Issue 2 | Spr ing 2013
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n st h e M i c r o - E p s i l o n U K m a g a z i n e
InsightInto the Blue: Laser Triangulation Sensors
ApplicationsThermal imager detects small changes in temperature
Company newsChange in management at Micro-Epsilon Headquarters
2 Issue 02
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
A Changing Future
At the beginning of the year, there were
management changes at Micro-Epsilon.
After 35 years, prof. Dr.-Ing Martin Sellen
(development manager) took over leadership
of the Micro Epsilon Group Headquarters from
Karl Wisspeintner. In the interview on page 7,
Martin tells us about his goals and challenges
in his new role as managing director.
One of these challenges is to enter new
growth markets such as non-contact colour
measurement. With a new range of colour
measurement products to offer customers,
Micro-Epsilon is now well positioned to gain
a foothold in this growing market. Please turn
to pages 4 and 5 to learn more about two of
these new colour measurement systems.
A promising future has its roots in a successful
past. In our new product chronicle section on
page 17, you can see how Micro-Epsilon’s
capaNCDT series of capacitive sensors and
controllers have changed over the last 30
years. In each edition of the magazine, we
will show you the historical development of
different product ranges through the years.
Enjoy the read!
Johann Salzberger
Group Sales & Marketing Director
e-paper
Fo r e w o r d
Events 2013
Exhibitions
Date Exhibitions Venue
24 - 25 June 2013 Euro Led Stand 314, ICC Birmingham, UK
25 - 26 September 2013 Sensors & Instrumentation Hall 3, Stand G5, Birmingham NEC, UK
02 - 03 October 2013 Engineering Design Show Hall 1, Stand C35, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK
12 - 13 November 2013 Aero Engineering (part of Advanced Engineering) Hall 5, Stand E3, Birmingham NEC, UK
Issue 02 3
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n sC o m p a n y n e w s
Briefs
Micro-Epsilon is delighted to welcome three
new starters to its swelling ranks in the UK.
David Airey, who started in December 2012,
is Sales & Applications Engineer covering the
North of England and Scotland. David is re-
sponsible for developing new business, ma-
naging existing accounts and assisting custo-
mers with their sensor applications.
Prior to working for Micro-Epsilon, David spent
12 years working in various technical sales ro-
les primarily in the sensing & detection indus-
try. David began his working life on a 4-year
apprenticeship at UMIST in Manchester, whe-
re he qualified with an HNC in Electrical &
Electronic Engineering.
In 2012, Stephen Waite also joined the Elles-
mere Port team, as an internal sales engineer.
Stephen is the first point of contact in the UK
for both new enquiries and existing customers,
assisting clients with sensor selection, applica-
tion queries and the preparation of quotations.
Stephen also provides a valuable link between
the external sales engineers and the office. He
has a Degree (MEng) in Mechanical Enginee-
ring from Imperial College London.
David Jones, who started in 2011, is Sales
& Applications Engineer covering the South
East of England. This role involves developing
new business, managing existing customer
accounts, providing customers with technical
expertise and guidance on sensor selection
and application management.
Micro-Epsilon has launched a new online tool
for helping you select the most appropriate
infrared temperature sensor for your applica-
tion. With so many product variants within the
thermoMETER range of infrared temperature
sensors, the ‘Product Selector’ tool speeds up
the time it takes you to find the right product
for your needs. The tool is accessible via our
website homepage www.micro-epsilon.co.uk.
Product Selector is an easy-to-use product
configurator that uses just 4 parameters to
identify a suitable sensor solution for common
applications.
First, you specify the material of the object to
be measured from a pre-defined list of options
that includes more than 40 materials such as
glass, ceramics, steel, aluminium, plastics and
rubber. Next, you specify the spot size diame-
ter between 0 and 400mm, followed by the dis-
tance between the sensor and the target object
(0 to 6,750mm). You are then invited to select
the temperature measuring range – anywhere
between -50 °C to +1,800 °C. If you require a
product with laser aiming/marking for accura-
te alignment, or if space restrictions call for a
more compact sensor with integrated control-
ler, you can refine your search accordingly.
Based on the 4 parameters above, you are then
presented with a list of on-screen product op-
tions. From this list, you can select a sensor pro-
duct, view the product datasheet, specify other
application details such as cable lengths and
output options, and then request a quotation.
Please see page 11 for an update on two of
our recent product launches in non-contact in-
frared temperature measurement.
Three new recruits join growing UK sales team
Online Product Configurator helps users find the right sensor
20 years anniversary of Micro-Epsilon Czech Republic
At the end of March, Micro-Epsilon Czech
Republic celebrated its 20th anniversary. 60
employees from the German site congratula-
ted their Czech colleagues at the anniversary
venue in Bechyne, where they were given se-
veral commemorative gifts. After the company
presentation, there was a guided tour of the
city and of the company. The evening ended
with a traditional Bohemian battle reenactment
and traditional live music.
Micro-Epsilon Czech Republich was founded
in 1991 as Micro-Epsilon spol. S.r.o, in order
to increase the production capacity of the fast-
growing company. In 2006, the takeover of
Czech Republich spol s. r. o by Micro-Epsilon
took place. Sensors in medium and large volu-
mes are still produced there.
David began his working life as an apprentice
in the oil & gas industry for five years, before
studying for a Degree (BSc) in Materials Sci-
ence at Brunel University in London.
Prior to joining Micro-Epsilon, David perfor-
med various technical sales roles for compa-
nies involved with engineering software, CFD
(Computational Fluid Dynamics) and virtual
prototyping and simulation software.
4 Issue 02
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
Industrial measurement of colour The new colorCONTROL ACS 7000 enables inline process measurement of colours
Measuring principle
The measuring principle is based on the spec-
tral process: first the object is raked with white
light. The spectrum of the reflected light of the
test is then compared with a white reference.
