AUTOMATION

The HiPROFILE LITE system is based on laser-sectioning optical measurement techniques and image processing algorithms. Geometries, components and design solution of the 3 laser- sectioning heads and of the whole system are optimized to fulfil the requirements of hot steel detection and measurement. The three measuring heads are synchronized to acquire, at high sampling rate, the contour of an extremely thin slice of the hot-rolled bar. This feature guarantees for a superior blur-free behavior in presence of the vibrations and transversal bar movements typical of the hot rolling process. The image of the profile is then real-time processed by sophisticated recognition techniques and software algorithms to obtain the desired shape and dimensional data. The thermal expansion due to the material temperature is compensated by a parametric model linked with steel and product properties, to provide on the fly measures on the hot bar as it will be in cold conditions. The design of the system is focused to face all the side effects that the measuring of a 1000°C-steel bar involves. Disturbances due to infrared radiation that comes from the bar are avoided by a specific optical design, to obtain minimum-noise measures. The lean system architecture that doesn’t require installation of additional automation cabinets in control room, can be configured with variable number of accessories like additional operator supervision station, giant display, traffic light and more. Operating and installation costs are very low: the electrical supply is the only utility required to customers for gauge operation. A wireless connection is available nearby the gauge to aid during periodic maintenance.