The ScanCONTROL 2800 2D/3D laser-line profile sensor leads the market in performance and ease of use

Citation

(2005), "The ScanCONTROL 2800 2D/3D laser-line profile sensor leads the market in performance and ease of use", Sensor Review, Vol. 25 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2005.08725dad.004

The ScanCONTROL 2800 2D/3D laser-line profile sensor leads the market in performance and ease of use

The ScanCONTROL 2800 2D/3D laser-line profile sensor leads the market in performance and ease of use

Keywords: Lasers, Sensors

In contrast to familiar point laser sensors, a line optical system projects a laser line onto the surface of the object to be measured. The back scattered light from the laser line is registered on a CMOS matrix by a high quality optical system.

Along with distance information (z-axis), the controller also computes the true position along the laser line (x-axis) from the camera image and outputs both values in the sensor two-dimensional coordinate system. A moving object or a traversing sensor will generate three- dimensional representation of the object (Plates 3 and 4).

Measuring ranges on the z-axis is up to 245 mm and on the x-axis up to 160 mm. Resolutions are 10 μm and up to 1,024 points/profile, respectively. Profile frequency is up to 4,000 profiles per second and measuring rate up to 256,000 points per second.

Plate 3 The sensor will generate three-dimensional representation of an object

Plate 4 The controller also computes the true position along the laser line (x-axis)

The advantages of the system are its high accuracy, very high frame frequency, flexible field of view, high-performance signal processing unit and innovative CMOS-technology. Also, unlike vision cameras, lighting of the target is not an issue as the sensor self regulates the laser intensity, and therefore the illumination of the target, every time a measurement is taken.

ScanCONTROL consists of a compact sensor and an intelligent controller connected together via cable of variable length. All components are solid state which means the sensor is robust and measurement performance does not deteriorate with time.

The sensor is easy to mount – providing the target is within the field of view, the object will be measured.

The controller outputs measurement data via a FireWire interface in “XZ” pairs computed from both axes (standard) as well as related values of geometrical features (optional).

Owing to its exceptional speed of measuring and real time data output, ScanCONTROL is not limited in its applications and is ideally suited for industrial inline inspection. Multiple units can be synchronised to offer real time synchronous measurement.

The integrated FireWire interface enables ScanCONTROL to be fully controlled from a PC, while ensuring high data output rates and simultaneously preserving the bandwidth. Alternatively, for simple geometric features, the controller can be pre-programmed and then output data via two analogue and three digital outputs without the need for a PC.

Applications include contour measurement, door gap alignment, position measurement, coplanarity measurement, profile acquisition, flatness measurement, groove measurement, rail profile and robot guidance.

For further details contact: Micro-Epsilon. Web site: www.micro-epsilon.com.