Blogs
Angle Measurement And Monitoring
Angle Measurement And Monitoring Industrial Angle Measurement And Monitoring Robot Guide Description Introduction So what do sheet metal, speakers, and wine bottles all have in common? They represent the many angles and profiles that can be measured with laser sensor head. Angles: Numerous applications call for measuring angles such as sheet metal Press Brake applications. As the Press Brake bends the sheet metal, the controller reads the actual bend angle from the sensor head and can control under/over bending to reduce product waste and time. Sensor measurements can easily be interfaced [...]
Extruder Die Flatness
Extruder Die Flatness Industrial Extruder Die Flatness Thickness Description Introduction: Extruder dies have a flatness specification that must be maintained or the parts being extruded will be out of tolerance and non-conformant, resulting in scrap and disruptions. Periodic inspection of the die for flatness, deformation, burrs, or other irregularities is required. Situation: A tool and die company approached MTI Instruments, requesting assistance with a new method for inspecting their 20 ft long die. Contact gauges on a gantry had been the previous method; Non-contact was now the preferred practice. Solution: [...]
Cement Board Quality Control
Cement Board Quality Control Industrial Cement Board Quality Control Dimensions Description Introduction: Cement backer board is used as underlayment for tile floors, walls and counter tops. It is also used as exterior sheathing and in exterior stucco systems. Cement backer board has proven to be more durable than virtually any other underlayment if quality control and thickness is maintained. The Problem: A major cement board manufacturer was faced with the challenge to improve a board production line throughput and decrease the amount of waste in the process. Too thin of cement board [...]
DC Motor / Commutator Bar
DC Motor / Commutator Bar Industrial Dc Motor / Commutator Bar Depth Description Using a MTI Microtrak 4 laser triangulation sensor to measure a DC motor’s armature / commutator bar run out. We fitted a DC motor armature (rotor) in a lathe to spin it. The MTI laser head a DTS 50-20 has 50 mm standoff and a 20 mm measuring range. The laser was placed in a FS-5 magnetic  mount fixture and pointed at the commutator bars. The lathe was spun at 180 RPM and the commutator bar run out [...]
Sheet Metal Brake Bending
Industrial Sheet Metal Brake Bending Tolerances Description
Powdered Metal Level
Powdered Metal Level Industrial Powdered Metal Level Level Description Many precision and no-precision metal parts are made from powdered metal. The metal may be placed in a feed ram or delivered on a web/ belt. Some processes require monitoring of the powdered metal height and it may have to be kept level across the web. For small applications a single spot laser (Microtrak 4) or several lasers may be adequate to monitor the process (powdered metal height ) and call for more metal as the ram or belt supply gets too [...]
Ice Detection
Ice Detection Industrial Ice Detection Presence/Absence Description Introduction:  Ships take in water from outside the hull to cool the engines and other auxiliary equipment. The water usually comes in through a sea chest. “The sea chest provides an intake reservoir from which piping systems draw raw water. Most sea chests are protected by removable gratings (trash screen), and contain baffle plates to dampen the effects of vessel speed or sea state. The intake size of sea chests varies from less than 10 cm² to several square meters“(Wikipedia). Problem: Frazil are [...]
Fill Height Of Construction Blocks
Fill Height Of Construction Blocks Industrial Fill Height Of Construction Blocks Dimensions Description Introduction: When you construct a concrete block wall, the dimensions of the concrete block help ensure the structural integrity of the structure. Since the block is formed in a mold, the width and length are consistent; the height of the block is the variable. The amount of concrete dispensed in the mold, the pressure applied after filling the mold, and even sweeping the block after it is filled can all affect the overall height. The Problem: Many concrete [...]
Water In Oil
Industrial Water In Oil Level Description
Thread Checking
Automotive Thread Checking Presence/Absence Description Manual thread inspection is slow, not always reliable and tedious for the inspector. Manufacturers have struggled to come up with ways to reliably automate the process at a reasonable cost. Automated systems are available that use “screw sensors” can quickly wear or be cross threaded, requiring operator attention and a tooling change. A worn screw can provide false rejections leading to the unnecessary scrapping of parts. Capacitance solutions are cost effective alternative which are becoming increasingly popular due to their high reliability and fast [...]