At the Sensors & Instrumentation exhibition (25-26 September 2013, NEC, Birmingham), precision sensor manufacturer Micro-Epsilon (stand G3) will present its full range of products, including non-contact eddy current and laser displacement sensors, infrared temperature sensors, thermal imaging cameras, draw wire sensors, and colour recognition sensors.
To encourage visitors to interact with the products, the stand will stage a number of ‘live’ working demonstrations, where sensors will be set up to capture measurements from a variety of real-world applications. Visitors will also be invited to take part in Micro-Epsilon’s “Sensor Challenge” to test their knowledge of the various non-contact measuring techniques.
Laser profile sensors
Highlights of the stand this year include the new scanCONTROL 2600/2900, the latest innovation in the company’s range of 2D/3D laser profile scanners. The scanCONTROL 2600/2900 is even more compact and lightweight than its predecessors, making it suitable for a wide range of measurement tasks in highly automated production environments. The sensor is small enough to be mounted on robot arms or on plant and machines where space is restricted. The sensors offer measuring rates of up to 1280 points per profile. Measuring ranges are from 53mm up to 390mm, with a choice of interfaces, including Gigabit Ethernet, RS422, as well as digital and encoder inputs.
Embedded Coil Technology
Other highlights include the eddyNCDT 3100 displacement sensor, the first standard, catalogue sensor to benefit from Micro-Epsilon’s groundbreaking Embedded Coil Technology (ECT). ECT is a technological breakthrough in eddy current sensor design and manufacture, enabling ultra-compact designs to be produced. ECT provides almost unlimited scope in terms of the external design and geometrical shape of the sensor, which can be adapted to suit virtually any application. The sensors offer extreme mechanical robustness, resulting in longer service intervals and higher temperature stability. The sensors are suitable for harsh operating environments, including high vibration, impact shocks and high operating temperatures. Custom ECT sensor versions can be developed for high volume OEM applications.
Detecting small temperature differences
Micro-Epsilon will also showcase its latest thermoIMAGER TIM 450 inline infrared thermal imager. This higher resolution camera not only offers improved image resolution, but also detects even smaller temperature differences. The TIM 450 is able to capture and store thermal video and images with extremely high optical resolution (382 x 288 pixels) at a full frame rate of 80Hz. A new detector provides an unmatched thermal sensitivity of 40mK, enabling the camera to detect even smaller changes in temperature. The TIM450 is available for less than £6,000 – a significant price breakthrough for this market.
The stand will also feature the thermoMETER CSmicro, one of the smallest infrared temperature sensors currently available. This miniature sensor has a diameter of just 14mm, with the electronics unit now fully integrated in the cable. The sensor now includes an LED for self-diagnostic functions or for displaying the current measured temperature. The sensor can be used in a wide range of OEM applications, particularly where installation space is restricted.