Products Inspection & measurment Single source inline profile thickness measurement system
Plastics processing companies and extruders of blown plas- tic films can source complete, inline precision measurement and inspection systems from a single UK supplier. Micro-Epsilon’s Systems Group specialises in the development, manufacture and installation of a compre- hensive range of non-contact, inline and offline measure- ment and inspection systems for process monitoring and quality control applications. These include specific mea- surement systems for plastics processing applications, including systems for measuring thickness and profile of blown film, extruded plastic sheet, strip and plates. Chris Jones, MD at Micro-Epsilon UK says: “Many plas-
tics processing companies prefer to outsource to a third party specialist in non-contact measurement. Over the past 12 years, Micro-Epsilon’s Systems Group has devel- oped a range of innovative, robust, complete turnkey mea- surement systems that offer distinct technical advantages
in terms of measurement accuracy, thermal stability and reliability. This is backed up by installation, servicing, maintenance, technical support with guaranteed response times, retrofitting and upgrade services.” These distinct technical advantages include fully auto- matic calibration. The system periodically re-measures against a known reference. The system also has integrated measurement sensors in the framework and mechanical
parts, which measure the thermal expansion of the system. The software then compensates accordingly. Jones continues: “We manufacture the sensor technol- ogy and all other critical parts including the electronics and software. The mechanical design is also developed in-house, which enables us to guarantee measurement performance and take ownership of the complete system. All electrical hardware including the PCs are industrial- grade with solid state memory.” “As well as offering our comprehensive range of inline, non-contact thickness and profile measurement systems for plastics, we are providing a dedicated service to UK- based customers, including a 24/7 technical support hot- line and a guaranteed on-site, rapid response service. Micro-Epsilon T: 0151 355 6070
www.micro-epsilon.co.uk
Enter 314
3D scanner accurately measures bulk-solid silos Accurate and reliable level measurement
of bulk solid silos, especially where extremely dusty environments create unique challenges for traditional level measuring devices are well documented. However, the introduction of a new and 3D scanner is said to bring an affordable solution specifically for bulk-solid silos. The APM RL 2000 is the latest offering from level and flow instrumentation specialists Allison Engineering said to provide real level measurement based on multiple level readings. The ATEX certified RL 2000 provides accurate and reliable non-contact, dust penetrating level measurement for the most demanding environments, including flour, cement and biomass materials. It is said to be particularly effective on
‘Revolutionary’ smart camera
Multipix Imaging has introduced the Datalogic A30 and T4x smart cameras, which are designed for inspection applications in industries including pharmaceutical and food and beverage. Combining the most rugged and ver- satile hardware with Datalogic’s award- winning Impact Software Suite, the A30 and T4x series are said to revolutionise inspection for several industries. The A30 and T4x Series smart cam- eras feature high quality CCD imagers and fast DSP processors, all sealed in an industrial hardened IP67 enclosure. Multipix Imaging T: 01730 233332
www.multipix.com Enter 316
tall, narrow silos where conventional level technologies fail.
The RL 2000 utilises three-headed, low frequency (2.7kHz) transducers which scan the stored product profile to provide operators with a 3D map of the silo. This level of accurate information helps operators to identify both the total inventory and also the product profile which ultimately contributes towards production improved efficiencies and cost savings in stock control.
The RL 2000 represents a level control instrument said to be extremely competitive with other high specification (and higher cost) radar-based devices. Allison Engineering is offering it on a free-trial basis. Allison Engineering
T: 01268 526161
www.allison.co.uk Enter 315 Lightweight short range sensor
With the new OD Mini short range distance sensor, Sick has delivered one of the world’s most lightweight and precise displace- ment sensors incorporating an easy-to-use display and control. The Sick OD Mini achieves micron resolution and millisec- ond responsiveness in a rugged, compact and lightweight unit making it ideal for precision measurement and positioning applications where high levels of accuracy are demanded, espe- cially at high speeds, for example for positioning of robotic gripper arms, or in precision machining. The Sick OD Mini’s high perfor- mance measurement capability also means it can be used for qual- ity duties such as inspection of manufacturing tolerances, and even for sorting and classification. The Sick OD Mini’s CMOS
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receiver promises high machine availability by eliminating the possibility of false readings due to the brightness, colour or reflectivity of the object’s surface. “The Sick OD Mini is a real advance in short range distance sensing – especially for provid- ing an ‘eye’ on the business end of moving equipment such as a robotic gripper arms, or for simi- lar dynamic applications,” explains David Hannaby, Product Manager, imaging & measure- ment for Sick UK. Sick UK
01727 831121
www.sick.com/uk
Enter 317
Barcode inspection by machine vision
Microscan, a global technology leader in barcode, machine vision and lighting solutions, has introduced a low-cost solution for companies in need of high- speed inline barcode verification. The AutoVISION product suite, including compact smart cameras and machine vision software, offers a robust means to verify the quality both 1D and 2D barcodes against industry standards. Unreadable barcodes can lead to
process inefficiencies and downtime associated with re-labelling, re-scan- ning, or manual data entry. High quality, readable barcodes are a requirement in many vendor contracts. Inline verification with machine vision addresses this issue with quality inspection that is more reliable random sampling, and can also be used to detect printer faults before unreadable codes become problematic. Industry barcode quality standards such as ISO 15415 are used for verifying 1D and 2D barcodes that are printed or marked directly onto a part (DPM). Microscan’s AutoVISION™ software includes 1D and 2D Symbol Quality Verification tools to evaluate the quality of each barcode against industry standards, and ensure that every product is processed and shipped with high qual- ity barcodes for cradle-to-grave trace- ability and overall process efficiency. Microscan
www.microscan.com Enter 318
JULY/AUGUST 2013 Factory Equipment
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