2D and 3D laser profile scanning technology

Laser profile scanners are being increasingly used by industry as demands for greater product dimension accuracy also increase. Profile sensors collect thousands of points of data per second when they are directed at a target.

These sensors use the principle of triangulation to gather geometric information about the target surface. A line of light is spread on the target using passive beam spreader optics, so the whole line measurement is taken at one time, instead of a multitude of single points, which thus reduces scanning time.

Profile sensors can be integrated into the production system you have using FireWire or Ethernet connectivity, meaning the device can also be given its own IP address. Some smart laser scanners also incorporate the data processing software needed to process common measurement applications. This negates the need for external control systems or hardware, as the output from the scanner can be either a digital or analogue signal and integrated into the system you use.

For more complex measuring tasks, laser profile sensors can be programmed manually by using a specific software program. This enables the user create a custom solution to their specific task, and enable some of the most difficult measuring problems needing a bespoke measuring solution to be solved.

Due to the unmatched accuracy of this type of sensing technology, rapid inspection of the geometric tolerances of products or parts can be achieved easily.