EoW January 2008

english technology news

Making it all so simple . . .

The concept of the Virtual Gauge Technology

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With Virtual Gauge Technology (VGT), Sikora has an advanced and unique method to optimise the production process, to minimise thematerial over-consumption and to simplify the operation of a production line. This quickly and easily provides precise measurements, even under the most extreme conditions and in the smallest spaces. Virtual Gauge Technology is the next chapter of measuring technology for the wire and cable sector. This technology, developed by Sikora, controls the wall thickness of the product quickly and precisely at the requested nominal value even though a measurement of the wall thickness immediately after the extruder does not occur. The virtual measurement is still authentic. Previously lines with a relatively low haul- off speed could not control the extruder from the end of the line due to the dead time resulting from the distance of the measuring device to the extruder. VGT eliminates this lag time and shows even during the start of the production the expected cold wall thickness, despite the product not having arrived at the end of the cooling section. the state-of-the-art

The measuring device is installed at the end of the cooling section for this method. Issues such as contamination, water influence or mechanical load, all of which occur with placement directly after the extruder, are eliminated. The extruder can be controlled by the VGT during the starting phase to the calculated rpm that is necessary in order to achieve the entered cold nominal wall thickness. The specification of a cold wall thickness value is a decisive advantage over conventional methods where the extruder rpm is entered and as a result a wall thickness value is achieved. in consideration of the inserted haul-off speed. The virtual measuring gauge head calculates the extruder rpm to realise the specified wall thickness. The measuring device after the cooling section balances the actual wall thickness against the predicted one and controls the extruder to the requested wall thickness as necessary. Control of the extruder is

Sikora AG – Germany Fax : +49 421 489 0090 Email : sales@sikora.net Website : www.sikora.com

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EuroWire – January 2008