For metal manufacturers, it is often a struggle to obtain the precise length and speed measurements needed to control the cutting process. Use of mechanical wheel encoders or tachometers leads to, in many cases, inaccurate measurements and cuts that result in a flawed, inconsistent finished product or waste.

Because of the demanding industries these cut products are used in – construction and automotive, for example – it is imperative for manufactures to ensure these products meet the exacting standards expected by their customers.

So, what’s the issue?

Well, first we need to look at the main problems with contact encoders. Tachometers use rollers to measure the rotational speed. And these rollers contact the moving materials during production. In order to be confident that this method is accurate, manufacturers have to rely that the tachometer is actually measuring the true product speed. But with slippage between the roller and the product, as well as changes in the roller diameter due to wear and debris build-up, there’s a loss of measurement accuracy. The bottom line is that this inaccuracy is potentially costly to the manufacturer.

So what is the alternative?

The LaserSpeed Pro gauge is ideally suited for controlling cutting operations of continuous or semi-continuous products for several reasons.

First, it uses laser doppler velocimetry to obtain length and speed measurements without touching the product. This immediately eliminates the errors traditionally associated with contact encoders.

Second, LaserSpeed Pro has the highest level of accuracy of any length and speed gauge in the world: +/- 0.03%. This instantly instils confidence in the manufacturer that what they are producing is of the highest quality.

And finally, LaserSpeed Pro integrates easily into most metal manufacturing processes in applications such as hot or cold metal plates, sheets, tubes, pipes, rods, bars, wire and formed products, to name a few.

So, what does this mean for the manufacturer?

As well as higher confidence and peace of mind in the finished product, manufacturers can expect numerous financial and operational benefits such as:

• Reduced scrap
• Fast ROI
• Minimized downtime
• Industry 4.0 ready

There are various models of LaserSpeed Pro, including the latest M Series gauge specifically designed for bouncing, moving, unguided products that have historically been difficult to measure. So, no matter what the product is, there’s a Pro solution to help any material make the cut!

Learn more about LaserSpeed Pro for cutting control here.