SIGMATEST

Portable conductivity meter for fast and reliable testing of non-ferromagnetic metals

Accurate conductivity measurements for reliable material verification. The SIGMATEST is a portable eddy current instrument for measuring the electrical conductivity of non-ferromagnetic metals. It supports quality assurance, material verification, alloy sorting and aerospace maintenance by providing fast, precise and non-destructive conductivity measurements.Five measuring frequencies from 60 to 960 kHz enable reliable testing across a wide range of material thicknesses, including very thin components. Automatic temperature compensation standardizes conductivity values to 20 °C, ensuring comparable measurement results even under changing ambient conditions. Measurement quality complies with Boeing (BAC 5651) and Airbus requirements. Typical applications include quality control of manufactured products, verification of heat treatment processes, alloy identification and sorting, heat damage assessment in aerospace maintenance, as well as in-process quality control throughout metal production and processing.

Operating modes
The SIGMATEST offers two operating modes to suit different inspection tasks. Touch mode is ideal for precise single-point measurements, while Continuous mode enables fast surface scanning with real-time measurement display. All recorded measurements can be stored directly on the instrument for complete documentation.

Correction factor for curved surfaces
Curved test pieces can influence conductivity measurements. To compensate for these geometric effects, the SIGMATEST allows user-defined correction factors. If the conductivity of the reference material is known, the instrument automatically applies the correction factor and displays the compensated conductivity value, ensuring reliable measurements on both concave and convex surfaces.

Automatic probe recognition
Probe-specific calibration data is stored directly in each probe. When a probe is connected, the SIGMATEST automatically loads the corresponding calibration curve without any manual intervention. This simplifies probe changes and ensures reliable measurement results, particularly when using different 5 mm, 8 mm or 14 mm probes.

Temperature compensation
Electrical conductivity varies with temperature. To ensure comparable results, the SIGMATEST automatically compensates temperature-related influences using either the integrated probe temperature sensor or an optional external sensor. Users can also define application-specific temperature coefficients for maximum measurement accuracy. An external sensor is recommended whenever the workpiece temperature differs from the probe temperature.

Technical information
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Product highlights

Your advantages at a glance

Reliable measurements for every application: Five measuring frequencies from 60 to 960 kHz enable accurate conductivity measurements on both thick and very thin non-ferromagnetic materials.
Fast and flexible testing: Capture up to 50 measurements per second in Touch or Continuous mode for efficient inspections.
Stable, temperature-compensated results: Internal and external temperature compensation automatically standardizes conductivity values for reliable comparisons.
Measure through coatings: Lift-off capability of up to 0.75 mm allows measurements through paint, coatings and thin protective layers.
Automatic probe recognition: Probe-specific calibration data is stored directly in the probe for quick setup and consistent measurement quality.
Easy data management and automation: Store virtually unlimited measurement data on an SD card and integrate the instrument into automated systems via Ethernet.
Measurement quality trusted by aerospace: Delivers measurement quality in accordance with Boeing (BAC 5651) and Airbus requirements.
Built for industrial environments: Rugged portable design with a multilingual operating system for reliable use in production and on site.

Norms

DIN 50994

specifies a non-destructive method for measuring the electrical conductivity of metallic coatings, especially non-magnetic coatings on metallic substrates.
DIN EN 2004-1:1993-09

specifies a non-destructive method for determining the electrical conductivity of wrought aluminium alloys, mainly for aerospace applications.
DIN EN 2004-7:2017-10

specifies reference blocks and their production and calibration methods for calibrating eddy current equipment used to determine the electrical conductivity of wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys. Used in conjunction with DIN EN 2004-1.
ASTM E 1004

specifies a non-destructive eddy current method for determining the electrical conductivity of nonmagnetic metals.
MIL STD 1537C

specifies procedures for verifying the heat treatment of aluminium alloys by measuring electrical conductivity using the eddy current method. The method is intended to be used in conjunction with hardness testing for non-destructive verification of material condition.
AITM 6-6008

specifies a non-destructive method for determining the electrical conductivity of metallic materials using the eddy current method for aerospace manufacturing and quality assurance.

Applications

Eddy Current Testing

Electrical conductivity measurement

Identification checking

Technical information

Measuring range:	0.5 to 65 MS/m or 1 to 112 % IACS
Absolute accuracy:	+/- 0.7 % of measured value @60 kHz, 14 mm probe
Resolution:	+/- 0.1 % of measured value
Automatic distance compensation:	Up to 750 μm (0.03 inch)
Operating frequencies:	60 / 120 / 240 / 480 / 960 kHz
LCD display:	240 x 320 pixel
Power supply:	5V DC / 3000 mA
Operating time per set of batteries:	4 h
Operating voltage:	Power supply and battery charger adaptable to the operating voltage in any country
Interfaces:	10 pin LEMO connector, SD card slot, Ethernet RJ45 100 Mbit/s
Temperature range:	0 °C to +40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F)
Humidity:	5 % to 85 %
Dimension:	211 × 102 × 40 mm
Weight:	0.62 kg
Widths of the probe head	5 mm, 8 mm, 14 mm