Steel Tank’s End-Cap Dimensions Posted in: AR1000 Laser Distance Sensor – Tags: Diameter Measurement
A manufacturer in Brazil designs and builds tanks and vessels for use in various chemical and petrochemical industries. The tanks — built from carbon or stainless steels — are fabricated in sections and welded together in a final assembly. They are required to maintain strict dimensional tolerances for pre- and final assembly.
The company approached Acuity to assist in improving their dimensional measurement practices for their steel tank dimensions. The manufacturer currently verifies the shape and dimensions using manual methods. Operators use a tape measure to determine the diameter of the hemisphereical endcap.
The resolution of this measurement technique is 1mm and the accuracy varies on the operator technique. They have no method for measuring the interior profile dimensions of the tank’s endcap. For quality verification, operators insert a large, wooden template into each vessel and attempt to assess its fit. They will look for gaps between the edge of the template and the surface of the vessel. The plywood template is subject to thermal and moisture-induced expansion and contraction. The templates require two operators.
The solution to the measurement challenge was to use a non-contact laser distance sensor to measure the interior surface of the end-cap from a central measurement axis. The rangefinder would be rotated 180°, measuring the distance from one edge, through the base and to the other edge. This would allow not only the diameter, but also the entire profile of the shape. This information could be transmitted to a computer for display and archiving.
The AR1000 laser distance sensor has a measurement resolution of 1mm and was successful in measuring all expected surfaces, including bright-ground steel, light oxidation, paint, oiled surfaces, black paint, gray paint, etc. The planned orientation of the laser sensors guaranteed a strong laser reflection off shiny surfaces and provided optimal steel tank dimensions.
Related Products
AR1000 Laser Distance Sensor
The Acuity AR1000 laser distance sensor can measure up to 30 meters on natural targets and up to 150 meters with a retroreflective target with an accuracy of ± 3 mm. This rugged sensor is built for tough, industrial environments and applications such as fill level measurement and material height monitoring.
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