Laser Sensors

Sensors have become common in various aspect of daily life, especially in manufacturing where quality control and added safety are paramount. In industrial environments like a factory, high-speed production lines can increase efficiency through automation, while also requiring additional safety measures. The increase in speed of moving parts also contributes to a potential increase in injury if someone accidentally makes contact with these parts. Additionally, if production is interrupted this can lead to additional losses in revenue.

To prevent these interruptions and accidents, optical technology such as cameras, detectors, and lasers play an important role. Laser safety scanners have a high resolution of 5-10 mm that enables the safety of people where a body part might get in the way of a machine. Since low light can be a challenge in these situations due to low reflection, high-sensitivity avalanche photodiodes (APDs) can improve detection results.

Laser scanners typically work in two dimensions. When implementing a three-dimensional solution, the technology is called a “laser tracker.” With these devices a range of up to 40 meters with a resolution of up to 25 µm at maximum distance, a laser tracker can have a range of different laser diodes, photodiodes to ensure they can measure precise positions.

Along with the added safety that a laser tracker brings, there are ample quality control benefits. By being able to keep track of numerous targets, at high-speed, with varying levels of complexity, will allow for fully-automated inspection, even of customized part assembly for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) projects. This quickly improves large scale manufacturing for applications in automotive and aeronautics industries where it can be difficult to get inspections done quickly. For engineers and maintenance staff, being able to precisely record object specifications, quickly generate a 2D or 3D model, and easily analyze data can make design and diagnostics much simpler.