Automobile Interior color difference control: How does Spectrophotometer ensure the color uniformity of the dashboard and seat fabric?

The interior of a car is the first visual focus for consumers when they enter the vehicle, and the dashboard and seat fabric are frequently touched components. A slight color difference not only spoils the overall aesthetic appeal of the interior but also reduces the brand's quality and consumers' trust. Strictly controlling color differences and ensuring color uniformity are the keys to improving the quality of automotive interiors and enhancing market competitiveness. They are also necessary means to meet consumers' demands for high-quality driving and riding experiences. As a professional device for accurately measuring color differences, the colorimeter can convert abstract color differences into specific values, providing a quantitative basis for color difference control.

I. Challenges and Responses to Dashboard Color Difference Control and Application of Colorimeters
 

1. Challenges faced: The dashboard is mostly made of plastic, and the molecular structure of different batches of raw materials varies. During the injection molding process, even minor fluctuations such as temperature, pressure, and mold wear can cause color shift. In addition, later surface treatment processes, such as spraying and coating, may also introduce new color difference problems.

2. Countermeasures and Application of Colorimeter: The Colorspec DS-700C portable colorimeter features high-precision spectrophotometric color measurement capabilities. During the raw material inspection stage on the instrument panel, it can quickly measure different batches of plastic raw materials from multiple angles and obtain their reflection spectrum data. By comparing the spectral curves with those of standard raw materials, potential color difference risks caused by differences in additives and color masterbatches in the raw materials can be accurately identified, thus preventing substandard raw materials from being put into production. In the injection molding process, the rapid measurement feature of DS-700C has a significant advantage. Staff can monitor the color of semi-finished products on the instrument panel in real time beside the assembly line. Its built-in multiple standard light source modes can simulate the color performance under different lighting conditions. Once color deviation is detected, combined with the intelligent color management system, it can quickly analyze whether it is a problem with temperature and pressure parameters or the influence of mold aging, and thus precisely adjust the production parameters. During the surface treatment process, the D-700C can precisely measure the instrument panels after spraying and coating. By analyzing the tristimulus values and color difference formulas of the color, it helps technicians accurately adjust the coating ratio, spraying thickness and other process parameters, ensuring that the surface color of instrument panels in different batches is uniform and consistent.

II. Difficulties and Solutions in Color Difference Control of Seat Fabrics and Application of Color Spectrum Colorimeter

1.Difficult point： whether the seat fabric is made of natural or synthetic fibers, it is easily affected by various factors such as dye concentration, water temperature, dyeing time, and PH value during the dyeing process. In addition, fibers from different batches may have inherent color differences, and visual color variations may also occur during later cutting and splicing due to different fabric textures and orientations.

2. Solution and Colorimeter Application: The Colorspec DS-700D portable colorimeter features 8 measurement aperture, which makes it perform exceptionally well in the color difference detection of seat fabrics. During the pre-dyeing stage of small samples before fabric dyeing, DS-700D can select large-diameter covered fabric small samples for measurement, effectively avoiding measurement errors caused by uneven fabric texture and yarn distribution. Through precise comparison with standard color samples, it provides accurate parameter guidance for subsequent dyeing processes. During the actual dyeing process, due to the large width of the fabric, the convenience of the DS-700D is demonstrated. Staff can hold the instrument to quickly sample and measure at different positions of the fabric. Once local color deviation is detected, the problem area can be quickly located, allowing the operator to promptly adjust parameters such as dye circulation and temperature distribution in the dye VAT. In the fabric blending process, DS-700D can conduct rapid batch measurements of different batches of fabrics, calculate the optimal blending ratio through big data analysis, and balance color differences. Before cutting and splicing, by using the measurement area images displayed on its screen, the staff can more intuitively select fabrics with similar colors for matching, ensuring that the colors of the seat fabrics after splicing are harmonious and unified.

III. Full-process Color Difference Detection and Control and the Core Role of Colorimeters
From the moment raw materials are warehoused to the completion of finished product assembly, strict color difference detection checkpoints are set up at each key node of the entire production process. Establish standardized testing procedures and clearly define the color difference thresholds for each link. Portable colorimeters such as the DS-700D and DS-700C from Caipu serve as flexible and efficient core detection devices, conducting all-round inspections on raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished products. When raw materials are warehoused, staff can conveniently carry instruments to conduct random inspections on each batch of raw materials and quickly record the color difference data. During the production process, whether it is after key procedures such as injection molding, dyeing, or surface treatment, portable color difference meters can be used in a timely manner for measurement to monitor color changes in real time. After the finished product assembly is completed, a handheld instrument can be used to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the vehicle's interior to ensure that the color of all components, including the dashboard and seat fabric, is uniform. Once color deviation is detected, the traceability mechanism is immediately activated. Based on the data measured by the portable color difference meter at each stage, a comprehensive inspection and optimization are carried out from aspects such as raw material procurement, production process, equipment operation status to quality inspection procedures to ensure that every stage meets the requirements of color uniformity.

IV. achieve the comprehensive benefits of color uniformity
Through a systematic color difference control scheme, strict production management, and full-process inspection and control, combined with the precise measurement and data support of the Caipu portable color difference meter, the production of automotive interiors can achieve a high degree of color uniformity between the dashboard and the seat fabric. This not only significantly enhances the overall texture and visual effect of the interior, but also brings consumers a more superior and comfortable driving and riding experience. At the same time, it strengthens the market competitiveness and reputation of the car brand.