Measurement system offers sub-nanometre resolution
A
Micro-Epsilon UK product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 1, 2008
Micro-Epsilon has launched a non-contact, multi-channel capacitive measurement system - the capaNCDT 6500 Series.
The system offers sub-nanometre resolution, unmatched temperature stability and rapid changeover of sensors without any re-calibration required.
The capaNCDT 6500 Series supersedes the company's existing capaNCDT 600 Series and is available as a benchtop or 19-inch rack-mounted unit.
Modular in design, the system can accept up to eight measuring channels to suit individual customer requirements.
Due to its extreme resolution and flexibility, the system is ideal for high-accuracy research-and-development applications, test laboratories, quality assurance, academic institutions and also semiconductor manufacturing, military, aerospace and defence applications.
The capaNCDT 6500 uses a unique, active-driven, hermetically sealed, triaxial RF cable, in combination with an active guarded three-electrode sensor.
The system is therefore electron leakage-proof, creating a protected and homogenous measurement field.
This means the user obtains stable, precise, interference-free measurement data.
Chris Jones, Managing Director at Micro-Epsilon UK said: 'What it means for users is that they get an almost perfectly linear measurement system that requires no calibration against any conductive material.
'If a sensor needs replacing, for example due to mechanical damage, or a different measuring range is required, the user simply disconnects the original sensor and connects the new one in a matter of seconds.
'Laboratories will see time and cost savings from not having to stock different sensor ranges, but also by reducing the time spent re-calibrating sensors to the target material.
'The resolution of the capaNCDT 6500 is so high that the user could even sacrifice some of this resolution in order to increase the measuring range.
'If you halve the resolution, which may still give the user sufficient resolution for the application, the measuring range is doubled.' The capaNCDT 6500 comes with an Ethernet port with 24-bit resolution, so that measured data can be easily output with no loss of performance (error-free) and then shared with other technicians anywhere in the world, using unique IP addresses and Micro-Epsilon's special data acquisition software (included as standard).
Jones added: 'One of the difficulties with very high resolution measurements is the transmitting of data via analogue output channels to the user's own acquisition system.
'Quite often, signal noise due to cable interconnects and earthing loops, gives a reduced system performance as this is seen on the output signal as noise.
'By converting internally in the capaNCDT 6500 controller, the analogue signal to a digital Ethernet output.
'This problem is eliminated and can then be transmitted anywhere in the world to another IP address.' Customers can choose from either a version with an integrated preamplifier or one with an external preamplifier, which enables cable lengths of up to 20m between sensor and controller.
The sensors operate virtually independent of temperature and operate between -50C and +200C.
The capaNCDT 6500 is fully compatible with any electrically conductive materials.
Insulated materials can also be measured using the system's unique integrated electronics.
Also, for many applications earthing of the target material can be difficult or impossible to do.
Unlike conventional capacitive measurement systems, the unique synchronisation of two capaNCDT systems means the target does not require any electrical earthing.
The overall design of the capaNCDT 6500 enables unmatched temperature stability of 5ppm/C for the controller and 11ppm/C for the sensor.
CapaNCDT sensors can be used to measure a variety of features and characteristics, including vibration; amplitude; clearance; run-out; displacement; distance or position; elongation; deflection; deformation; waviness, and tilt angle.
They can also be used for dimensional inspection, parts recognition, tolerance checking and sorting.
The non-contact capacitive measurement principle used by the capaNCDT 6500 Series is based on the ideal parallel plate capacitor.
The two parallel plate electrodes are represented by the sensor and the opposing target.
If an AC current with constant frequency flows through the sensor capacitor, the amplitude of the AC voltage on the sensor is proportional to the distance between the capacitor electrodes; and adjustable compensating voltage is simultaneously generated in the amplifier electronics.
After demodulation of both AC voltages, the difference is amplified and output as an analogue signal.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Contact Micro-Epsilon UK
Tel +44 151 355 6070
Other Micro-Epsilon UK stories
-
Micro-Epsilon introduces Scancontrol 2710 sensor
The latest addition to Micro-Epsilon's Scancontrol range of 2D/3D laser profile sensors is the Scancontrol 2710, which is compact and offers new setup and configuration software. -
Optoelectronic displacement sensors launched
Micro-Epsilon has launched the OptoNCDT 1402 series of optoelectronic displacement sensors. -
Eddy current sensors used in telescope
Micro-Epsilon has supplied 600 eddy current sensors to the Chinese Academy of Science for use on the Lamost (Large sky Area Multi-Object fibre Spectroscopic Telescope). -
OMS fits Scancontrol into internal weld inspector
Micro-Epsilon is using non-contact laser-profile displacement sensors for an internal weld inspection system. -
Displacement sensors offer nanometre resolution
A supplier of nano-positioning systems for atomic force microscopy (AFM) is using non-contact capacitive displacement sensors from Micro-Epsilon to measure the travel distance of test items.
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