From this, the colour coordinates in the colour
system CIE-XY for the wavelength of 390 – 780
nm are calculated.
The spectral process is the most precise
measuring process for measuring colours –
the colour resolution amounts to ΔE 0.01 with
a spectral resolution of 5nm.
The observation condition such as the illumi-
nant (A, C, D64, D50, D75, E, F4, F7, F11 and
specific to the user) and normviewer 2° and
10° are adjustable. The system operates con-
tact-free at a distance of 50mm with a measu-
ring angle of 30° / 0°.
Function and usage
There are three controlling modes for color-
CONTROL ACS 7000. In the first one, the di-
stance of the colour ΔE is measured to the
guidance value. For this reason, up to 15
taught reference colours can be saved. In the
second mode, the reflectivity spectrum of the
test are given. In the third mode, the colours
are measured and shown in the required co-
lour area (ZYZ, L*a*b*, L*u*v). Moreover, a
trend analysis of ΔE / ΔL*, Δa*, Δb* can be
seen for the single colour in any period of time
can be shown and observed. In all modes the
measurements can be made at a speed of up
to 2kHz. The application of the system and in-
dication of relevant measuring parameters are
performed using the web browser. The func-
tion for Black-white-balance is integrated as
well. Interfaces for process integration such as
Ethernet / EtherCAT, RS422, USB and digital
I/O are available.
Areas of use
colorCONTROL ACS 7000 measures on- and
offline. The measuring system is suitable for
the inspection of car paints and coatings, the
colour measurement of interiors, forensics,
foils, injection moulding techniques, wood, ve-
neers, textiles, in the printing and media tech-
nologies.
What is CIE-Lab?In 1876 the International Commission on
Illumination (french: Commission inter –
national de I’Éclairge (CIE)) introduced
the so called L*a*b* colour system.
Every appreciable colour in the colour
spectrum is defined by coordinates
{L*, a*, b*}. In usage of the comple-
mentary colour theory, green and red are
counterparts on the a-axis. The b*-axis
are the counter colours blue and yellow.
The L*axis is vertical on that level and
shows the brightness. The coordinates
of the L*a*b*-colour system are based
on the physiological characteristics of
human perception. The standardised
colour space is equidistant and device-
independent.
The right colour is one of the most important quality criteria with visually appealing products. Micro-Epsilon Eltrotec introdu-
ces the colorCONTROL ACS 7000. This new colour measurement system not only recognises the colour and compares it,
but also measures and grades it according to the colour spectrum.
4 Issue 02
Issue 02 5
Multiple-point colour testing system New benchtop multi-point analyser offers faster, easier inspection of LEDs
Industrial measurement of colour The new colorCONTROL ACS 7000 enables inline process measurement of colours
Micro-Epsilon has launched a series of bench-
top multi-point measurement systems that
enable faster, easier inspection of light-emit-
ting diodes (LEDs).
The colorCONTROL MFA series starts with a
basic version that offers five measuring chan-
nels. The colorCONTROL MFA-5 is extremely
compact and can verify the colour, intensity
and colour temperature (in Kelvin) of up to five
LEDs simultaneously. The measuring system
is modular and so can be extended by adding
extra MFA-E modules in batches of five chan-
nels, up to a maximum of 20 modules (i.e. 100
channels).
The MFA is suitable for a wide range of ap-
plications, including LED tests (binning), indi-
cation and displays, front panels, dashboard
sequence tests, self-luminous object inspec-
tion. The MFA series is suitable for all manu-
facturers and developers of LED luminaires,
including architectural and street lighting, and
LED lighting for automotive interiors.
Customer opinion
Crescent Lighting Limited manufactures and
distributes LED and Fibre Optic lighting equip-
ment for the UK and world markets. The com-
pany supplies a range of LED products for
both functional and decorative use, providing
long life and low energy consumption.
Kelvin Thomas, Engineering Manager at Cre-
scent Lighting comments: “Many Lighting
companies use an integrating sphere to test
complete fixtures, which is relatively expensive
and time consuming. Most however, lack the
capacity to test individual LEDs.
“We recently invested in a colorCONTROL
MFA unit from Micro-Epsilon and find the
speed of use, ease of set up and versatility of
the MFA to be key assets. The MFA is not only
inexpensive, it enables also very rapid compa-
rison of individual LEDs. Measurements can
be taken at different stages in the LED product
testing, providing information on how each
LED is reacting to changes in temperature and
drive current. Colour shift and intensity are ra-
pidly measured enabling the designer to make
clear judgement with regards to the design of
a product.”
How the MFA series operates
The MFA series operates using optical fibres.
The distance between the LED under test and
the optical fibre should be 1-2mm, although
for bright LEDs, this distance can be greater.
Light from the target object is transmitted to
the inspection system via a flexible, 2mm dia-
meter, plastic optical fibre and so is evaluated
dynamically using a digital colour sensor for
colour and intensity. The colour value, which is
evaluated within a few milliseconds, is output
as an RGB-, HIS or CIE value and then trans-
mitted via USB, RS232 or Ethernet interface at
a rate of between 9,600 and 115,200 Baud to
a higher level inspection or evaluation system
for further processing.
In order to ensure a wide measurement range
for intensity (illumination), the user can adjust
the sensitivity of the sensor by using two diffe-
rent modes: ‘High Sensitivity’ and ‘Low Sen-
sitivity’. The MFA series enables LED colour
recognition up to ±4nm. The digital colour
sensor enables a colour depth of 12 bit resolu-
tion for each colour, which corresponds to 236:
68.719.476.736 representable colours. The
digital colour sensor therefore reaches an un-
matched repeatability of colour and intensity.
The MFA series can be used as a benchtop
system for inspection of LEDs or as an online
automated test system. The MFA series is also
supplied with set up and configuration soft-
ware as standard.
