Micro-Epsilon introduces Scancontrol 2710 sensor

The latest addition to Micro-Epsilon's Scancontrol range of 2D/3D laser profile sensors is the Scancontrol 2710, which is compact and offers new setup and configuration software.

The sensor is suitable for industrial automation, robotics and machine building applications, where space is often restricted.

The compact design, integrated controller and setup software enable users to quickly mount the sensor onto robot arms, inspection equipment or production lines.

The sensor can be used to measure the profile of adhesive beading, weld seams, channels, grooves, gaps, angles and steps, as well as for parts recognition, traceability and robot guidance/positioning.

Once the Scancontrol 2710 has been configured using the setup software supplied, the system operates in standalone mode.

Using the integrated controller, the sensor can acquire data, calculate profiles and generate measured values for the complete field of measurement at high speed (64,000 points/100 profiles per second) and full resolution.

The user requires no other components to evaluate the measurement data (no PC nor special programming software are required) and the unit can be re-configured and adapted for different applications.

The system works in two ways: either in a stationary mode, with the sensor fixed and looking at moving targets, or in a scanning mode, where the sensor works in combination with a motion control device or robot.

The sensor uses a CMOS array with a real-time, high-speed electronic shutter (rather than conventional rolling shutters), which captures the entire profile and processes the information instantaneously.

The system is available with measuring ranges from 25mm to 300mm in the Z (vertical) axis and 22mm to 148mm in the X (horizontal) axis.

A small output module for DIN rail mounting is also available to convert the sensor output data into common Fieldbus systems, including Canbus, Profibus DP, Ethercat and IEEE.

Measurement results can be output using digital or analogue modules for further processing and evaluation.

The sensor also provides the synchronous triggering of multiple Scancontrol sensors.

Chris Jones, managing director at Micro-Epsilon UK, said: 'The Scancontrol 2710 offers all the technical features of its predecessor, the 2810, but goes even further in terms of compactness and ease of setup and configuration.

'Additionally, the 2710 provides a greater choice of measurement ranges, which enables the sensor to solve a wider range of applications.

The Scancontrol 2710 uses the laser line triangulation measurement principle.

The sensor has an integrated, highly sensitive CMOS array, which enables measurements of almost any difficult surface such as shiny or reflective surfaces, independent of the reflection from the target.

This means that excellent accuracy, resolution (4um) and reliability are achieved, even at high measurement speeds, according to the company.

A line optical system projects a laser line onto the surface of the object being measured.

The back-scattered light from the laser line is registered on a CMOS matrix by a high-quality optical system.

Along with distance information (Z axis), the controller calculates the true position along the laser line (X axis) from the camera image and outputs both values in the sensor's 2D coordinate system.

A moving target or traversing sensor generates a 3D representation of the object being measured.

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