EoW November 2009

Testing & measuring

Length measuring for stranded products

Sikora is offering a newly developed length measuring system, Length 6000, for non-contact online measurement of produced lengths of stranded products. For this method, the product profile and its movement are defined and thus the speed and the produced length calculated. The technology of the Length 6000 is based on an optical measuring principle. In combination with two laser diodes, two image sensors are positioned next to each other. The product passes the first image sensor, which defines the shadow of the product shape. The exposure of the second image sensor occurs when the product shape, which has been recorded by the first image sensor, passes the second sensor. Hence, the characteristics of the shapes of both sensors are identical. The delay time for the exposure of the second image sensor is calculated and controlled adequately by the result of the correlation of both characteristics of the contours. Thus, Length 6000 exactly determines the produced length of the cable. Conventional length measuring devices using the principle of frequency shift, the Doppler-effect, are suitable for the measurement of flat materials such as paper, steel sheet or textile. However, this technology bears difficulties for length measurement of profiles with round or blank surfaces. The technology of the Length 6000 is also reliable for round products and for products with blank surfaces. The system calculates the length independent from whether the product is going forward or backward. Moreover, the measurements start at zero line speed. The use of a length measuring device in cable production lines can contribute to production cost savings. Sikora AG – Germany Fax : +49 421 48900 90 Email : sales@sikora.net Website : www.sikora.net

OEM panel-mounted spring gauge Larson Systems has announced the introduction of the Tiger CNC, believed to be the first OEM panel-mounted spring gauge. Measuring just 3.5" x 7" x 1.4" deep and weighing a mere 0.99lb (0.45kg) the Tiger CNC mounts directly onto the control panel of a spring coiling machine. The digital gauge allows spring manu- facturers to sort springs directly through the coiler’s electronics, a separate com- puter interface is not required. Operators don’t have to understand capacitance measurement, the Tiger CNC does it for them.

Spring testing

The Institute of Spring Technology (IST) has its own range of spring testing machines, originally developed for in-house use due to the lack of suitably accurate machines in the market place. IST understands springs and the very special requirements that a spring test machine has to meet, both in its precision and flexibility in use for the spring maker and user.

The IST range includes: Computer controlled com- • pression and extension load test machines from 0.1N to 50kN capacity. These testers exceed the requirements of EN ISO 7500-1: 2004 class 0.5. (The software supplied with these machines is available in a range of languages and has been praised for its user friendliness) Torsion spring test machines from 0.002Nmm to 100Nm capacity Fatigue test machines with • •

1 – 12 test stations. The stroke can be as little as 0.1mm and up to 300mm, with spring loads from 0.1N to 50kN Fracmat wire coilability machine, developed and sold exclusively by IST, capacity • 0.3 – 3.2mm spring wire Non-axial compression spring load testers • Specials - IST has the design expertise to accommodate most unusual spring • test requirements Also available is the computer refit and refurbishment of used test machines (of any make, but subject to suitability for upgrading). Institute of Spring Technology – UK Fax : +44 114 252 7997 Email : ist@ist.org.uk Website : www.ist.org.uk IST – LT2 load tester ▲ ▲

The Tiger CNC spring gauge ▲ ▲

The Tiger CNC is available with two software packages, Tiger and Super Tiger, which give it comparable functionality to Larson’s Lynx or Panther gauges. Designed to be faster than previous gauges, the Tiger CNC uses standard LION protocol setups and techniques and is compatible with all LSI probes and sorters. Larson Systems Inc – USA Fax : +1 763 780 2182 Email : info@larsonsystems.com Website : www.larsonsystems.com

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EuroWire – November 2009