Issue 3 - October, 2000

Introduction

Advanced Gauging Technologies (A.G.T.) was founded in 1997 by the father and son team of Ron and Scott Cook. Their intention was to bring isotope thickness gauging into the 21st century. In less than two years since the first AGT400 system startup, they have already received orders for more than 50 gauging systems – strong evidence that customers feel A.G.T. has delivered tomorrow's gauging system today, and backs it up with world class service.

The Gauging Times™ is a quarterly newsletter designed to keep existing and potential customers current with the latest thickness gauge technology and features. In each issue we'll share some of our system's unique capabilities, along with technical tips, personal profiles, and glimpses of our future product development.

Personal Profile

Michael C. Bertin, Ph.D.

The launch of Sputnik changed Mike Bertin's life. The lad had wanted to be a field biologist and herpetologist, but the impending technology revolution attracted him. Mike decided on a career in physics and pursued that goal at the Bronx High School of Science, MIT (B.S. in physics), Rutgers University (Ph.D. in nuclear physics), and Stanford University (post-doctoral fellow in physics). At Nucleonic Data Systems he applied the technology of nuclear physics to the design of on-line coating and thickness gauges, and the analytical methods of physics to quality control and process control problems. His Model 200 gauging systems measured and controlled coatings on galvanizing and tinplating lines worldwide. He patented process control methods to automate tire tread manufacture and detect chatter in rolling mills. In 1981 Dr. Bertin founded Gamma Instruments, using new technology to build low cost, high precision thickness gauges.

Mike sold Gamma Instruments in 1986 and pursued his other passion - international travel. Mike and his wife, Barbara, have been to all seven continents. They've ridden an elephant up a mountain in Thailand, taken the subway in Leningrad, hiked through a penguin colony in Antarctica, admired the mystery of the Alhambra, crossed the Andes in a Land Rover, snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef, been to the theater in London, and canoed on the Zambezi River.

In 1973 Mike met Ron Cook while installing an NDS coating control system at Republic Steel. The relationship grew during the 1980's – Ron sold and serviced the Gamma Ray gauges Mike built. In 1997 Mike began consulting for Ron and Scott Cook. He designed the AGT400 thickness gauge, another application of new technology to a measurement problem. From Sputnik to academia to applied physics, a mix of technology, research, and innovation have marked Mike Bertin's career.

Automatic Data Entry

At the beginning of each coil to be processed, the operator enters Thickness Limits, Work Order Number, Coil Number, Customer Name, Width, Supplier, Product Type, and Other Information. Using a simple digital input signal (provided by the customer) for triggering, the AGT400 Thickness Gauge & S.P.C. Reporting System can be configured to automatically retrieve and input all eight pieces of information – either from a floppy or ZIP disk, or directly from a location on your Windows–compatible network. We call this standard feature 'Automatic Data Entry', and it goes a long way toward automating thickness gauge operation.

Products and Alloys

Isotope thickness gauges can be set up to measure a wide variety of materials. Most of the gauges we manufacture and service today use Americium 241 as the radiation source. Using this source, modern AGT400 gauges can be calibrated to accurately measure the following metals:

Date and Time

Setting the date and time on your thickness gauge should be a simple process. Following are the easiest methods for a few types of common gauging systems.

GR100 (with reporting package)

Depending on your software version, press Control < H > or Control < E >, then type CLOCK/I < ENTER > or TIMER/I < ENTER >. Type in the correct system date and time, then type GAMMA < ENTER >.

GR200

Turn the keyswitch to PROGRAM. Press F5/PF5 – System Setup, then F2/PF2 – Set Date & Time. Make your change(s), then press ENTER. Press F6/PF6 – Main Screen, then turn the keyswitch back to RUN.

AGT400

Exit the AGT400 Main Screen by clicking the EXIT button twice. Drag the mouse cursor to the System Tray, which is in the lower right corner of the Windows Desktop. Use the secondary touchpad/mouse button (upper left or right) to click on the System Time. Make the necessary change(s), then click APPLY and OK. Restart the AGT400 program by clicking START, then AGT400.