The invention is a device for positioning a hand-held RAM inspection system for measuring the thickness of a RAM coating. In detail, the invention includes a housing containing the RAM coating inspection system, the housing having a longitudinal axis. Three laser distance-measuring devices are circularly mounted on the housing at 120 degrees from each other; the laser distance measuring devices are for determining the required distance and orientation of the RAM inspection system from the RAM coating surface. An electrical controller circuit is coupled to the three lasers and the RAM inspection system for triggering the RAM inspection system to measure the RAM material when the three lasers indicate that the housing is at the proper distance and orientation to the RAM coating surface.