TPT January 2008

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January 2008 50
Technology Update
›
Sikora, Germany, has recently launched
new products for composite tubes and
pressure hoses in the automotive and
industry sector. These products include
the Laser 2300 XY, which was developed
for the measurement of extremely large
product diameters, and the Virtual Gauge
Technology Virtual 2000 and X-Ray 2000.
The Laser 2300 XY expands the Laser 2000
XY series to fulfil demand for measuring
gauges for very large product diameters.
The new device uses state-of-the-art CCD-
line technology and impulse-driven laser-
light sources, which allow extremely short
exposure times of 0.3µsec and ensure a
measurement of high precision at all line
speeds.
The powerful gauge head can be integrated
into any location on the production line,
despite its size. The design open at the
bottom, providing reliable measuring values
in areas with high levels of contamination.
The almost unlimited lifetime of its laser
light sources and the elimination of moving
parts ensure freedom from maintenance.
With its new Virtual Gauge Technology,
Sikora provides a method to optimise the
extrusion process, to minimise material
over-usage, and to simplify the operation
of an extrusion line. Immediately after the
extruder, a diameter and wall thickness
measurement can be performed with the
new design. The technology controls the
wall thickness of the product quickly and
precisely at the nominal value, even though
a measurement of the wall thickness directly
after the extruder does not take place.
The basis of the design is the identification
of the extruder through the measurement
of its volume output. The volume output
is recorded in by the Ecocontrol 2000
processor system in combination with a
measuring device. Ecocontrol 2000 displays
the virtual as well as the real measuring
value on a 15" TFT-monitor. The measuring
device after the cooling section balances
the actual wall thickness against the
predicted value, and controls the extruder
to the specific wall thickness if necessary.
Sikora’s X-Ray 2000 for the measurement
of diameter, wall thickness, eccentricity and
ovality, allows the reduction of production
costs through minimising of start-up-scrap
and material consumption. The device
provides high accuracy, and continuous
online quality control of products with up
to three layers. X-Ray 2000 is suitable for
hoses and tubes from 3mm to 300mm.
The display and control device of the
X-Ray 2000 series is the Ecocontrol
2000 processor system, which provides
precise measuring values and ensures
highest quality standards. A length- or
time-related diagram for the measured
dimensions and a display of the statistical
distribution curve of the measurements is
provided. This means that with SPC-data
of the minimum, maximum value, the mean,
standard deviation, Cp, and Cpk values, the
operator has all the information necessary
to correctly control the extruder output or
line speed.
Sikora AG – Germany
Fax: +49 421 48900 90
Email:
Website:
Non-contact measuring and control devices
for the plastics sector
› The concept of the Virtual Gauge Technology
› Sikora’s X-Ray 2120