Special options
Optional features are available for the MFA
series, including different types of optical fibre
such as UV, infrared, wide-angle and plastic
fibres. Other options include optical fibres with
increased vibration protection (VS). For these,
friction between the glass fibres is minimised
by applying a special surface treatment and
impact shocks are reduced by damping.
Glass fibres can also be bonded for high tem-
perature environments. The standard adhesive
is suitable for temperatures up to 80°C. Howe-
ver, by using special adhesives, temperatures
up to 250°C can be achieved. If stainless steel
sheathing is used, temperatures can be incre-
ased even further to 400°C.
6 Issue 02
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
Exports as a proportion of the company’s tur-
nover is already 50%, but this figure, he said,
would definitely grow. “In this regard, we are
aiming to expand our branch network around
the world,” said Sellen. Further goals for Sellen
are the expansion of the number of customers
and sector-specific OEM business, as well as
closer contact with academic and educational
institutions, not simply to attract new emplo-
yees.
Farewell after 35 yearsFarewell after 35 years
In mid-January 2012 changes were made to
the management team at Micro-Epsilon Mess-
technik GmbH & Co. KG based in Ortenburg.
After leading the company for 35 years, Karl
Wisspeintner handed over the reigns to his
successor prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Sellen, who is
now responsible for both production and pro-
duct development.
Martin Sellen, who had been assistant mana-
ger for almost two years, gradually took on
more and more directorial duties. He has also
been responsible for managing product deve-
lopment for the last 16 years at Micro-Epsilon
and has made a significant contribution in
shaping and building the company’s structure
as it is today. In addition to his current role as
head of sales & marketing, the new manage-
ment changes will see Johann Salzberger also
take over as financial director of the company.
At a press conference in central Ortenburg,
Wisspeintner announced that he would be
withdrawing his leadership role at the end of
March 2013. He said that he was particularly
proud that Micro-Epsilon had achieved year-
on-year increases in sales turnover of between
15 and 16 per cent, every year except for a
few exceptions. “We started with a turnover of
400,000 euros, nowadays we have about 47
million euros,” said Wisspeintner. Key to this
success, he said, was “good timing of new
product launches… and we always worked by
the motto: the customer isn’t king, but a part-
ner. This means we‘ve always been indepen-
dent,” Wisspeintner stated. Now, he added,
the focus would be to aim for better integration
of the Holding company, which should deve-
lop into a service society for some members
under his leadership. At the moment, the
Micro-Epsilon Group employs more than 650
people, whereby more than 200 work at Micro-
Epsilon Messtechnik in Ortenburg, Germany.
As one of his main goals, his successor Martin
Sellen highlighted the development and esta-
blishment of new measurement technologies
for specific industry sectors such as semicon-
ductors, aerospace and medical technologies.
The long term strategy of the company, he
said, would not be put at risk in favour of any
short term successes.
A winning team: pictured from left to right Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Sellen, Karl Wisspeintner, Johann Salzberger
C o m p a n y n e w s
Karl Wisspeintner hands over
the leadership of the company
to his successor
»Things are not important, but people are. Karl Wisspeintner »
Issue 02 7
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
How did you start at
Micro-Epsilon?
I started in 1994 as development
manager in the sensor technology
department.
What are your goals
as new MD?
In any case we want to keep our long-
term based working philosophy. The
accumulation of knowledge and the
respect for people. We will never sac-
rifice our long term strategy for short
term success.
Which changes are planned
and why?
We’ve always grown significantly
better than the sector. That’s also
our goal in the future. But during the
economic crisis we have learned that
our sector goal isn’t as large as we
thought. To continue to survive the
crisis we need further sectors that
aren’t that closely connected with tra-
ditional machine building.
What industry sectors do you
mean?”
On the one hand the area of semi-
conductors, whereby we supply the
corresponding company with our
technologies exclusively. On the
other hand, it’s the aerospace sector.
There, we’ve also launched new pro-
ducts. Another sector that we want to
serve is medical device technology.
There are already dedicated sensors
in the series for this, but there is still
a lot of potential for further develop-
ment.
Are there other factors that will
contribute to Micro-Epsilon’s
growth?
Global growth is important because
our direct sales part of the business
outside of Germany is constantly gro-
wing faster than direct sales within
Germany. That’s why we are planning
more branches in Europe, North and
South America and in the Far East
and Asian markets.
5 questions for...
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Sellen
Born 1963 in Merzig/Saarland
Married, son Matthias
- studied electrotechnology
at the University of Saarland
- 1994 head of development
at Micro-Epsilon
- 1995 promotion
- 2012 manager at Micro-Epsilon
- Professorship HDU Deggendorf
at the department for machine building
and mechatronics
- 1983 to 2003
Wing Commander of the reserve
- Hobbies: football (FC Bayern)
and mountaineering
...Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Sellen
What are the goals of the new managing director?
1
2
3
4
5Prof. Dr.-Ing Martin Sellen with trade press journalists during a press conference at Micro-Epsilon’s headquarters in Germany.
“Above-average - that is our goal now and in the future.”Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Sellen
8 Issue 02
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
Laser measurement of sectional doors
Laser profile sensors measure dimensional
accuracy of sectional garage doors
Laser profile scanners from Micro-Epsilon are
being used to measure the dimensional accu-
racy of key and slot joints on sectional garage
doors.
The scanCONTROL 2710 series of 2D/3D la-
ser profile sensors are set up to measure the
key and slot joints – the specified dimensions
of which are absolutely critical in the manufac-
ture of sectional doors for garages, parquet
and laminate flooring. The door sections are
opened and closed frequently and so require
a robust but permanently flexible key and slot
joint. This is important where there are signifi-
cant temperature fluctuations or inaccurate di-
mensions, which could result in the door being
positioned incorrectly making it difficult to lock.
