Actuator keeps thermometers on track

A Land Instruments International product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 2, 2002

Land Instruments International's latest accessory for the aluminium extrusion industry makes it easier for press operators to realign noncontact, profile temperature measuring equipment.

Land Instruments International's latest accessory for the aluminium extrusion industry makes it easier for press operators to realign noncontact, profile temperature measuring equipment following die changeovers - with minimum loss of production.

The new electronic alignment actuator ensures that Land's AETS and AQTS thermometers are aligned so that their fields of view are always sufficiently filled by the extruded profile to give an accurate reading.

The AETS (aluminium extrusion thermometer system) was developed specifically for the extrusion industry and is already used by most manufacturers for the critical die exit measurement.

The AQTS is a similar instrument optimised for the quench exit that is in demand with manufacturers of high-performance profiles who have to control profile cooling rates during quenching.

Maximising press productivity necessitates frequent profile changeovers - often up to six per shift.

Such changeovers, particularly when multicavity dies are used, often require that the sighting of the AETS and AQTS is realigned.

In many cases, operator access to the thermometers is difficult because of space restrictions, or prohibited for safety reasons unless the press is stopped.

These issues were making it impractical to adjust the thermometers manually on their mounting plates.

Land's solution is to mount the thermometer on an electronic alignment actuator, which is controlled remotely from a simple handset with just three buttons.

Two buttons control left/right motion and a third triggers the laser spot that indicates the location of the field of view; thus facilitating accurate thermometer realignment.

The use of the actuator permits the press to produce the new profile in the minimum time.

Thermometer realignment can then be completed safely and accurately during the first press cycle.

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