TPT January 2008

T echnology U pdate

Non-contact measuring and control devices for the plastics sector

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.

› The concept of the Virtual Gauge Technology

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 : sales@sikora.net Website : www.sikora.com

› Sikora’s X-Ray 2120

50

›

J anuary 2008

www.read-tpt.com