Last Updated: August 11, 2020
Automation
Laser Sensors used in Factory Automation
In factory and plant automation, non-contact lasers are used to detect or monitor target distances or dimensions at high speeds for various materials, with a wide range of colors and levels of background ambient light. Laser distance sensors in factory automation are used to provide precise positioning or displacement measurements, usually to be used in some type of industrial controller, such as a PLC. Acuity sensors come with various communications options to ensure the optimal integration and communication of machines. Applications include online thickness, width and height measurements where the targets are moving fast and high accuracy is needed.
This application list is not intended to be an exhaustive view of sensors in factory automation. The measuring tasks are by no means limited to these examples, and may serve as a suggestion for similar or completely different applications.
Acuity AP820 Laser Lines Calculate Volume
Recently a customer has asked Acuity for help in being able to measure the volume of different packages sizes coming down a conveyor line.
Calculating Coil Length in Rolls
Need to calculate coil length remaining on a coil roll? Laser sensors can give you accurate and simple non-contact length measurements.
Height of Flux in Flux Core Weld Wire
A manufacturer of flux-core weld wire uses laser measurement sensors to measure the height of flux in a channeled wire.
Loop Control Position Measurement
Laser sensors are used to monitor loop distance between rolls. The non-contact laser is mounted above the loop and pointed down to measure the bottom of the loop.
Lumber Length Measurement in Sorting Lines
Lumber mills are taking advantage of the high speed and high accuracy AR2000 sensor for sorting applications. As lumber is moved down the conveyor line, sensor length measurements are made on each board in less than two seconds.
Lumber Thickness and Dimensions
The forest, lumber and wood products industry is a regular user of Acuity laser sensor products for the measuring of logs, cants, lumber, veneer thickness, paperboard, etc.
Measuring Concrete Block Height
An OEM machine maker who has for years been making equipment for the concrete block industry is addressing a quality assurance issue by integrating Acuity laser displacement sensors into a non-contact height measurement system.
Metal Coil Diameter
Laser rangefinders can be mounted perpendicular to the coil surface. If the distance from the sensor to the roll core is known, a single laser rangefinder can be used to monitor the change in distance from the roll core to the sensor, giving way for diameter calculation measurements.
Metal thickness as rolled steel passes over a cylinder
As metal moves over the top of the roller, the laser calculates the height of the metal to be used as the thickness of the metal. A single laser can be used for one point of measurement or multiple sensors across the roll for multiple thickness measurement points.
Paper Roll Diameter
As a very large roll of paper winds off to smaller individual rolls, manufacturers must ensure that the smaller rolls have enough material present to be able to sell.
Postal Automation
Sensors are commonly used to detect and measure pieces of mail at blistering speeds. Integrators of Postal Automation systems use AR200 laser measurement sensors for counting individual flat packs in long stacks.
Steel Strip Thickness Measurement
The metals fabrication business is one of the oldest industries in the world. Large mills are automated, but some smaller mills still rely on hand-held micrometers to gauge metal thickness. AR200 laser measurement sensors are ideal for measuring steel strip thickness to fine resolutions. Steel passes between two opposing non-contact laser sensors.