During manufacture, the imprinted metal film is
processed from a roll and formed into the re-
quired shape. The shape and dimensional ac-
curacy of the door panels – particularly around
the key and slot joint areas – must be inspec-
ted in order to detect any deviations from the
specification. Any decoration used on the
door panels must also not affect the film. De-
pending on customer requirements, the door
sections are then cut to the required shape.
The measurement of the key and slot joints is
carried out using Micro-Epsilon’s scanCON-
TROL 2710-50 laser profile scanner. To trans-
A p p l i c a t i o n s
late the measurement data into the format
required by the customer, the output unit of
the laser scanner is used. A datum point, to
which all calculations and measurements are
performed, is defined within the profile. These
results are transmitted to the production line
control room so that any deviations within the
strip process can be compensated for.
The scanCONTROL 2710 series is ideal for
industrial automation tasks, including robotics
and machine building applications, where
space is often restricted. The compact design,
integrated controller and easy-to-use set up
software, enable users to quickly mount the
sensor onto robot arms, inspection equipment
or into their 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.
The scanCONTROL 2710 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 con-
vert the sensor output data into common field-
bus systems, including CANbus, Profibus DP,
Ethercat and IEEE.
Issue 02 9
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
Strain Solutions Ltd, a Chesterfield-based
stress analysis consultancy firm, is using ther-
mal imaging cameras from Micro-Epsilon to
monitor energy flow processes in a wide range
of components and materials. The cameras
have been used on almost a daily basis since
mid-2009 and have proved to be reliable pie-
ces of equipment.
Strain Solutions is using Micro-Epsilon’s ther-
moIMAGER TIM160 inline radiometric thermal
imaging camera to conduct thermal non-
destructive evaluation projects for European
and US clients. This work includes strain and
fatigue performance tests, where the camera
is used to detect very small changes in the
temperature of materials as they are bent, fab-
ricated or work-hardened.
Powered and operated via a USB 2.0 interface,
the thermoIMAGER TIM160 is a low cost inline
radiometric thermal imaging camera that provi-
des temperature images and profiles of a target
area. This plug-and-play unit is supplied with a
full software package, TIM Connect, that enab-
les the user to configure all device parameters,
as well as enabling the real time capture (at
120Hz full frame rate) and storage of images
or video of an event for slow motion play back
or snapshots at a later date – an important
feature in R&D and failure diagnostics work.
Thermal imager measures small temperature changes at Strain Solutions
A p p l i c a t i o n s
Dr Richard John Greene, Managing Director
at Strain Solutions comments: “The thermoI-
MAGER TIM160 is a superb little device with
a high frame rate and unusually high thermal
sensitivity and response rate for a camera of
this price level [less than £3,000]. The came-
ra housing and lens combination is also unu-
sually compact, which has allowed us to use
the system for internal inspection of structural
components.”
Dr Greene initially discovered the thermo-
IMAGER TIM160 at a UK trade exhibition in
2009. “I was looking for a camera which would
enable us to do comparable non-destructive
test work I had already performed with high-
specification, cooled infrared detector sys-
tems but at a price that was affordable. The
technical specification for the TIM160 was
unique, offering remarkable technical specifi-
cation for the price. The two critical factors in
selecting the TIM160 were the camera’s fast
response rate and excellent thermal resolution
per pixel for a micro-bolometer array.”
“The TIM Connect software provided with the
camera is easy to use and surprisingly fully
featured for such a reasonably priced came-
ra. We particularly like the software’s ability to
stream every frame to memory, which allows
the full, uncompressed, raw data to be cap-
tured for post-processing at a later stage. The
Software Developer’s Kit [SDK] also provided
with the camera has enabled us to make a
rapid start in creating our own software appli-
cations to capture and process the raw data
stream from the camera. The sample C++
code is laid out well and comprehensively an-
notated and demonstrates most of the useful
camera functions.”
10 Issue 02
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
Eddy current sensors from Micro-
Epsilon are being used to measure
the displacement of soil samples
on a complex HCTA (Hollow Cy-
lindrical Torsional Apparatus) in the
Department of Civil Engineering at
University of Bristol.
The HCTA is equipped with a com-
plex strain measurement system
that incorporates six Micro-Epsilon
eddyNCDT 3010, high-resolution
non-contact displacement sen-
sors. The test rig experiments are
designed to enable the study of
the pre-failure deformation cha-
racteristics and the large strains
behaviour via continuous tests on
a single soil sample (drained or un-
drained). This allows soil stiffness
to be analysed under different
strain and stress conditions.
Dr Erdin Ibraim, Reader in
Geomechanics at the Department
of Civil Engineering at University of
Bristol commented: “We’ve been
using eddy current displacement
sensors from Micro-Epsilon for
several years. Six eddyNCDT 3010
sensors are installed on our HCTA,
which tests granular soils in multi-
axial loading conditions. The HCTA
is one of only a handful developed
in the world. It incorporates a very
complex measurement system
and so the sensors were selected
for their high resolution, linearity
and long-term stability.”
Six eddyNCDT 3010 sensors are
mounted to the HCTA’s small
strain measurement system. The
sensors have a measuring range
of 2mm and are mounted in three
pairs to measure the axial, cir-
cumferential and radial displace-
ment of the soil samples. Sensor
resolution is 0.1µm and linearity is
±0.25% FSO.
The axial and circumferential dis-
placements are measured in the
central part of the specimen using
two pairs of non-contact sensors
fixed on stainless steel rods. The
corresponding rectangular alumi-
nium plate targets are fixed at dif-
ferent locations on the outer side of
the sample.
The outer radial sample displace-
ments are deduced by the average
of the measurements given by two
non-contact sensors pointing alu-
minium foil targets placed on the
sample’s side of the outer memb-
rane – in direct contact with the soil.
In order to take advantage of the
sensors’ high resolution over a
complete test and up to large
strains, the non-contact transdu-
cers have to be re-located during
a complete test, so that the best
accuracy for strains is maintained
at each investigation point. “The
rotational movement of the drive
shaft, which passes through the
bottom of the cell plate, is trans-
formed by a system of bevel gears
into horizontal, vertical or circumfe-
rential transducer displacements,”
explained Dr Erdin Ibraim.
