EMG SORM® is a system for online measurement of roughness parameters on running strips. The increasing demands placed on new materials and ever more complex components require ever greater process reliability. Roughness parameters are an important quality feature of uncoated and surface-finished strips. EMG SORM® is specifically designed for use in continuous production lines (e.g. process lines) and measures the surface roughness of the running strip within the production line without mechanical contact. The system first records the microprofile of the surface using an optical scanning process. The surface profile can be used in a similar way to one determined by a tactile process (stylus instrument). From the profile measured in this way, the corresponding roughness parameters are calculated using a strip pass filter in accordance with current standards (DIN / ISO / SEP) and displayed online in real time for the process line and made available for quality assurance.
The main area of application is roughness measurement on flat products in the steel or aluminium sector. Other materials can be tested for measurability in the EMG laboratory on request.
What stands out in particular?
EMG SORM® is based on the confocal chromatic measuring principle. This method utilises the effect that lenses have different focal points for different wavelengths of light. This feature enables very precise, fast and non-contact measurement. EMG SORM® calculates the roughness parameters defined in DIN EN 10049 and SEP 1941, including the arithmetic centre roughness value Ra, the peak count value RPc and the waviness value Wsa. The maximum line speed for Ra and Wsa measurement is 350 m/min and 120 m/min for RPc . An LED light source in the visible spectrum is used. Overall, this is an established technology that is already used for roughness measurement in laboratories. There are no special safety requirements when operating the system - for example in comparison to the use of laser measurement methods.
With the method used, EMG SORM® provides reliable roughness and waviness data over the strip length and width and can be used for all different surface structures (EBT, EDT, LBT, SBT, PRETEX®, ...) without special adaptation.
Integration into the production line
EMG SORM® has very small installation dimensions (less than 400 mm, in production direction) and a measuring distance of 25 mm, making it very easy and safe to integrate the system into the line. As long as the strip thickness variation is less than 3 mm, the measuring head can be fixed to the traversing unit without motorised vertical adjustment for distance compensation. Contamination or damage to the optics is reliably prevented by an elastic protective cap (blue in the image with a view of the strip) and, if necessary, with an additional air flow (overpressure in the housing). The measuring head is also lightweight with a maximum weight of 5 kg. The new generation EMG SORM®, which is based on the confocal chromatic measuring principle, has now impressively demonstrated its performance in several production applications.
Secure the benefits of online roughness measurement for your production
Online roughness measurement with EMG SORM® allows you to carry out direct and continuous quality control over the entire length of the strip and, if required, in different tracks. However, its use goes far beyond issues such as quality assurance, cutting optimisation and faster release. For example, monitoring or controlling the skin pass mill in a hot-dip galvanising line on the basis of Ra values is not rocket science. Or are you thinking of extending the roll change cycle based on roughness measurement? This is also possible, and of course manual laboratory measurements or in-line measurements with stylus instruments can be reduced to a minimum.
Curious?
If you now feel the need for further information, please feel free to contact our sales department, our international sales organisation or our product manager Franziska Kneisel (franziska.kneisel@emg-automation.com) at any time. We look forward to hearing from you!
Download: Brochure EMG SORM®