Starrett-Bytewise builds the Profile360 Blue, a real-time in-line laser measurement system for continuous 2D profile inspection. It is the fifth generation of the Profile360 line, and the company describes it as a streamlined design in a compact footprint at a lower cost than earlier generations.
An embedded processor handles the work onboard, so the system needs no separate PC interface. Profile360 Blue also uses a single wavelength sensor model, which reduces the number of spare sensors a plant has to keep on hand. Field-of-view options are 60mm, 120mm and 180mm, which Starrett-Bytewise says gives a larger inspection envelope in a smaller package.
The system acquires thousands of data points around a profile and matches them to a CAD template. Key parameters such as width, thickness, gap, radius and angle are extracted from that match, then compared against allowable control limits. Results appear on the operator's terminal with a pass, caution or fail status indicator.
For QA managers and process engineers running extrusion or roll-forming lines, the relevant claim is coverage. Matt Orvis, global sales director at Starrett-Bytewise, says the system provides 100 percent inspection of the entire parts run, giving manufacturers visibility to address dimension changes right away and cut scrap and rework.
Starrett-Bytewise lists rubber, plastic, ceramic, wood-plastic composite extrusions, roll-formed metal profiles and large wire and cable as target materials. The Profile360 family comes in standard sizes and can be custom-built for almost any size and shape. A separate variant, the On-Line Profilometer (OLP) Blue, is configured for tire manufacturing.
