At the Mtec 2008 exhibition (13-14 February), Micro-Epsilon will be showcasing a range of innovative sensor products on stand 1054. 'Live' demonstrations of sensors will show how the products solve real-world measurement problems.
With more than 30 years' experience in the industry, Micro-Epsilon more than just a manufacturer of sensors. Micro-Epsilon products are truly innovative and the company understands the importance of providing 'complete solutions' for its customers. The company is renowned for its expertise in consulting, development and application of industrial sensors to complex, customer-specific measurement, inspection and automation tasks. The company develops and manufactures sensors and sensor systems that measure displacement, distance, position, vibration, dimensions and thickness, using both contact and non-contact techniques, including 2D/3D laser optical, confocal chromatic, eddy current, capacitive, inductive, draw-wire, time-of-flight and non-contact infra-red thermometers.
Featured on the stand will be the company's miniature confocal sensor, the optoNCDT 2402 (see www.machinebuilding.net/p/p0465.htm). Micro-Epsilon says this product represents a 'world first' in optical sensor miniaturisation, with a diameter of just 4mm (standard sensor diameters are 27mm), making the sensors suitable for measuring inside confined spaces, including narrow cavities, drilled holes and bores. As well as axial measurement, the new range also includes a 90-degree version, enabling users to measure (radially) the inner surfaces of small components or bores.
Visitors to the stand will also be able to look at the new controller for the 2401 confocal series, the IFC 2401. This incorporates a super-bright LED light source and USB 2.0 interface for high-speed data transfer and configuration of the controller. The sensor also has analogue interfaces for easy integration into the customer's application.
Software for laser line sensor
Micro-Epsilon will be demonstrating its new simplified user software for the scanCONTROL 2810, the company's 2D/3D laser line sensor. The sensor itself is capable of measuring up to 256,000 points per second up to 4kHz. The new easy-to-use software enables machine builders, systems integrators and end users to more easily adapt and configure the system for different applications. No special software programming skills are required and the system offers very high speeds and accuracies, enabling end users to inspect their products in-process in real time. Triggers and alarms can be set using the software, so that when limits or tolerances are exceeded, users are alerted.
Typical applications for the sensor system include: weld seam inspection; glue bead inspection; door edge detection; angle measurement; step and height measurement; planarity and surface control on PCBs; robot guidance and positioning; and groove width and depth measurement
Micro-Epsilon will also be showing a new range of controllers for its non-contact capacitive displacement sensor range (see www.machinebuilding.net/p/p0934.htm). These controllers enable cable lengths of up to 20m to be used between the sensor and the controller. The capaNCDT 6100 and 6300 sensors themselves are claimed to offer unmatched resolution (sub-nanometre), extreme stability and can be used on any conducting target. There is also a new 50kHz output rate option on the capaNCDT 6350 series.
Another addition to the optoNCDT family of non-contact displacement sensors, for direct reflecting targets, is the optoNCDT 1700DR. This model incorporates patented software algorithms that enable the sensor to be used with direct reflective materials, such as mirrored surfaces, highly polished metals and glass.
'Unmatched measurement accuracy'
For high-accuracy, high-speed measurement applications, Micro-Epsilon's new optoNCDT 2220 is said to offer unmatched accuracy and a measuring rate of up to 20kHz. According to Micro-Epsilon, while other sensors on the market may claim to measure at this rate, none can match the system accuracy and real world performance of the optoNCDT 2220.
Also new on the stand are the optoNCDT 1810-50 and optoNCDT 2210 sensors, which are suitable for long range or large standoff applications. In applications where the sensor cannot be mounted close to the target, these sensors offer offset distances of up to 0.5m from the target, while still offering high accuracy and resolution with a small measurement range of 10 and 50mm.
For more information on Micro-Epsilon's range of sensors, or for a product demonstration, visit stand 1054 at Mtec 2008.
