Industrial production requires the detection and processing of process variables during the fabrication of goods. Optical micrometers enable dimensional measurements by detecting parameters such as position, diameter and height. Accurate and precise measurements are critical in applications such as production, machine monitoring and quality assurance. The high-performance optoCONTROL 2700 compact LED micrometer from Micro-Epsilon delivers accurate non-contact measurements to meet the highest industrial demands.

Measurement principle

The measurement principle of the optical micrometer is based on the transmitted light principle. A parallel light curtain is produced by the micrometer’s transmitter unit and sent to the receiver unit via an arrangement of lenses. The presence of an object in the path of the light interrupts the light beam and causes a shadow to be detected by the receiving optics. This shading is converted into a measurement variable and output as the measured value, such as an analog voltage from 0 to 10 V.

Figure 1. Micro-Epsilon's optoCONTROL 2700 optical micrometer can measure the diameter of turned parts directly in the machine following turning. Source: Micro-Epsilon

The measuring principle of the optoCONTROL 2700 provides a number of benefits. The micrometer enables reliable measurements with its durable design, operating free of wear without rotating mirrors. The micrometer is well suited to applications requiring high reliability and precision. High accuracy measurement is enabled by the light source’s special optics, which generate the parallel light curtain, as well as high-quality lenses and filters in the receiving unit.

optoCONTROL 2700

The characteristics and features of the optoCONTROL 2700 micrometer allow it to excel in a wide range of industrial applications. The micrometer can perform active tilt correction of the measuring object as well as angle measurements up to 45°. Tilt correction is performed by detection of the exact alignment and angle of the measuring object followed by automatic adjustment of the measured value (diameter) based on the inclination of the object. A set-up mode can be used for simple alignment of the measuring object by displaying a black and white shadow image.

The optoCONTROL 2700 delivers excellent precision with a linearity of 1 µm and a digital resolution of 10 nm. The micrometer features a measuring range of 40 mm and can measure objects as small as 0.3 mm with a 15 kHz sampling rate and 5 kHz measuring rate. An Ethernet connection allows easily programming presets, measuring rate or averaging via a web interface, which provides many adjustable parameters for different measurement tasks. No protective equipment is required during operation of the micrometer due to its use of a LED light source instead of a laser, and its 508 nm wavelength allows measurement of red, glowing red and red-hot objects.

Compared to competing products, the optoCONTROL 2700 has a number of advantages. A high measurement accuracy offers improved resolution and linearity while a fast sampling rate and exposure time (8.5 µs) enables measurement even when the object is vibrating or moving at high speed. An integrated controller in the receiver minimizes cabling since an external control unit is not necessary. The micrometer is also very insensitive to interference from ambient light (up to 5,000 lux) or dust.

Applications

The optoCONTROL 2700 is well suited for quality monitoring on the production line as well as measuring single parts or continuous material in manufacturing processes. The micrometer is used for diameter, gap, edge or segment measurement in applications such as production automation, machine building and in sectors such as the automotive and glass industries.

Figure 2. Width tolerance of stainless steel strips can be checked by the optoCONTROL 2700 optical micrometer immediately following for 100% quality inspection on the production line. Source: Micro-Epsilon

In the manufacture of glass panes, two optoCONTROL 2700 sensors on either side of the glass can measure the exact position and pass the measurement to the production control system. This allows correction of the process to ensure exact alignment of the pane according to the sensed position, thereby reducing waste and ensuring quality.

The micrometer is used for shape and dimension measurement of turned parts while still in the machine following milling or turning processes. Contour measurement of cones, undercuts and threads on turned shafts is enabled in a non-contact process that prevents damage such as scratches to the measured part.

Hot extruded products with diameters up to 40 mm can be measured directly following extrusion to ensure 100% quality inspection of continuous profiles. In addition, multi-segment measurement on stainless steel belts verifies width tolerance of each metal strip immediately following processing by the cutting roller. Furthermore, the measurement of gaps between calendar rollers ensures minimal waste of material during the rolling process by determining the position of each roller relative to each other for distance control.

The Micro-Epsilon advantage

The optoCONTROL 2700 delivers highly accurate and precise measurement of diameter, gap, edge and segment for applications in a wide range of industrial sectors. The optical micrometer offers innovative features like active tilt correction and angle measurement at an excellent price to performance ratio. Learn more about Micro-Epsilon's optoCONTROL 2700 optical micrometer for precise non-contact measurement tasks.