INSTRUMENTS.

Thickness gauge

The LTP-100 laser-based thickness profiler is an in-line, non-contact, non-nuclear laser-based thickness gauging system designed for the profile measurement of rubber. The technology used can measure material thickness to an accuracy of [+ or -] 0.0006" with a resolution of 0.0002". The system makes readings every 0.1 inches while traversing across the web. The LTP-100 includes an operator interface which displays, stores and prints thickness data, including a crossweb thickness profile with alarm limits, a summary end of roll report, downweb location and thickness measurement data. The laser thickness profiler will maximize raw material usage, maintain uniformity of product and decrease returns/scrap. (Systronics, 4357 Park Dr., Suite J, Norcross, GA 30093)

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Viscometer 

The Vistech+ Mooney viscometer is fully redesigned for ease of maintenance and operation, according to the manufacturer. The single button operation, actuates the safety shield just prior to automatically closing the platens. The drive system is designed with the motor offset, which is said to allow easy cleaning and maintenance of the central shaft area. Each ViscTech+ is supplied with the CompuGraph for Windows data acquisition system. This Y2K compliant software is said to provide flexibility of test design and a simple user interface. according to the company. (Tech Pro, 289 Remington Rd., Suite B, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44224)

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Sensors

Fiber optics temperature sensors are said to allow accurate, precise welds on small or large target areas. The thermal monitor/controller developed to control the fusing or brazing process consists of a six foot long bifucated focused fiber optics probe and electronic processing unit which contains an infrared photon detector. The fiber optics probe measures a .040 inch (1 mm) or a .020 inch (0.5mm) diameter area for the fusing and brazing operation. (Irtronics Instruments, 132 Forest Blvd., Ardsley, NY 10502)

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Shore M hardness tester

The H17M Shore M hardness tester, the latest addition to the Cogenix range, tests small components and o-rings to the proposed Shore M scale. In standard mode, the instrument records the hardness value three seconds after the foot contacts the sample. The operator has the option to adjust the dwell time to suit the testing requirements. The instrument operates completely automatically at the touch of a button. Test status is shown at all times. (H.W. Wallace, 172 St. James's Rd., Croydon, England CR9 2HR)

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Diameter measurement

The model 5150 Holix Gauge is said to be designed for highly accurate diameter measurements up to 6 inches (150 mm). Utilizing patented Holoptics technology, the Model 5150 provides 1,167 measurements per second per axis and requires no calibration. In addition to its extraordinary accuracy and repeatability, the 5150 offers a 60 MHz DSP processor, along with built-in flaw detection capability. It is a available in single- and dual-axis configurations. (TSI, P.O. Box 64394, St. Paul, MN 55164)

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Splice width monitoring

A laser-based, calendered fabric splice width monitor utilizes precise, non-contact laser triangulation technology. The in-line splice width monitor provides real-time product and process quality feedback for both automatic and manual calendered fabric bias cutting/splicing operations without affecting process cycle time. Overlap splices are said to be accurately measured, providing valuable process control and product trend data, resulting in improved quality of fabric ply material delivered to the tire building room, according to the company. Overlap splices in calendered fabric body ply material are said to have several important effects on finished tire quality, including sidewall appearance, sidewall structural integrity and tire uniformity. The splice width monitor is said to provide continuous, real-time measurement of fabric component splice widths in the automatic or manual bias cutting/splicing process in the material preparation area. Precise, non-contact, laser triangulation sensors are positioned to allow the calendered fabric material to pass between two laser sensors. (Bytewise Measurement Systems, 1150 Brookstone Centre Pkwy., Columbus, GA 31904)

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Moving die rheometer 

The D15 MDR (moving die rheometer), introduced under the company's Cogenix brand, features a C-frame design for easy access to the platens for sample loading and cleaning. are said to be easily interchanged, allowing conformance to many international standards such as ASTM, ISO and JIS. At the press of a button, the LCD display on the front panel offers a step-by-step guide for easy start-up and operation, according to the company. The platen gap is automatically checked and reset before each test. The need for operator training is said to have been minimized. Electro-mechanical platen closure eliminates the need for compressed air, thereby removing a possible environmental hazard. Graphical presentation of results are displayed on the LCD screen. The run overlay facility can be used to view and compare up to 100 previously stored curves and set-ups, according Rd., Croydon, England CR9 2HR)

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Length measurement

The LMS-100 length measurement system measures extruded rubber tire tread cut to specified lengths. The length measurement system utilizes laser-based sensors to find the starting and ending edges of a length to product and an encoder to translate the two edges into an actual length measurement. The measurements are sent to a central station for further analysis and display. The system can be linked to a host computer via RS-232 or interfaced with a PLC. The tread length monitoring system utilizes image inspection technology developed by the company. (Systronics, 4357 Park Dr., Suite J, Norcross, GA 30093)

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Ultrasonic analyzer

The NCA 1000 non-contact ultrasonic analyzer is applicable for polymers, composites and other material for the measurement of thickness, density, velocity, viscosity, defects, microstructure, mechanical properties and surface characteristics. After routine calibration, these tasks are performed automatically under ambient environment without any contact with the test medium. Coupled with very high bandwidths and signal to noise ratios, non-contact transducers are also applicable for ultra high precision and high resolution sensing applications. (SecondWave Systems, 1020 E. Boal Ave., Boalsburg, PA 16827)

