The development of the first strip thickness gauge worldwide, that could measure the thickness of the strip during the rolling process in cold mills with an accuracy of �m, was the start of our company in 1963.

January 2008 Newsletter

Posted on: November 18, 2008

With measurement module for easy service:

VUD-Thickness Gauge for Slitter Lines

Thickness Gauge
This VUD was designed for installation in slitter lines. The processed material in the application
shown here is coated and uncoated steel strip from .015″ (0,4mm) to .157″ (4mm) thickness, and between 12″(300mm) and 63″(1600mm) of width. The strip speedis up to 300 m/minute.

Gauge Head Module

The gauge has pneumatically operated damper rolls. They are pressed onto the strip as soon as the integrated light barrier has detected that the hydraulically traversed gauge head is in measuring position and that there is a strip in the measurement mouth of the gauge. The lower rollers are lifted first, and then the upper damper rollers are lowered onto the strip surface. The 12″ (300mm) long measurement arms contact the strip a short time later. A digital transducer measures the distance between the measurement arms. The gauge head has specially designed damper rollers, a pivoting
suspension combined with a rotational fine adjustment around its perpendicular axis. In addition, the measurement rollers in the module can swivel to adapt to the inclination of the strip surface. This makes the gauge suitable for strip with a sensitive surface, such as varnish or tin coating.

The gauge is service friendly due to the removable measurement module. The module can be lifted off the gauge housing after the flexible pipe for compressed air and the control line plug were disconnected.

The measurement distance from the strip edge can be set easily at any time by the adjustable light barrier fastenings. The light barrier is kept clean by a permanent jet of compressed air. For safety, in case the light barrier doesn’t work, a proximity switch makes the gauge traverse back to the rear limit position if the strip edges comes close to the inner end of the measurement opening.

The main field of application for this gauge is seen in steel service centers. For companies, who run several slitter or shearing lines, the combination of one VUD on each line and a VBP as central station for cross profile measurement will be a good combination.

For Silver Plated Copper Wire:

VABL 296 with Extra Strip

VABL 296
This gauge was recently delivered to a manufacturer of silver plated copper wire (thickness from .02 to .004″, i.e. 0,5 to 0,1mm, width up to .14″ i.e. 3,5mm).

In addition to the divided guide rollers, this gauge has an adjustable strip guide which holds the strip flat in the measurement area. For zero setting, the C-frame can be moved back anytime during the measurement while the strip guiding remains in position. The C-frame can easily be lifted off the gauge for cleaning or service.

Nominal size selection is done in steps of 0,000 001″, i.e. one quarter of a micron. The client ordered our VGraph-software in connection with an FFT module for data visualization and evaluation.

Simplified Design:

VBM 2065 Di-So-Wa-V

VBM 2065
The abbreviation Di-So-Wa-V describes a version of our standard thickness gauges with manually operated mechanical nominal size adjustment by means of a gearbox (DI-SO) and electronic nominal size indication (WA). The gearbox is installed on top of the gauge and its shaft is vertical (V). The version H alternatively, has the gearbox installed at the rear of the gauge and the shaft runs horizontally.

Compared to the classic version with manual nominal size adjustment (DI-SO), the Wa version does not indicate the nominal size by a mechanical counter through a window of the gearbox, but uses an electronic encoder that is installed on the crown wheel which drives the adjustable transducer. This setup eliminates the effects of the mechanical play in the gearbox and the joint shaft. However, because of the backlash between the crown wheel and the transducer’s gear ring, it is still necessary, first to set a slightly larger nominal size than required, and then finish the adjustment by turning clockwise towards “smaller”.

The Di-So-Wa setup uses standard MOBE transducers because there is no need for the inner gear ring as for the other Di versions.

The electronic encoder is easily accessible and the transducer can easily be removed for service.

When installing the VMF cabinet with the digital nominal size counter-display, it needs to be considered that the operator has a free view to the indicator from his position at the gauge.
Digital Indicator VBM 2065 DI-SO-WA-V

3 Responses to “January 2008 Newsletter”

D. HOSSAIN Says:
September 12th, 2009 at 5:51 am
Very interesting, like to know more about it.
j.c.belwal Says:
April 27th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Pl. suggest us a high accuracy thickness gauge for our colled rolled steel strips to measure the thickness rang upto 0.11mm to 2.5mm
j.c.belwal Says:
April 27th, 2010 at 11:49 am
how many auto control divices can be used in a most modern fully automatic colled rolling mill. pl send details data of all auto controlled divices

What's New

Release Update for the VIP 08

Please download here the latest information release for the VIP 08 No-Contact Shape Measurement. VIP 08 Non-contact Measurement Update May 2011

VIP 08 Flatness Measurement System

While the strip thickness tolerances were a significant criterion for the quality assessment of strip material in the eighties and nineties, significant improvements in controls and automation have made good thickness control a given among suppliers.

First Isotope Thickness Gauge Application in Mexico

During this past fall, we installed our first two – Model A3000 Isotope Thickness Gauges in Mexico. The application was for stainless steel on a heavy-duty reversing mill with 24/7 operation.

AISTECH 2012 Iron & Steel Technology Conference and Exposition