departments
UNI-T UT343A Coating Thickness Gauge Malaysia
For users who require one portable instrument for both ferrous and non-ferrous metal applications, the UNI-T UT343A provides:
0–1750 μm measuring range
Fe/NFe substrate detection
Single and continuous measurement
MAX/MIN/AVG functions
199 data storage
μm and mil measurement units
Upper and lower limit alarm
It is a practical option for general paint and coating thickness inspection in Malaysia.
Need Help Choosing a Coating Thickness Gauge?
Not sure whether you need Fe, NFe or Fe/NFe measurement?
Send us the type of material and coating you need to inspect. MTM Precision can help you determine whether the UNI-T UT343A suits your application.
MTM Precision Sdn Bhd
Showroom & Service Centre: Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: 03-8080 7172
WhatsApp: +6016-660 7346
Email: mtmpre@yahoo.com
Website: www.mtmpre.com.my
22 Sep 2026
