PiXARGUS Introduces Flexible Inline Inspection for Rubber Extrusion
PiXARGUS has introduced ProfilControl 7 RubberFleX, a new inline inspection system developed specifically for the dimensional and surface inspection requirements of rubber profile extrusion.
Part of the company’s new ProfilControl 7 XLine family, the system combines optical inspection hardware with software designed around the specific requirements of rubber extrusion. Its modular sensor-head design allows the system to be configured with between one and eight optical cameras, enabling inspection configurations to be matched to individual profile geometries and quality requirements.
The system is intended to address applications ranging from conventional automotive sealing profiles to technological rubber profiles used in applications such as air conditioners, refrigerators and windows.
Modular Optical Inspection
ProfilControl 7 RubberFleX uses an open sensor plate with a predefined hole pattern, allowing optical sensors to be positioned according to the geometry of the profile being inspected. Up to eight specialized cameras can be installed to provide continuous coverage of the required profile areas.
The configuration is designed to accommodate both relatively simple and highly complex rubber profiles, including elastic and fine-featured geometries.
For illumination, the system uses up to 700 high-performance LEDs to generate a homogeneous inspection field. ProfilControl software compensates for interfering external light effects while processing the camera data.
Dimensional and Surface Inspection
ProfilControl 7 RubberFleX can measure profile characteristics including contours, distances, angles, radii, heights, widths and clamping dimensions. Surface inspection functions are designed to identify defects such as specks, holes, scratches, bubbles, cracks and colour deviations.
PiXARGUS’s MultiArea functionality uses virtual cameras to allow multiple areas within the inspection field to be analysed simultaneously. This enables potential defects and their sources to be identified during production, helping manufacturers detect process deviations before significant quantities of out-of-specification material are produced.
The system can be configured for dimensional measurement, surface inspection or a combination of both. The combined configuration, described by PiXARGUS as DualVision, provides an integrated approach to dimensional and surface quality control.
Software-Assisted Inspection
The ProfilControl software provides automated inspection functions and analysis tools intended to simplify setup and defect tracking.
Among the software features are assistance functions for products with varying surface characteristics. For example, the system can recommend an appropriate roughness value during inspection setup, reducing the amount of manual parameter adjustment required from the operator.
According to PiXARGUS Sales Manager Michael Frohn, “ProfilControl 7 RubberFleX provides just the perfect blend of hardware and software to meet the challenges of rubber extrusion processes – not more and not less.”
Configurable for Different Production Requirements
The modular approach allows manufacturers to specify the number and arrangement of optical sensors according to the inspection task. PiXARGUS positions this as a way of avoiding unnecessary hardware while retaining the option to expand the system for more demanding applications.
The standard system includes a 21.5-inch multi-touch monitor, mobile support frame and encoder. Additional configurations are available for applications including hole and flocking inspection, variable extrusion and defect density management.
With ProfilControl 7 RubberFleX, PiXARGUS is extending its established ProfilControl 7 inspection technology into a more application-specific platform for rubber extrusion, combining inline dimensional measurement and surface inspection within a configurable optical inspection system.
For more information: www.pixargus.com