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Rubber aging oven

An aging oven has been introduced for rubber and plastic materials. The oven is a test tube oven for aging of rubber materials according to ASTM D865 and has 24 test tubes for three specimens each. The oven can also be used for testing of resistance to liquids. The oven has a digital PID temperature controller with a resolution of 0.1 [degrees] C and a sensor in one test tube connected to an indicator with alarm functions. The oven also has an indicator for power failure and cooling channels in the casing for low surface temperature. The EB 11 aging oven is said to have a compact design and low weight, compared to traditional ovens of this type. (Elastocon AB, Goteborgsvagen 99, SE-504 60 Boras, Sweden)

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Accelerated Weathering

The Ci3000+ Xenon Weather-Ometer is said to offer the perfect balance of price and performance for accelerated weathering and lightfastness testing of plastics, textiles, paints and coatings, vinyl and other materials. The Ci3000+ features a State-of-the-art microprocessor controller and a sophisticated temperature control system that is said to provide accurate, reproducible and repeatable test results. Equipped with a menu driven LCD control panel, the Ci3000+ Weather-Ometer offers easy and accurate test programming and operation, according to the company. The microprocessor-based operator interface is said to simplify test start-up, improve diagnostics, automate calibration and offer easy programming of user defined test cycles. The CPU stores 12 pre-programmed, industry defined tests and calibration procedures. (Atlas Electric Devices, 4114 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613)

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Cure analyzer

The ICAM-1500 cure analyzer is designed for the dielectric cure monitoring of fast curing thermosetting resin systems such as SMC, BMC other molding compounds and UV curing materials. The ICAM-1500 is a single channel, portable, cost-effective cure monitoring system that measures changes in dielectric properties to monitor changes in viscosity, cure rate and cure time of thermosetting resin systems, according to the company. Based on the technology of the company's multi-channel ICAM-2000 cure analyzer, the ICAM-1500 is a low cost system said to be ideal for quality control, research, development and production monitoring and control applications that require measuring at only a single sensor location. The ICAM-1500 utilizes the company's line of robust dielectric sensors. Reusable sensors are available that can be permanently mounted in a mold or tool for the monitoring of molding and other repetitive processes. (Holometrix Micromet, 25 Wiggins Ave., Bedford, MA 01730)

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Round parts inspection

The Basler Vario is said to provide 100% inspection of o-ring and mechanical seal surfaces at a speed of up to three pieces per second. The Basler Vario is said to offer the highest resolution and is the most modular system for this type of inspection in the industry, according to the manufacturer. The system is built on a common, one-piece frame to which users can add many options, depending on their inspection requirements. The company can provide up to seven different sensors, a feeding unit and a packing unit. A custom built system is the goal. The inspection performance of the Basler Vario has been substantially enhanced over previous models. The use of the purpose-designed Basler A113 matrix camera is said to make a decisive difference in image quality and the digital interface of the A113 gives much better data transfer than the analog outputs of conventional cameras, according to the company. The Basler A113 camera is used in the inspection system in two different configurations, The first, a high-resolution version, has a pixel resolutions of 1,300 x 1,030 and depending on the image section, gives a resolution from 20 [micro]m to 40 [micro]m. The second version of the A113 has a pixel resolution of 650 x 515 and accounts for the typically high throughout of over three rings per second. (Basler Vision Technologies, 740 Springdale Dr., Suite 202, Exton, PA 19341)

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Differential viscometers

The company manufacturers several patented four-capillary differential viscometers for high-temperature GPC/SEC applications. These viscometers are specifically designed for installation in the high-temperature systems from Waters and Polymer Labs, or for operation outside an existing system. The company proven four-capillary design is said is said to provide better sensitivity and performance than any other single or multi-capillary configuration. With the four-capillary viscometer, the universal calibration principle can be used to determine molecular weight distributions independent of structure and branching. The four-capillary viscometer also provides a direct measurement of intrinsic viscosity and molecular density. Since polymer size, structure and branching are directly related to intrinsic viscosity and density, small differences in size, structure and branching can be identified and quantified, according to the company. (Viscotek, 15600 W. Hardy Rd., Houston, TX 77060)

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Laser beam sensor

Non-contact laser-based industrial gauging sensors are based on the shadow measurement principle and are said to feature better linearity, a longer range capability than similar type sensors, low cost and more flexibility in application, according to the company. Available in 15 different standard models and diaphragms, the Class II LBS laser beam sensor looks at the shadow it creates and does not rely on surface reflectivity for measurement. This is said to make the non-contact sensor ideal for high-speed, non-stationary, hard-to-measure type applications in industries such as rubber, textiles, plastics and others where fast and accurate measurements are required, according to the manufacturer. (LMI Selcom, 21666 Melrose Ave., Southfield, MI 48705)

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Force measuring

The MFP molecular force probe is said to be the first commercially available pico-Newton sensitive, single axis force measuring instrument. The technology is based around a flexible cantilever with a sharp tip that deflects in response to the small forces resulting from the interactions between the cantilever tip and sample. It is said to be more than five times a sensitive as commercially available atomic force microscopes. The instrument also uses a separate sensor to linearize the movement of the cantilever. (Asylum Research, 601-c Pine St., Santa Barbara, CA 93117)

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IR thermometer

The Pyrofiber lab model, non-contact, automatic emissivity correcting IR thermometer is designed for high-speed data collection and analysis. The Pyrofiber lab model microprocessor control can measure temperature values at an extremely fast 1 ms data acquisition rate, according to the company. (Pyrometer Instrument, 209 Industrial Pkwy., Northvale, NJ 07647)

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