Stretch and Draw

Untitled Document

Stretch/Draw Control with LaserSpeed 4000

LaserSpeed 4000 Gauge

Understanding The Problem

Benefits
High accuracy and repeatability Direct replacement for tachometers with no moving parts to wear out Non-contact length and speed measurement No slippage Non-marking Not affected by material surface or color Permanently calibrated Low cost of ownership Compact, rugged industrial sensor operates on +24VDC “Smart” gauge—optics, electronics and I/O in the gauge

There are several reasons why a manufacturer might want to control the stretch or draw of their product during manufacturing including:

Draw down the product as thin as possible without breaking
Make sure there is no draw and that all drive rollers are pulling the product down the line at the same speed
Draw down the product to a very specific and accurate thickness

Most manufacturers currently measure this by either trusting the speed that their drives are reporting or using a contact encoder in some way. While drives are becoming more sophisticated and more accurate every year, the simulated encoder output from the drive can not compensate for slippage. Every product has some amount of slipping on the drive roller. The amount that the product slips can change based on texture, product composition, or even tension at other points on the
line. A contact encoder attached to the drive roller has the same problems.
A contact encoder riding on the product has even more problems. The wheel can either wear down or have dirt build up, both of which change the calibration. This, along with the same types of slippage problems, makes any sort of contact measurement a poor choice when high accuracy is desired.

Measurement Point

The Solution

The best solution for accurate measurement of stretch or draw down is a non-contact length and speed measurement device such as Beta LaserMike’s LaserSpeed 4000. The LaserSpeed 4000 uses a unique, laser-based measurement technique. Since it measures the product itself and not a roller, slippage is not a problem. Adding the fact that the LaserSpeed 4000 has a measuremen accuracy of ±0.05%, the manufacturer can be confident that the stretch or draw measurement will be reliable and correct. By placing one LaserSpeed 4000 at each critical measurement point along the line, a manufacturer can accurately determine the amount of stretch or draw down of their product, eliminating any guessing or uncertainty.

This highly reliable gauge is designed for heavy industrial environments, is easy to install, and never requires recalibration. The measurement is performed optically, so there are no moving parts to wear out. The LaserSpeed 4000 provides the same outputs as an encoder, for simple plug-and-play installation with minimal modifications required to the manufacturing line and current draw control process. For applications requiring only two LaserSpeed 4000 gauges, Beta LaserMike’s Length Differential Indicator can provide a complete solution with integrated power supply, RS-232 data output and three relay outputs for alarms.

For More Information
This measurement system can do even more. For example, do you have problems with length measurement? The LaserSpeed 4000 can help you accurately control the amount of product you are shipping to your customers. To find out more about how the LaserSpeed 4000 can help you dramatically reduce product giveaway and improve your manufacturing process, contact the Beta LaserMike office nearest you.

Beta LaserMike USA 8001 Technology Blvd. Dayton, OH 45424 USA Ph: +1 937 233 9935 Fax: +1 937 233 7284	Beta LaserMike Europe Unit 3, First Avenue Globe Park, Marlow Buckinhamshire, SL7 1YA United Kingdom Ph: +44 1628 401510 Fax: +44 1628 401511	Beta LaserMike Asia Unit 101, 102 & 201, XinAn Plaza Building 13, No. 99 TianZhou Rd. Shanghai, 200233 China Ph: +86 21 6113 3688 Fax: +86 21 6113 3788