“In large civil engineering projects
such as foundations for bridges
and buildings, soil displacements
are critical. Advanced numerical
analysis can be used to predict the
displacements of these systems.
However, owing to the complexi-
ty of soil behaviour, realistic pre-
diction of ground deformations is
only possible if the models of soil
stiffness are supported by data
generated by sophisticated soil la-
boratory testing. While the ground
deformations can be related to the
displacement measurements on
the HCTA, the stiffness of the soil
is related to its elasticity but the
region of elasticity for soils is very
small.”
“This means that you need to de-
velop complex test rigs and dis-
placement measurement systems
that utilise high resolution sensors,
which are able to measure very
small displacements down to 0.1
microns typically. We therefore re-
quired non-contact displacement
sensors that could operate at high
resolution and Micro-Epsilon was
able to offer a solution.”
Eddy current sensors measure displacement of soil
samples at University of Bristol
The HCTA at Bristol University’s Department of Civil Engineering
Issue 02 11
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
Infrared temperature sensor is smarter, more compact and attractively priced
Micro-Epsilon has launched a new
non-contact infrared temperature
sensor that utilises a small sensor
head and compact electronics ful-
ly integrated into the sensor cable,
making it ideal for installations whe-
re space is restricted.
The sensor is also attractively pri-
ced, particularly for OEMs and me-
dium to high volume applications.
“The features and functionality of
the sensor are simply unmatched at
this price level,” states Chris Jones,
Managing Director at Micro-Epsilon
UK Ltd.
The thermoMETER CSmicro minia-
ture sensor electronics now includes
an LED for quick health checking
of the system. The integrated LED
can be used for alarm indication,
intelligent sighting support, self-
diagnostic functions or for showing
the current measured temperature
value without the need to look at the
serial or analogue output.
CSmicro is available in four models,
covering a temperature range from
-20 °C to +1030 °C and can with-
stand ambient temperatures up to
120 °C without requiring any coo-
ling. The sensor benefits from ro-
bust, precision manufactured silicon
optics with AR coating. Temperature
resolution is 0.1 °C with optical reso-
lutions of 2:1 and 15:1.
The CSmicro is also available as a
two-wire loop powered version. The
signal is output via a current output
and the temperature range is from
-40 °C to +1030 °C. The high sen-
sitivity version provides a resolution
of 0.025 °C over the range -20 °C to
+150 °C. A short wavelength model
is also available for extremely high
temperatures up to 1,600 °C, which
is ideal for measurements in secon-
dary metal processes.
Micro-Epsilon has extended its ran-
ge of high performance, non-con-
tact temperature sensors to include
a new compact infrared ratio tempe-
rature sensor (ratio pyrometer) that
is ideal for use in high speed, high
temperature environments, inclu-
ding metal processing.
The thermoMETER CtratioM1 two-
colour ratio infrared temperature
sensor measures temperatures
from 700 °C up to 1,800 °C. Due to
its rugged sensor head, the ther-
mometer can operate in ambient
temperatures up to 250 °C without
requiring any cooling.
The sensor is insensitive to dust,
smoke fumes and steam. Using the
ratiometric measuring principle, the
sensor minimises measurement er-
rors caused by laser intensity chan-
ges, low emissivity and partial spot
size coverage. Even in cases where
the infrared radiation beam is wea-
kened to 95% of its original intensity
due to smoke or steam, the ratio
pyrometer still provides faultless,
reliable measurements.
Fibre optics ratio pyrometer for high speed,
high temperature environments
With an optical resolution of 40:1,
a fast response time of 5ms and
a short wavelength range of 0.7 to
1.1µm, the thermoMETER CtratioM1
is ideal for measuring high tempera-
tures on metals and for monitoring
fast-moving, high-speed production
processes. A selectable focus com-
bined with built-in laser aiming ena-
ble accurate measurements from a
spot size of 1.3mm.
The thermoMETER CtratioM1 is
ideal for companies that need to
measure the temperature of me-
tals, metal oxides, ceramic or se-
miconductor materials in harsh,
high temperature environments,
including metal casting, welding,
forming and sintering. The Ctrati-
oM1 is a market leading product
that technically meets and exceeds
the performance of all ratio pyrome-
ters available on the market today,
with the flexibility of multiple output
options and output signal flexibility,
from simple analogue to digital and
fieldbus interfaces.
12 Issue 02
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s I n l i n e S y s t e m s
Plastics processing companies and extruders
of blown plastic films can now source comple-
te, inline precision measurement and inspec-
tion systems from a single UK supplier.
Micro-Epsilon’s Systems Group specialises in
the development, manufacture and installation
of a comprehensive range of non-contact, in-
line and offline measurement and inspection
systems for process monitoring and quality
control applications. These include specific
measurement systems for plastics processing
applications, including systems for measuring
thickness and profile of blown film, extruded
plastic sheet, strip and plates.
Chris Jones, Managing Director at Micro-Ep-
silon UK commented: “Many plastics proces-
sing companies prefer to outsource to a third
party specialist in non-contact measure-
ment. Over the past 12 years, Mic-
ro-Epsilon’s Systems Group
has developed a range of
innovative, robust, complete
turnkey measurement sys-
tems that offer distinct
technical advantages
in terms of measure-
ment accuracy, ther-
mal stability and reli-
ability. This is backed
up by installation, servicing, maintenance,
technical support with guaranteed response
times, retrofitting and upgrade services.”
These distinct technical advantages include
fully automatic calibration. The system periodi-
cally re-measures against a known reference.
The system also has integrated measurement
sensors in the framework and mechanical
parts, which measure the thermal expansion
of the system. The software then compensa-
tes accordingly.
