Measuring location in front of the tracking start

Description

A measuring location in front of the tracking start is required for measuring devices that are physically located before the first standard measuring location, at which material tracking begins.

Typical application

Uncoiler or thickness gauge before welder
Measuring devices in an inspection line that are located before the last measuring location

Based on experience, a huge range of modes and operator interventions have to be mapped in the line section before the tracking start. As a result, the following procedure is adopted in ibaQDR. The measured data for the measuring location along with the speed are initially stored in an internal buffer. As soon as the measuring location is activated (e.g. strip from the relevant uncoiler path is welded or tack welded) the speed signal is used to convert the last data from the buffer for the offset section into a length and it is then treated as the first part of the measurement signal. The length tracking at the tracking start measuring location can then be used to carry out the subsequent length mapping. In the following example, the first graph shows the speeds and active signals for the two thickness measurements on the relevant uncoiler paths:

Associated settings in ibaQDR:

Measuring location properties

Name, Active as for a standard measuring location

Offset

The offset (material travel in base unit of length) here is the distance between the relevant measuring device and the first (standard) measuring location, at which tracking of the material begins.

Resolution

Length resolution of the data at the measuring location. This should be lower than the base length resolution for ibaQDR.

Active

The signal must be active (true) at precisely the time when the section (uncoiler path) is connected and thus the speed is the same as at the tracking start measuring location. This is normally the case from the precise moment of welding (tack welding) until the end of the strip has reached the welder or tacking machine.

Mode

You can select one of the following modes:

Use speed and length signal from tracking start

This mode (default) is intended for processing lines with multiple uncoilers. It enables measuring locations before the welder or tacking machine to be correctly mapped.

Use two speeds

If you select this mode, on inspection lines with multiple shears, you have the option of switching between the uncoiler and coiler speed, for example, thus ensuring full acquisition of the data.

Speed

Select a speed signal here for the material speed before the tracking section. For example, this can be calculated from the uncoiler speed and the coil diameter.

Use two speeds and length signal from tracking start

Please contact iba AG for further information about this mode.

Example for mode with one speed

In continuous strip processing lines, tracking normally begins at the welder. The start of the strip, and thus length 0 for the new “tracked part”, is not clearly defined until the cleanly cut head of the strip is welded to the tail of the preceding strip and the weld seam has been marked by hole punching or notching.

However, there is usually a thickness gauge in the infeed section of the line several meters before the welder to measure the material thickness before the strip is welded. Strip sections with excess or insufficient thickness can then be removed by scrap cuts.