Lear's experience with OPTICAL on-line diameter measurement began in 1972 when the original laser types were introduced to the extrusion processes. In fact, Dennis Swing, Lear President, was the first to introduce laser measurement to the wire industry (Lasermike).

The multi-gauge resulted from a new approach to the need for a multitude of measurement heads located on individual lines and to sell at a fraction of the cost for the same number of laser gauges. Full time on-line measurement of magnet wire was the targeted application and the features of the system are custom fit to this application.

Rather than 12 independent laser gauge heads with many of the same internal components repeated 12 times, the multi-gauge measurement head has only the optics repeated. No internal power supply, no motors, a fraction of the electronics, no laser, no laser power supply and no high cost.

A single PC generates all of the waveforms necessary to operate all 12 linear arrays and this same PC receives the pixel outputs from each of the 12 heads and converts them to diameter readings with calibration data for each multi-gauge stored in the PC.

Of course, months of data can be stored in the PC with high and low tolerances used to flag out-of-spec readings and to immediately alert operators of the alarm condition.

A common DC power supply supplies all 12 multi-gauges through the single cable. A screw type connector connects each multi-gauge to the PC.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Optic: Single axis measurement per multi-gauge. Two can be used in series for 2 axis measurement.

Light Source: Light Emitting Diode, strobed

Range: AWG #50 to AWG #18 (.25mm-1mm)

Accuracy: Plus or minus 1% of reading

Scans/sec: 100

Enclosure: 2”dia, 9” long, 1/8” thick tubular aluminum, waterproof