Jones continues: “We manufacture the sensor
technology and all other critical parts including
the electronics and software. The mechani-
cal design is also developed in-house, which
enables us to guarantee measurement perfor-
mance and take ownership of the complete
system. All electrical hardware including the
PCs are industrial-grade with solid state me-
mory.”
“As well as offering our comprehensive ran-
ge of inline, non-contact thickness and profi-
le measurement systems for plastics, we are
providing a dedicated service to UK-based
customers, including a 24/7 technical support
hotline and a guaranteed on-site, rapid res-
ponse service. We understand how critical it
is for these companies to minimise production
Inline profile thickness measurement systems for plastics
Issue 02 13
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n sI n l i n e S y s t e m s
downtime and improve their product quality
and so our engineers will be on call to assist
the customer at all times. We can also provide
customers with dial-in communications and
remote diagnostics for measurement systems,
which speed up our response times, enabling
our engineers to quickly rectify any issues that
arise on site,” adds Jones.
Micro-Epsilon’s range of measurement sys-
tems for plastics comprises the following:
Inline thickness profile measurement
Part of Micro-Epsilon’s thicknessCONTROL
family, the FTS 8102 is a C-frame system that
measures the thickness profile of plastic strip
and sheet. C-frame systems are modular in
their design, offering flexibility and high per-
formance. These systems can be installed in
plastic extrusion and calendar lines, providing
reliable, high precision measurement results
that create a basis for controlling the produc-
tion process and product quality.
C-frame systems measure differentially. An
application-specific (confocal, capacitive or
laser triangulation) displacement sensor is
integrated in the upper and lower flanges of
the C-frame. The thickness of the target ma-
terial is derived from the distance between
the two sensors and the resulting signals. By
combining highly efficient signal processing
algorithms and visualisation software, the sys-
tem is able to achieve accuracies to ±1µm.
These systems are therefore suitable for use
in extrusion lines for cast film or deep drawn
film; blown film lines after collapsing; melting
calendar lines; and extrusion lines for plastic
profiles and plates.
The C-frame can be used as a traversing thick-
ness measurement system on linear axes in
order to ensure full width measurements of the
target. The control and analysis software is de-
veloped in-house by Micro-Epsilon specifically
to match the needs of the plastics industry,
providing all the required functions in order to
continuously record and evaluate production
quality. This includes graphical user interfaces
and the ability to store multiple product librari-
es. Also, the software supports and displays
Statistical Process Control (SPC) parameters
and other ‘Process Capability’ analysis and
reporting methods such as Six Sigma ĈPK and
ĈPM. Various fieldbus interfaces are available,
which enable integration to the customer’s
production control systems.
Fully automatic calibration ensures that mea-
surements are not affected by temperature,
enabling the system to be installed as a fixed,
inline measurement system in harsh produc-
tion environments. All sensor technologies
used are non-contact, wear-free and do not
use isotopes or X-rays. The C-frame system
provides long-term measurement reliability at
an affordable price. C-frame systems can be
used to measure strip widths up to 1250mm
and strip thickness from 10µm up to 50mm.
Thickness profile measurement of larger
material widths
For larger material widths up to 4,000mm,
Micro-Epsilon’s FTS 8101 O-frame systems
are able to measure plastic thicknesses from
<100µm up to 10mm at accuracies of ±5µm.
O-frame systems measure differentially and
incorporate many of the same features, func-
tionality and software as C-frame systems. An
application-specific displacement sensor is
mounted on a mechanical carriage in the up-
per and lower flanges of the O-frame, which
detects the upper side of the target material.
This works in combination with an eddy cur-
rent sensor in a housing, which detects the
underside of the opposite target via a measu-
ring roll. The thickness of the target material
is the difference between the two sensor sig-
nals. This provides the advantage of ensuring
a ‘true thickness’ measurement of the product
irrespective of rollers and bearing wear, which
would cause errors in conventional measu-
rement systems. In addition, a sophisticated
thermal compensation algorithm corrects for
changes in the measured thickness, by com-
pensating for thermal expansion of mechani-
cal parts.
Reverse frame systems for blown film
Micro-Epsilon’s thicknessCONTROL BTS
8104 system measures profile thickness of
non-conductive blown film, including film used
for packaging, agricultural applications, was-
te bin liners, carrier bags, freezer bags and
shrink covers.
Designed as reversing systems, the BTS 8104
is based on capacitive measuring technology.
Capacitive sensors are mounted directly be-
hind the calibration cage on the film bubble,
therefore offering very fast, efficient control of
the production process. Adaptive reversing
speed enables measurements to be adjusted
according to each stage of the extrusion pro-
cess.
The BTS 8104.NC system, for example, is
based on a patented pneumatic positioning
control system that utilises non-contact air
bearing technology. These bearings enable
very precise positioning and compensate for
any movement on the film bubble. The system
is ideal for measuring highly adhesive surface
protection films on the bubble very close to the
blow head.
The BTS 8104 system measures film widths
from 255mm up to 3,600mm (double flat) and
film thicknesses from 5µm up to 300µm.
Inline profile thickness measurement systems for plastics
CFK C-frame system
14 Issue 02
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s S c h w e r p u n k t
Precision in seriesMicro-Epsilon produces sensors in volumes up to 100,000 units. Customer-specific solutions offer added value as they are tailored precisely to meet individual customer requirements.
Issue 02 15
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n sB r a n d i n g & S o c i a l M e d i a
Action!To promote the Micro-Epsilon brand by using
video or film clips is a very confident, up to
date format these days – and this was the goal
of the new corporate video, which was produ-
ced recently.
The basic concept of the video was developed
in Spring 2011. The target audience compri-
ses customers and any other interested peo-
ple, job applicants and public visitors. Based
on these goals, the script was then developed,
texts were written, interviews were recorded
and the location for where the film was to be
made were all determined.
