OPTImess laser sensors - due to their small size, high measurement frequency, and accuracy as well as their characteristic feature of being capable to operate in nearly all environmental conditions - are developing into a nearly universal measuring device in the areas of research & development, production, quality control and testing.

OPTImess laser sensors - due to their small size, high measurement frequency, and accuracy as well as their characteristic feature of being capable to operate in nearly all environmental conditions - are developing into a nearly universal measuring device in the areas of research & development, production, quality control and testing.

For controlling and build up of overhead installations it is important to know the exact position of the catenary in height and position. For this application a non-contact laser measuring system was developed for the Korean High Speed Railway Cooperation (KHRC) and the British OLE Alliance.

OPTIline is a laser-measuring system featuring a separate transmitter (laser) and receiver (detector). By means of the laser and its optical equipment, a line of parallel light is created in the required length, which is being displayed on the detector. If a measuring object between laser and detector interrupts the line, part of the detector is in its shade. The bright/dark transition is very clearly determined on the photo detector (shadow measuring method).

The OPTIcontrol.LC system processes the measuring values of one or two OPTImess (or OPTIline) transducers. The already linearised, analogue measuring signals of the transducers are A/D transformed and then transmitted to the numeric processor, where the measuring data processing is carried out and the in-/output unit is operated.

The data processing unit OPTIcontrol.LC facilitates the digital processing of measuring values. The core of this unit is an 8-bit micro processor Hitachi H8-330.

The DELTA MASTER 3 system with its two-dimensional image evaluation offers accurate thickness measurements not only for materials with smooth and flat surfaces but also for materials with heavily structured surfaces. The integrated laser intensity control automatically adapts to the brightness of the surface so that a colour-independent measurement is possible.

Applications already realised are:

Click here for Rubber and Tire Industry data sheet

Universally operating Argus eye: Due to their small size, high measuring frequency and accuracy, laser sensors can be used for non-contact measurements in nearly all environmental conditions. Therefore, they are turning into an universal measuring device in car manufacturing in the areas of research & development, road tests and production.

The method of distance measurement by means of optical triangulation has been applied in geodesy for Ordnance Survey for a long time. Doing this, it is possible to detect the exact position of a required point by means of a known basic length and the definition of two angles. The OPTImess sensors operate according to the same method.

The laser beam, which is projected by a lens system, appears on the test object's surface as diffuse radiating light spot. This spot is in turn projected onto the receiver via a second lens system. Every movement of the test object in the direction of the beam towards the sensor will result in a shifting of the light spot on the photo detector.

Prime areas of application of the laser triangulation sensor are in the field of Crash -Tests because here sled movements or deformations of internal vehicle components can be measured without contact.

Click here for Automotive Industry data sheet

A Laser System for non-contact Recording of Road Conditions.

The laser measuring system fitted to a vehicle (truck or mini-van) facilitates the non-contact recording of the following condition parameters at a speed of up to 80 km/h:

All data measured by the sensors are centrally recorded by a PC in the vehicle and triggered speed-neutral via an incremental transmitter. The vehicle's position is recorded by an GPS system and allocated to the data. The influence of the vehicle's rolling and pitch angles on the measured values is corrected by an GPS-supported gyroscopic system. The laser sensors are designed in such a way that they can also measure on wet roads.

Transversal Evenness
For scanning of a transversal road surface profile, 33 laser sensors at a distance of 100mm each are installed at a right angle to the direction of motion on a tool carrier. The measurment beam features a motor-operated collapsable section on the side, which faces the verge. So that the vehicle can also pass and scan narrow roads without any re-adjusting of the equipment. The measuring data from all sensors are registered synchronously once per 0.01 mtr.; a transversal profile is evaluated each 0.1 mtr. A GPS-supported gyro measuring system is used for position correction of the measurement values.

Horizontal Evenness
For scanning of horizontal evenness, a fixed measuring beam with 4 OPTImess sensors is positioned between the back and front wheel (on the side of the vehicle in case of min-vans). The distance between the individual sensors is adjusted in such a way that groups of three sensors are polled to calculate one wave length range. The evaluation of the measuring values obtained from the sensors is carried out according to the Wandersehnen method, a well-known mathematical formula for wave length determination. So, because the distances between the sensors have been adjusted to an optimum, it is possible to determin wave lengths in the range from 0.25 to 50 mtr.

Texture of Road Topping
By using an extremely fast laser sensor with a special intensity control, it is possible to record the road surface at a very high measuring point density. The analysis of the road's "micro-structure" together with the results of the coefficient of friction measurements form the basis for a statement regarding the road's non-skid properties.

Furthermore, the following measuring tasks in road construction/road maintenance can be performed by OPTImess laser sensors:

Possible applications:

Click here for Railway Industry data sheet

The Robo-spy sensor measures the workpiece and determines the position of the tool center point (TCP) of the robot as well as shape specifications such as gap height, gap width etc., according to the setting. These data can be used for the control of the processing program as well as for the adaptive control of the process.

The Robo-spy sensor can be used for body construction jobs like welding, soldering or bonding and for handling or measuring jobs respectively.