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Jay Luis
Marketing Manager
Beta LaserMike Inc.
8001 Technology Blvd.
Dayton, OH 45424
937-233-9935
Dayton, OH – December 3, 2012 – Beta LaserMike, a leading global provider of precision measurement and control solutions, today announced the growing adoption of its LaserSpeed non-contact length and speed gauge by steel pipe manufacturers. LaserSpeed is enabling manufacturers realize real productivity gains by significantly reducing measurement errors and improving process control in applications such as continuous product length measurement and cutting control.
“Steel pipe production plants are harsh environments for measurement devices used to control processing operations,” says Jay Luis, Worldwide Marketing Manager at Beta LaserMike. “Many of our customers have used mechanical contact encoders or tachometers at one time to measure the length and speed of their steel pipe products, not realizing they were getting 1% or greater accuracy at best due to slippage and mechanical issues. This created real product quality issues, waste, and downtime -- costing the manufacturing significantly. As such, manufacturers replaced their mechanical contact encoders with the LaserSpeed non-contact gauge to obtain higher precision length and speed measurements.”
The LaserSpeed gauge by Beta LaserMike uses laser technology to directly measure the length and speed of pipe products with greater than ±0.05% accuracy and without making contact. In continuous pipe production applications, the LaserSpeed gauge is positioned perpendicular to the product and at a specified distance based on the model. As the product moves through the measurement region created by the intersecting laser light, the LaserSpeed gauge translates the product speed and produces pulses to determine the product length. A signal is sent to a counter to display the length data. Mills requiring cut length accuracy use the LaserSpeed gauge to obtain precise and reliable pipe length measurements for controlling a flying cutter. Once length is determined, a pulse output is sent to a control system such as a PLC to trigger the precise cuts. This higher level of accuracy and control eliminates the need for constantly checking the product length and cut accuracy, as well as recalibrating mechanical encoders and tweaking the control system. Manufacturers typically realize a return on their investment in a matter of weeks.
LaserSpeed is a direct replacement for mechanical contact encoders. It has no moving parts and is factory calibrated, reducing the need for routine adjustments and maintenance. Beta LaserMike offers a complete line of LaserSpeed systems with measurement speeds up to 20,000 m/min (65,000 ft/min), standoff distances up to 2500 mm (98.4 in), and measurement depth of field up to 200 mm (8.0 in). Models are available to measure forward and reverse directions and down to true zero speed (product at standstill). LaserSpeed can also be equipped with a rugged, environmental enclosure for sealed protection in harsh environments.