Digital Optical Caliper

Operators in a bar or wire rod mill commonly measure product dimensions manually using conventional handheld calipers or by burning wood during production. These are inherently unsafe and unreliable methods which unnecessarily expose workers to dangerous conditions with potential inaccuracies due to differing operator methodologies. Primetals Technologies developed the Digital Optical Caliper to address these issues by providing safe, accurate, and repeatable non-contact product section dimension monitoring.

The Digital Optical Caliper is a non-contact dimension monitoring system that measures product height and width for rounds, flats, and squares simultaneously in real-time to verify precise roll-pass setup. Accurate to within +/- 0.1 mm, the system removes the possibility of variations and significantly reduces operator activity around hot stock, minimizing safety risks. The Digital Optical Caliper is available in two configurations to suit your needs. It can be installed as a portable unit, allowing operators to move it easily between different interstand locations. Alternatively, a fixed version is available for continuous monitoring of stock at a single, specific location.

Efficient Process Control

In addition to improved safey and product section, the Digital Optical Caliper can help identify potential issues, such as overfill or roll-crossing, before they become costly problems for the mill.

State-of-the-Art Technology

The Digital Optical Caliper is perfectly suited for the demanding environments of a bar mill and/or wire rod mill. Its wireless capability enables the HMI to display on multiple devices, supporting remote monitoring. The portable version features a proprietary quick-mount floor plate system, which can be installed at predetermined interstand locations for rapid and precise setup. This ensures the dimension monitoring system consistently provides repeatable and reliable results.

Benefits of the Digital Optical Caliper

• Accurate to within +/- 0.1 mm
• Enhances operator safety by eliminating manual measurement of moving stock
• Section dimension monitoring improves troubleshooting process
• Allows operators to view measurements at multiple interstand locations throughout the mill
• Helps identify potential issues, such as overfill, roll-crossing, etc.