EoW January 2008

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EuroWire – January 2008 39
english technology news
With the state-of-the-art 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 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.
Control of the extruder is 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.
Sikora AG – Germany
Fax: +49 421 489 0090
Email:
Website:
The concept of the Virtual Gauge Technology ▲
Making it all so simple . . .