Product category:
Linear Position Sensors
News Release from: Micro-Epsilon UK | Subject: optoNCDT 2200-LL
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 08 May 2008
Position sensor copes with small surface
defects
Micro-Epsilon's optoNCDT 2200-LL uses a special cylindrical lens that widens the laser spot to an oval shape.
Micro-Epsilon UK has released a noncontact laser profile displacement sensor which uses a laser line and special software algorithms to filter out any interference caused by very small surface defects on shiny objects such as polished metals, mild steel and rubber Rather than using a spherical or point-shaped laser spot, Micro-Epsilon's optoNCDT 2200-LL uses a special cylindrical lens that widens the laser spot to an oval shape
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Feb 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Eddy current sensor counts revs for turbos
A miniature eddy current sensor system is helping leading manufacturers of turbochargers monitor the speed of turbocharger units up to 400,000rev/min.
Optical encoder aids pipework alignment
The OMC Pipe Profiler is designed to determine the dimension of pipe ends using an optical triangulation technique to estimate the distance to the surface of the pipe without touching it.
Although this shape appears oval to the human eye, the actual shape is a very small line that measures 30 x 300um.
Measurements using this laser line are then averaged using Micro-Epsilon's software algorithms, so that any interference caused by surface roughness, defects, indentations or holes down in the sub-micrometre range - are completely filtered out.
An ideal application for the optoNCDT 2200-LL is therefore in structured surfaces, where the distance and not the structure itself need to be measured.
Further reading
Confocal chromatic sensor shines at its task
A novel displacement sensor measures independently from surface reflection using a unique "confocal chromatic" measurement principle.
System gets the measure of moving products
The optoControl ODC 2600-40 is a noncontact, high speed, LED-micrometer measurement system with an inbuilt high resolution CCD camera for measuring a wide range of geometric dimensions.
The distance measurement should not be influenced by the structure of the surface, but instead should provide a constant, reliable value of the distance from the target.
Erich Winkler, Product Manager at Micro-Epsilon said: "The speckle effect that is often associated with rough surfaces is filtered out by the new sensor's optics and software algorithms".
"A component with a rough surface, when illuminated with light from a laser, exhibits a speckled appearance".
"This effect makes it very difficult for laser sensors to measure distances to surfaces, especially if the surface defects are very small".
According to Winkler, the optoNCDT 2200-LL is already being used in a number of applications, including measuring the distance of lift cylinders on printing machines and for measuring the thickness of shiny, oily steel surfaces on textile machinery.
The sensor is also being used to measure structured surfaces on grinding wheels and on CNC turned parts, including shafts and tubes".
"These parts are cut from metal and are left with small machining tracks on the surface, which together,act like a small mirror to a laser light".
"In this case, most of the light is reflected back to the sensor at different angles rather than in a diffuse manner and so the sensor struggles to take accurate measurements".
Seven different versions of the optoNCDT 2200-LL sensor are available, with measuring ranges between 2 and 200mm.
The sensor is based on the company's optoNCDT 2200 and benefits from the series' fast measurement rates and automatic real-time exposure regulation. Request a free brochure from Micro-Epsilon UK ...
• Micro-Epsilon UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
