UNI-T UT343E FE and NFE Coating Thickness Measurement Guide Malaysia
UNI-T UT343E FE and NFE Coating Thickness Measurement Guide Malaysia
Content
Published: 1 October 2026
The UNI-T UT343E Coating Thickness Gauge supports both FE ferrous and NFE non-ferrous metal substrates.
Understanding these two modes is important because the gauge does not measure the coating alone. It determines coating thickness according to the physical relationship between the coating and the base metal beneath it.
What Does FE Mean?
FE refers to ferrous or magnetic metal substrates.
Typical FE base materials include:
- Mild steel
- Carbon steel
- Iron
- Magnetic steel alloys
- Steel automotive panels
- Structural steel
- Steel machinery components
The gauge can measure suitable non-magnetic coatings over these magnetic substrates.
Examples include:
- Paint on steel
- Powder coating on steel
- Plastic coating on steel
- Zinc coating on compatible steel
- Protective coating on structural steel
What Does NFE Mean?
NFE refers to non-ferrous or non-magnetic metal substrates.
Typical NFE base materials include:
- Aluminium
- Copper
- Brass
- Zinc
- Tin
- Other compatible non-magnetic metals
The gauge can measure suitable non-conductive coatings over these substrates.
Examples include:
- Paint on aluminium
- Powder coating on aluminium
- Protective film on a compatible non-ferrous metal
- Insulating coating over a conductive non-magnetic substrate
The exact coating-and-substrate combination should be confirmed before purchase.
FE vs NFE Applications
| Application | Likely Mode |
|---|---|
| Paint on mild steel | FE |
| Powder coating on steel cabinet | FE |
| Protective coating on steel beam | FE |
| Automotive paint on steel panel | FE |
| Paint on aluminium panel | NFE |
| Powder coating on aluminium frame | NFE |
| Coating on copper component | NFE |
| Paint on plastic bumper | Not suitable |
| Coating on wood or glass | Not suitable |
The substrate material, not the visible coating colour, determines the measurement mode.
Automatic Substrate Identification
The UT343E can identify ferrous and non-ferrous substrates automatically.
Automatic mode is useful when:
- Inspecting different types of metal
- Checking vehicles with mixed steel and aluminium panels
- The substrate is not immediately obvious
- Moving between different production components
- Performing general inspection work
The displayed substrate indication should still be checked before the reading is accepted.
When to Use Manual Selection
Manual mode can be useful when every item in the inspection batch uses the same known substrate.
Examples include:
- Powder-coated steel cabinets
- Painted steel brackets
- Aluminium window profiles
- Steel automotive components
- Aluminium housings
Manual selection reduces unexpected mode changes and helps maintain a consistent inspection procedure.
If the gauge does not behave as expected, confirm the substrate using a magnet or verified product specification.
Do Not Identify the Substrate by Appearance Alone
A painted steel panel and a painted aluminium panel may look identical.
The base metal should be confirmed using:
- Product drawings
- Material specifications
- Supplier documentation
- A simple magnet check where appropriate
- Known manufacturing information
- An uncoated reference area when available
Do not scratch or remove the coating merely to identify the substrate unless an approved destructive inspection procedure allows it.
Automotive Steel and Aluminium Panels
Modern vehicles may contain a combination of:
- Steel panels
- Aluminium panels
- Plastic bumpers
- Composite components
The UT343E may switch between FE and NFE when moving between compatible steel and aluminium panels.
It will not provide normal coating measurements on plastic bumpers or non-metal components.
When comparing vehicle-paint thickness, compare similar materials and equivalent panel locations.
Why the Wrong Mode Causes Problems
Using an unsuitable substrate mode may result in:
- No reading
- Incorrect thickness
- Unstable results
- Unexpected substrate indication
- Large differences between repeated readings
- Results that cannot be compared properly
If the reading appears unreasonable:
- Confirm the base metal.
- Clean the probe and surface.
- Select the appropriate mode.
- Perform a reference check.
- Repeat the measurement on a flat area.
Do not assume that the coating is defective until the substrate and instrument setup have been confirmed.
Use the Correct Reference Plate
The UT343E includes ferrous and non-ferrous reference plates.
Use the ferrous plate before measuring coatings over steel or iron.
Use the non-ferrous plate before measuring coatings over aluminium or another compatible non-magnetic metal.
Place a supplied coating film over the correct plate and take several readings to confirm stable instrument response.
A reference check is not the same as traceable calibration.
Conductive Coatings Need Special Attention
Some conductive coatings, including suitable applications involving chromium, zinc or tin, require careful confirmation of the coating and substrate combination.
Do not assume that every metallic coating can be measured on every metal substrate.
Before selecting the instrument, provide:
- Coating material
- Base-metal material
- Expected thickness
- Component size
- Surface shape
- Required accuracy
A sample measurement may be appropriate for specialised plating applications.
Materials the UT343E Cannot Measure Normally
The UT343E is not intended for ordinary coating measurement on:
- Plastic
- Wood
- Glass
- Concrete
- Rubber
- Fibreglass
- Carbon fibre
- Composite materials without a compatible metal base
For these materials, a different measurement technology may be required.
FE and NFE Measurement Workflow
For consistent results:
- Identify the coating and substrate.
- Select automatic or manual mode.
- Clean the reference plate.
- Check the gauge with the appropriate coating film.
- Clean the actual measurement surface.
- Hold the probe perpendicular.
- Take several readings.
- Review the minimum, maximum and average values.
- Record the substrate mode with the result.
Recording the mode is useful when comparing results from different components or vehicle panels.
Who Should Use a Dual-Mode Gauge?
The UT343E is suitable for users who regularly inspect both steel and aluminium products, including:
- Automotive inspection businesses
- Powder-coating factories
- Metal fabrication companies
- Aluminium product manufacturers
- Incoming quality-control teams
- Supplier quality engineers
- Coating contractors
- Industrial maintenance teams
Businesses in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Penang can use one dual-mode instrument for suitable FE and NFE coating applications.
For assistance confirming whether your coating and substrate are compatible with the UNI-T UT343E, send MTM Precision the material details, expected thickness and component photo.
MTM Precision Sdn Bhd
Showroom & Service Centre: No. 29-1 & 29-2, Jalan Bandar 18, Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47160 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: 03-8080 7172
WhatsApp: +6016-660 7346
Email: mtmpre@yahoo.com
Website: www.mtmpre.com.my
01 Oct 2026
