Plastic Sheet Extrusion Thickness Gauge

The AGT800 Extrusion (Fig. 1) is the next evolution in thickness measurement for plastic sheet extrusion. It provides accurate and reliable real time measurement of sheet thickness and width on the processing line. While also providing the sheet thickness profile by adjustment die bolt location. This allows for quick accurate adjustment to equalize the sheet thickness across the width.

Our dual laser technology scans the sheet from above and below providing accurate thickness measurements on uneven and oscillating sheets. The O-frame design of this gauge allows three times the scanning speed of an oscillating C-frame gauge. This design also provides a solid and stable foundation for highly accurate measurements. To ensure correct measurements

During normal operation, an interactive display shows real-time graphical representations of measured thickness, deviation, and a histogram of thickness values for the current run. Also displayed are thickness, width, target, upper and lower limits for both thickness and width, job number, customer ID, batch number, and much more. (Fig. 2)

The thickness profile screen shows the thickness by die bolt position (Fig. 3). This screen can open over the main screen or can be shown on a separate display. This will help to avoid thickness evenness quality issues as material density changes. Digital warning outputs on the AGT800 Extrusion can alert you to issues that can have an effect on your process.

An additional benefit of the laser thickness gauge is the thickness measurement is not subject to material density. Isotope and X-ray gauges will show a thickness change when the density of the sheet changes, providing false information.

Our comprehensive Recipe Menu (Fig. 4) includes entries for material density, the number of die bolts, target width of the sheet and die down for each product entered. From there die width and gauge down are automatically calculated. The gauge can be used to measure hot or cooled material. Because the material can swell or shrink during cooling each entry also includes a set of offsets to represent the thickness as a cooled measurement. Both values are saved for later analysis. This helps with hot measurement acceptance of the gauge.

For lines that include embossing we offer an optional embossing depth measurement (Fig. 5). This option includes a third pinpoint laser that measures the embossing depth across the sheet. Real-time and Average depth are displayed and recorded along with the across sheet depth profile.

Direct benefits realized through these non-contact thickness measurements include documented compliance with ISO9001 and other quality specifications, improved process control, increased productivity and scrap reduction.

For long term record keeping the AGT800 Extrusion sheet thickness gauge will produce end of run reports with production, S.P.C. data, thickness and profile graphs. These reports can be recalled on screen, printed at the gauge or saved as a PDF on the gauge or on a network drive.