Speed and Length Measurement Laser Sensor

With SPEETEC, SICK is expanding its product range for speed and length measurement of objects moving in a linear path to include technology that measures directly on the material surface. The non-contact sensor is able to measure a wide range of web and continuous materials, as well as blanks with an accuracy of just 4 μm.

The speed sensor closes the gap between tactile, indirect-measuring encoder solutions and laser velocimeters, which are often expensive to purchase and require considerable effort to integrate and operate. Slip-resistant, without measuring elements, without damaging sensitive surfaces and without wear and tear on tactile sensor elements – the SPEETEC is an innovative, non-contact sensor for speed and length measurement of objects moving in a linear path.

The SPEETEC offers a new way to measure without slip, measuring elements or marking, and wear and tear on tactile sensor elements. Materials that cause wear, adhesion, or abrasion damage to measurement solutions such as measuring wheel encoders, impairing their function, can be measured by the SPEETEC with a high degree of process reliability and availability. Optical scanning prevents damage or contamination, thereby increasing product quality.

Safe and Highly Accurate Measurement Principle

Since SPEETEC is equipped with class 1 lasers, it offers an alternative to expensive laser velocimeters and the associated costly protective measures. The return on investment (ROI) is particularly attractive.

The non-contact measurement is performed with a laser Doppler process at speeds of up to 10 m/s. Two transmitters emit laser light – one in the direction of movement of the material, the other in the opposite direction. Since the transmitters work independently, possible mounting tolerances and surface fluctuations (i.e., with wavy surfaces) can be balanced out.

All measurements are done with high precision. At a resolution of four micrometers, the accuracy relating to the object length of a meter is one millimeter. The repeatability in this case is specified within half a millimeter. Measured values are output via the TTL or HTL interfaces common in the encoder world, making integration easy.

With the SPEETEC, length, speed and position can also be detected in linear movements when switching between forward and backward motions. In addition, acceleration measurement in applications with high motion dynamics is possible since, with the SPEETEC, only three milliseconds pass between the start of the movement and the output of measured values.

For more information: https://www.sick.com/