One challenge was to devise a central brand
statement. How can the leader in profile and
distance measurement sensor technology, the
know-how and experience of a wide network of
companies and partners, the entire workforce
and the social responsibility in the regions be
visualised? To make this believable, short in-
terviews were conducted with executive mana-
gers at Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik. In order to
develop a suitable script for the interviewees,
a professional spokesman was hired, who has
also made several commercials on TV and ra-
dio in Germany.
To illustrate the technological capabilities of
Micro-Epsilon, as well as the Ortenburg and
Dorfbach sites, video clips were made in Dres-
den, Hemsdorf, Berlin and Bechyne (Czech
Republic).
To give the film more of a personal touch to the
company, it was important to show employees
their working environment. Therefore, many
different faces of the Group can be seen in the
video. On many occasions, the employees wit-
nessed how very time consuming these recor-
dings could be: because every single scene,
which is viewed as just a 3 to 4 second clip
in the movie, often took more than one hour
to record. This is because all aspects had to
Like us on
be recorded in the same lighting conditions,
perspectives and camera movements. Every
scene was recorded several times and when it
was edited, the most suitable one was chosen.
As well as self-produced material, material
from others was used for some parts of the vi-
deo. These included Micro-Epsilon video pro-
jects, customer videos and some sequences
were purchased/bought-in. Cinematic, atmos-
pheric music was also used to enhance and
underscore the video. From many hours of raw
footage, a seven minute-long corporate movie
was finally produced, which is successfully
contributing to improving the image of Micro-
Epsilon and its products.
Contents:
New products
Company news
Vacancies
Production team at work
16 Issue 02
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s P r o d u c t N e w s
New 8mm inductive LVDT probes suit high volume OEM applications
3mm diameter position sensors for miniature hydraulic cylinders
Micro-Epsilon has developed a
new, cost effective inductive LVDT
gauging sensor (probe) that is ide-
al for medium-to-high volume OEM
production environments.
The new induSENSOR DTA-XG8
gauge sensor, which is available in
two basic versions – as a pneumatic
gauge sensor or as a spring loaded
(feather-touch) gauge sensor – is
designed specifically for process
automation, machine tools, auto-
mated assembly and quality con-
trol applications in OEM production
environments, including automotive
and aerospace.
LVDT gauging sensors are primarily
used for measuring workpiece geo-
metry such as length, height, width,
diameter, thickness and depth.
Pneumatic probes, for example, are
ideal for use in automatic gauging
applications or for accessing details
that would be difficult or impossible
to reach using conventional spring
loaded (spring push) probes. Some
materials such as glass or plastic,
for example, require very low tip
forces to prevent deformation of
the component being measured, as
well as contact tip materials that do
not leave marks on the component.
The stainless steel housing of the
DTA-XG8 sensor has a diameter of
just 8mm, which enables the sensor
to be installed in areas where space
is tight or restricted. The standard
sensor is protected to IP54 (without
bellows) but to prevent the ingress
of dust and water between the sen-
sor tip and housing, an IP65 version
with bellows seal is available.
The product family includes measu-
ring ranges of +/-1mm, +/-3mm,
+/-5mm and +/-10mm. Linearity is
0.3% (FSO) of the measuring area.
Operating temperature range is
from -20 °C to +80 °C without bel-
lows and 0 to +80 °C with bellows.
All sensors are supplied with a 3m
axial cable. Both the sensor and the
electronics can be customised for
high volume projects.
Electromagnetic displacement
sen sors from Micro-Epsilon are
used extensively in applications
for automated processes, quality
assurance, test rigs, hydraulics,
pneumatic cylinders, and automo-
tive engineering. The advantages
of these displacement sensors are
well known and highly valued,and
include ruggedness, reliability un-
der harsh conditions, high signal
quality and good temperature sta-
bility. The electromagnetic sensors
of the induSENSOR series are
based on the well-proven inductive
and eddy current principle. They
are both used successfully in single
and high volume OEM applications.
Micro-Epsilon’s EDS series, for ex-
ample, is a range of robust, pres-
sure-resistant position sensors for
hydraulics and pneumatics appli-
cations. The range now includes
an ultra-compact, 3mm diameter
version, which is ideal for miniature
hydraulic cylinders and actuators.
Compared to traditional methods
of measuring displacement and
piston position in hydraulic cylin-
ders and valves (i.e. LVDT’s and
Magnetostrictive sensors), Micro-
Epsilon’s EDS series of sensors
is much more compact in both its
length and diameter. It uses a non-
ferrous aluminium outer sleeve as
its target, which can be easily in-
tegrated into the piston rod. This
enables the sensor body to be a
solid rod rather than a traditional
LVDT style with a hollow sensor
body and plunger, making it easier
for OEMs to assemble and much
more robust and reliable in harsh
environments.
The sensors are manufactured
from a pressure-resistant stainless
steel (up to 450bar) and can with-
stand extreme vibration and shock
levels (up to 300g axial and 100g
radial). The sensor electronics and
signal conditioning are complete-
ly integrated in the sensor flange
using very compact electronics.
This means the hydraulic cylinder
does not have to be increased
in length to accommodate large
electronics or have remote electro-
nics, which can become awkward
to match to the sensor once fitted
into the hydraulic cylinder. Compa-
red to an LVDT with similar mea-
surement range, EDS sensors are
typically 50% shorter.
Issue 02 17
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
capaNCDT then... and nowMicro-Epsilon has been solving difficult profile, distance, position and temperature measurement tasks for more than 45 years. In each edition of the
magazine, we will show you a specific product range and how these products have changed and developed over the years – in this edition, we invite
you to look at the capaNCDT capacitive measurement system.
Capacitive sensors measure profile, distance and position, operating on a non-contact basis. They are temperature stable and can measure to nano-
metre resolution. However, these sensors require a relatively clean environment. capaNCDT sensors are suitable for all conductive measuring objects
e.g. metals or electronic semiconductors. The primary application areas for the capaNCDT are electronics and semiconductors, as well as medical
device technology.
