CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION | MACHINERY Measured approach: latest
in control & instrumentation Recent developments in extrusion control include a multi-layer pipe scanner, using laser triangulation to check dimensions and a highly accurate vision inspection system
IMAGE: ZUMBACH
Quality standards for extruded products like pipes and profiles continue to rise – along- side factors such as raw material costs and manufac- turing efficiency. All three of these – and more – can be handled with the use of control systems that monitor line conditions and adjust accordingly. Zumbach Electronic, for instance, recently
introduced its QC line of non-contact, off-line measuring systems for measuring extruded items including pipe. The QC 2 system boasts high accuracy and ease
of use and consists of a high-precision diameter- measuring head, a motorised rotating sample holder (with automatic sample ejection for piece measurement) and a Usys-Touch processor with specialised software for data evaluation. It is aimed at quality control laboratories and factory floors, offering operators a repeatable solution for measuring outside diameter and ovality. Unlike traditional micrometers or mechanical indicators – which can suffer from calibration errors or operator variability – QC 2 guarantees consistent results regardless of user input, says Zumbach. Some advantages of the QC 2 include: quick feedback for production optimisation; automatic rotation and measurement start with a single key press; and data upload capability for further processing. The QC 4 system, which is specifically for hose and tube applications, measures outside diameter and calculates inside diameter and wall thickness.
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Like the QC 2, it is fast and accurate results and can be used in both QC labs and on the plant floor. Key benefits include: Key advantages of the QC 4 include: simple placement on a reference pin; multiple measure- ments around the sample circumference; and two statistical modes. Zumbach also demonstrated its medical exper-
tise at the recent MD&M West exhibition – with technology partners Conair and Davis-Standard – for the extrusion of a dual-lumen paratube made of flexible, transparent PVC. The paratube, produced live at the Conair
booth, was extruded as two separate tubes that were joined after exiting the 2in Davis-Standard medical extruder. The paratube forms when the two hot extruded tubes – each with a 0.15in OD and 0.02in wall thickness – are pushed together in a water-cooled, dual-roller assembly near the exit of a Guill GTN 919 paratube die. Air from two Zumbach SPV digital airboxes is injected into each line of the die to help maintain a consistent ID within each tube. Zumbach’s Wall- master system makes multiple wall measurements of each tube, ensuring the appropriate dimensions while providing a cross-sectional view of the tube.
Main image: Zumbach’s QC line allows non-contact, off-line measurement of items such as pipe
� Spring 2026 | PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION 25
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