News | April 17, 2013

Micro-Epsilon Introduces Confocal Chromatic Sensors For Measuring Position Of Surfaces

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Micro-Epsilon has introduced the ConfocalDT IFS 2405 series of confocal chromatic sensors for measuring the displacement or position of dark, diffuse and highly reflective surfaces. The sensors are designed for research and development, laboratory, medical, semiconductor manufacturing, glass production and plastics processing applications.

The sensors can provide distance measurements on reflective and transparent materials and can also be used for one-sided thickness measurement on clear film, boards or layers.

The ConfocalDT IFS 2405 series comprises five sensors with measuring ranges from 0.3mm up to 30mm. Spot diameter is from 6µm up to 50µm. Maximum resolution is 0.01µm and maximum linearity is 0.3µm.

Micro-Epsilon is also offering the ConfocalDT 2451 and ConfocalDT 2471 controllers, which provide rapid measuring rates, excellent signal-to-noise ratios and fast real-time surface compensation for difficult-to-measure surfaces.

As well as measuring distance to virtually any target material, the controllers are suitable for measuring the thickness of single- and multi-layer transparent materials, monitoring liquid fill levels, inspecting bore holes (or small cavities) and measuring transparent, reflecting or matt surfaces.

Key features and benefits

  • ConfocalDT IFS 2405 sensors offer higher sensitivity and sub-micrometre resolution.
  • They benefit from large stand-off distances (up to 100mm).
  • The tilt angle has been increased (up to 34°), providing better performance when measuring across changing surface features.
  • The sensors do not contain any electrical components and so are also suitable for use in Atex hazardous areas.
  • The controllers have a rugged industrial design and use a high-performance CCD array as the sensor element.
  • The ConfocalDT 2451 utilises a white LED as the light source, which enables measuring rates of up to 10kHz.
  • The ConfocalDT 2471 provides a measuring rate of up to 70KHz using an external Xenon light source.
  • Both controllers are provided with Ethernet, Ethercat, RS422 and analogue output interfaces.
  • The ConfocalDT 2451 and 2471 controllers use software algorithms that enable them to compensate in real time, giving users the ability to scan surfaces very rapidly and at high resolution.
  • The controllers provide high-speed triggering that allows them to be synchronised with encoders and other motion control devices.