Aluminum Sheet Length Posted in: Length Measurement – Tags: Metal and Steel Production

Laser Sensors Used for Aluminum Sheet Length Measurement

Aluminum is often sold in long sheets, sometimes up to 20-30 feet long. The customer expects these sheets to be a specific length. Aluminum manufacturers stack these sheets on a sliding table. Each sheet has one cut end and is pushed up against a large stop or barrier. When the stack gets to be 4-5 feet in height, the operator moves the table carrying the stack to the end to be cut with a large heavy duty band saw positioned above the conveyor.

An Acuity AR700-50 displacement sensor unit is installed at that end to measure the position of the uncut stack end. The operator positions the stack at the location where the band saw will cut the stack to the proper length. Through the combination of the long standoff distance of the AR700-50 sensor and protective enclosure, the laser is protected from hazardous flying hot aluminum debris.

The AR700-50 model has a base distance of ~30 inches and measurement range of 50 inches. With linearity of +/- 0.05%, customers choose this model because of its precision and accuracy at longer ranges so the laser can avoid hazardous flying debris.