SMALL SENSOR FOR RUBBER AND TIRES.

A laser-based noncontact sensor for rubber and tire applications in tight work areas has been developed by LMI Selcom Inc. of Detroit.

The new-generation Class II laser sensor head 2401, based on laser triangulation, has a highly visible laser diode for easy setup and safety, and a

Mike Snow, manager of LMI Selcom Rubber and Tire Division in North America, said the device can accurately profile green rubber and is ideal for tires with high silicon content, two materials that are difficult to measure accurately.

Applications in the rubber and tire industry include quality inspection and production control; dimensional thickness and cross-sectional profiles of on- and offline extruded products, such as tire treads and sidewalls; splice width measurement and overlap; and tire behavior versus speed.

According to LMI Selcom, the LSH 2401 provides precise noncontact measurement to increase production and reduce costly false positive rejects. Lubrication oil, white sidewalls, or high silicon content will not cause invalid readings. Measurement is taken over a 200-micron spot at a high-speed 16-kHz sample rate to define bulge and dent features without regard to lubrication oil, extreme slopes, and white or black lettering.

The sensor is designed with integrated electronics, providing a small footprint. A built-in processor for data averaging and filtering is contained in a separate controller unit that interfaces to the sensor head. Stand-off distance is 1.97 inches, with a measuring range of 0.788 or 1.58 inches; or a standoff of 3.15 inches, with a measuring range of 1.97. Digital outputs of RS-232, RS-422, and a 16-kHz four-wire high-speed LMI Selcom protocol allow internal sensor programming of measurement units, protocol type, interference, sample per average valid threshold percent, and analog hold on invalid.