What the eye cannot see, SKZ measures!
Geometric measurements are an important component of modern quality assurance for plastic products. Inline measurement of the layer thickness of pipes or analysis of multi-layer composite systems enables dimensional accuracy to be checked and, if necessary, corrected. To this end, the SKZ Plastics Centre uses terahertz (THz) and radar technology, which is opening up an increasing number of areas of application in cooperation with industry as a result of increasing automation and Industry 4.0.
Possible geometric measurement of a complex profile using THz or radar technology (source: SKZ/Copilot)
With THz and radar technology, SKZ is revolutionising the quality control of plastic products – precisely, contactlessly and with deep penetration.
Two aspects are particularly important in the manufacture of plastic products: correct dimensional accuracy and the absence of manufacturing defects. Since plastics often have opaque properties and measuring geometry by eye only allows for inaccurate analysis, specific methods are used to analyse these properties. This ensures that the quality of the products meets high standards. However, these methods often fail due to factors such as one-sided access, the need for non-contact measurements, foamed structures, high costs of the measuring system and insufficient penetration depth. Despite these challenges, two measuring methods have become established: THz and radar technology.
The SKZ, a member of the ZUSE community, uses these measurement methods to determine the optimal solution in cooperation with industry and taking into account its specific challenges. Challenges such as the identification of manufacturing defects in production, the minimisation of tolerances to save material, and seamless documentation and verification can be solved by using THz and radar technology. This enables continuous progress towards networked working environments in the course of digitalisation.
Since both measurement technologies do not require radiation protection and are also flexible in their application, they can be easily used in existing production facilities to accompany processes. The SKZ is happy to support companies in integrating measurement technology into their production facilities. If you are interested in improving your quality control and also want to save time and money, please do not hesitate to contact us.
