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Knowing how to handle the right printer paper is critical for your printing projects. You can measure the thickness of whatever paper you plan on using with a unique tool to help you see how well your paper feels. You have multiple tool options to explore when you’re looking to measure the thickness of your paper. You must look at how well you’re going to get this working and that you use something accurate and easy to manage in any situation.
Why Would You Want to Measure the Thickness of Paper?
Measuring the thickness of your paper is critical to see how well your printing project will work. The thickness of your paper will determine how durable your work will be when getting a project running. Thicker material is best for items that might be passed around between more people, for example.
The measurement also helps you see if the paper you want to use is suitable for your printer. Not all printers can handle thick sheets of paper. With the thickness of the paper being hard to figure at times, it always helps to have something that lets you review what you’re using before you start. Having a measuring tool to help you, in this case, will make a real difference.
Using a Ruler
A traditional ruler is one of the things you can use to measure your paper. You can use a ruler by playing a stack of papers up and then by measuring their height when stacked together. You can then measure the height in millimeters and divide it by the number of papers in your stack.
Using a Caliper
A digital caliper is a useful tool you can utilize when measuring the thickness of your paper. A caliper is a material that measures the dimensions of an object. It can produce a digital readout showing the distance between two points.
You can place your paper in the caliper tool to see how thick the paper is in moments. It can display the result in millimeters, plus it always provides an accurate readout.
You must use the caliper properly every time. You can reset the display before use by keeping the caliper closed and then by opening it once more. Resetting the tool is critical for providing an accurate result.
The caliper may be reset by rotating the wheel or other item and setting it to zero. You can then measure another item and then finish by resetting it to zero. The reset process is essential for producing the most accurate possible result.
Using a Manual Micrometer
You can also utilize a manual micrometer if you want to use something that produces a more accurate result. A micrometer works similarly to a caliper, but it produces a more precise result for smaller items. You can use this for smaller sheets of paper that a traditional caliper might not recognize.
You can use a micrometer by placing a sheet of paper of the same type in between its jaws. Fasten the micrometer to where it produces a secure hold over the papers. You can then read the measurement on the side of the micrometer to see what it says. You can divide that total by the number of papers you are measuring to get a final result.
How does a Thickness Gauge work?
A thickness gauge is another option to explore. A gauge features a non-rotating spindle and works well on all sheet-based items. It is similar to a micrometer, but it works with a limited measurement range. Having something lighter and easier to hold will be useful, although you should note what you’re doing when getting something like this to work for whatever plans you hold.
The thickness gauge uses a small vice-like material that goes on top of the paper you are measuring. The dial will display the thickness based on what you use and how well the setup functions. It can be a more precise material, although you might require multiple sheets of paper with this if you’re going to measure something.
A Few Quick Tips
Measuring the thickness of the paper is essential to any printing project, but you should look at how well you’re using your paper. Using multiple sheets in one bundle and then dividing the result works. But if you only have one sheet, you can fold it a few times to produce a slightly thicker body. You can then divide the result by the number of layers you measure.
Always ensure the papers in the stack you measure are all of the same types. You can also use a ream of paper if you don’t disrupt its body. A full ream of the paper should be properly organized and arranged as you get it open. Ensure when measuring this part that it is easy to manage and you know what is inside.
A Final Word
Having a tool that helps you measure the thickness of your paper is essential to your success. Be sure you use the proper device for whatever you wish to measure and see you’re using that product the right way.