P r o d u c t c h r o n i c l e
1986
1997
2008
2013
In 1986, Micro-Epsilon introduced the capaNCDT capacitive sensor series to the market.
Back then, these sensors were classified as very high precision. At that time the products
were partly manufactured in-house and part bought-in as “private labels”.
Nano-precision: In 2008 capaNCDT 6500
was launched to the market – a capacitive
profile measuring system to nanometre ac-
curacy.
In the 1990’s, the system was enhanced
single-handedly.
2013: The capacitive sensor system capa-
NCDT 6200 is a new design that offers ex-
cellent performance at a very attractive price
level. Its modular design ensures that you
can easily combine up to 4 measurement
channels.
1 8 Issue 02
I n s i g h t
Measuring distance through angles
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
Issue 02 19
S e n s o r S o l u t i o n s
A world first in laser triangulation sensor tech-
nology has arrived with Micro-Epsilon’s Blue
Laser Sensor, which offers advantages for
users who need to measure red-hot glowing
metals and translucent targets.
The optoNCDT 1700BL series of Blue Laser
Sensors operate on the laser triangulation
measuring principle and use blue (violet) laser
technology. The sensors are ideal for measu-
rements on hot, glowing metals, particularly in
hot steel processing applications, as well as
for measuring organic materials such as skin,
foodstuffs, plastics, veneers and wood.
The wavelength of the blue laser offers signifi-
cant technical advantages. With red, glowing
objects, a conventional red laser has a high
signal interference from the object surface,
because it emits the same or very near wave-
lengths of light as the red laser. However, the
blue laser works at a wavelength of 405nm,
which is far from the red part of the visible
spectrum. This means it is easier to filter this
type of emitted light from the object, which en-
sures very stable signals. The blue laser there-
fore measures extremely well on both glowing
metals and ceramics. This is a unique advan-
tage, for example, when it comes to measuring
the wear or deformation of automotive brake
discs under load.
There are also significant benefits when
measuring against translucent objects such as
organic materials, paper, some plastics and
wood veneers. Unlike a red laser, the blue la-
ser light does not penetrate into the measuring
object because it has a lower intensity laser
spot and therefore offers more stable, precise
measurements on targets that conventional
red laser sensors have difficulty measuring.
Micro-Epsilon’s Blue Laser Sensors are equip-
ped with new high-end optical lenses, a new in-
telligent laser control and evaluation algorithms.
The sensors are suitable for red glowing metals
up to 1,600°C, and for silicon up to 1,150°C.
The optoNCDT 1700BL operates using the la-
ser triangulation principle. A laser diode pro-
jects a visible point of light onto the surface
of the target object. The light reflected from
this point is then projected onto a CCD array.
If the target changes position with respect to
the sensor, the movement of the reflected light
is projected on the CCD array and analysed
to output the exact position of the target. The
measurements are processed digitally in the
integral controller. The data is output via ana-
logue (I/U) and digital interface RS422 or USB.
The optoNCDT 1700BL has an integral cont-
roller, which automatically compensates in real
time for surfaces which are difficult to mea-
sure. The sensor’s unique real-time surface
compensation (RTSC) feature and patented
high-speed evaluation algorithms dramatically
reduce signal noise. When customers need to
measure against hot glowing metals, they can
adjust the laser on time of the sensor to give
them the optimum exposure time on the CCD
for that particular surface. This, in turn, provi-
des a higher accuracy measurement due to
lower noise level on the output signal.
Most suppliers can only offer sensors with a
fixed measurement rate, which is selected by
the manufacturer as a ‘best case fits all’. This
means that for most surfaces, the user then
has to rely on averaging the output data to
reduce the noise level or error on the output,
which gives lower accuracy. However, using
Micro-Epsilon’s software algorithms, the mea-
surement rate on the sensor can be slowed
down for difficult surfaces. This means it can
compensate in real time, and the exposu-
re time of the laser light on the CCD can be
optimised for the surface of the object to be
measured, resulting in higher accuracy mea-
surements.
Advantages:
• small measuring spot size
• large distance between the measuring
object and the sensor
• large measuring output range
• almost material independent
Limitations:
• conditional influence of the surface
characteristics on measurement accuracy
• clean environment in the beam path is
necessary
• larger measurement in comparison with
confocal, capacitive and displacement
sensors
• special sensor adjustment for reflective
surfaces is necessary
Erich Winkler
Product manager for optoNCDT at Micro-Epsilon [email protected]
Into the Blue
More Precision.
Displacement Distance Position Dimension IR-Temperature Colour
Call to speak to a sensor expert +44 (0) 151 355 6070 or visit www.micro-epsilon.co.uk
SmartMicro-Epsilon has launched a new industrial grade confocal
controller for OEM, machine builders and R&D applications.
With Ethernet interface, encoder input triggers for synchro-
nisation and many programmable features including multi-
peak software calculation integrated into the controller, this
device is truly outstanding.
PerformanceUp to 100 times faster surface compensation than conven-
tional confocal systems, 4 times higher signal resolution
compared to previous controllers. Selectable measurement
frequencies up to 10kHz with integral LED light source and
70KHz with external Xenon source!
One channel true thickness measurement of transparent
surfaces. Stable measurement against mirrored surfaces
and liquids.
UniversalEthernet, EtherCAT, RS422 and analogue output interfaces
enable integration into virtually any measurement/control
system. Robust, all metal sealed enclosure with passive
cooling for more demanding environments.
Features Measurement against virtually any surface
One-sided thickness-measurement of transparent targets
One of the fastest confocal controllers worldwide
Adjustable measuring rate up to 70kHz
Extremely small and constant spot size
Configuration via Web-Interface
70 kHz Confocal Controller with Ethernet interface