Laser sensors are commonly used in steel hot mills because they

afford an accurate, non-contact method of determining the position or dimensions of materials that are too hot to touch. Many of Acuity's customers are OEM integrators who service the specialized needs of the Steel and Aluminum Mill customers. They understand the challenges of using precision metrology equipment in hot mill environments. Mills may be very cold when not operative and extremley hot while steel is produced.

American Sensors Corp. uses dual AR600-50 laser triangulation sensors in their LM500-LR7-D width measurement systems that they install in worldwide steel mills. The application uses these sensors equipped with 20 mW infared laser diodes to ensure a strong return signal off dark (cooled) or bright radiating steel (hot). The sensosr are configured with narrow bandpass filters to eliminate the effects of emissive radiaiton from hot steel.

The sensors are installed in special, rugged enclosures that protect them from the intense heat and the dirty environment. The housing are primarly water-cooled and also use forced air at the location of the laser sensor's windows. The housed sensors are fixtured to heavy-duty floor-mouned poles. The sensor are aligned to each other, straddling the slab caster or roller table at the entry or exit to the reheat furnace. As the slab passes between the two sensors, the device measures the distance to the edges and calculates the material width.

This width measurement solution has been implemented throughout the United States, Canada, China and other countries. American Sensors Corp. also installs steel thickness measurement system. See the American Sensors Corp. website for LM500-LR7-D Width Gauge specifications.

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