High-speed, high-accuracy measurements on reflective targets.

Auto Chassis International uses a custom-built tester to finely measure heat distortion on brake discs. The process is made complex by the fact that the discs rotate at high speed and measured with an accuracy of 0.01 mm must be completed. Keyence’s LK-G CCD laser displacement sensor enables stable detection despite the glowing-hot reflective metal.

The LK-G is a triangulation displacement sensor that brings together the best in Keyence technology to deliver the performance and stability required for such measurements.
LK-G sensor enables a high precision long distance measurement.
LK-G5000
Ultra-High-Speed/High-Accuracy
CMOS Laser Displacement Sensor
• Fastest in the World: 392 kHz
• Highest Accuracy in its Class: ±0.02%
• Highest Repeatability in its Class:
0.005µm
• NEWLY DEVELOPED "ABLE II" CONTROL

A subsidiary of Renault, Auto Chassis International is an OEM specialised in the design, testing and manufacture of chassis systems and components. The company’s plant in Le Mans, France has 2,000 staff members and manufactures vehicle components such as brakes, engine cradles, rear axles and suspension arms.

“We measure heat distortion on brake discs by placing them on a tester that rotates them at a simulated vehicle speed of 40 km/h. The brakes are applied between 10 and 40 times to make the discs heat up,” explains Jean-Luc Heulot, Braking Engineer at Auto Chassis International.

The temperature of the metal brake discs rises to 650°C, causing them to radiate heat and generate parasitic reflections that further complicate measurements.

The test is conducted to make sure minimal distortion occurs and more importantly, that the discs return to their normal shape at the end of test. Warped discs can lead to chatter and ‘judder’, or vibrations. A reduction in braking torque can also occur on some models of hand brake.

“We used to use a capacitive sensor but it created reliability issues that ended up being costly. The problem was that the sensors had to be fitted and removed on a regular basis and they were positioned a few millimetres from the target, which heats up to 650°C. Keyence’s LK-G sensors are easier to place and remove and none have failed since being installed two years ago,” adds Mr Heulot.

The LK-G sensor is mounted on a plastic shim. It calibrates itself during the first full rotation then starts measuring. The tester is fitted with two LK-G sensors on either side for measuring small and large diameters. Measurements are taken at a rate of once every 100ms throughout the test.

The LK-G is a triangulation displacement sensor that brings together the best in Keyence technology to deliver the performance and stability required for such measurements.

It offers the best in non-contact laser measurements – sampling speed of up to 50 kHz, ± 0.03% accuracy and 0.01μm resolution. The Li-CCD (Linearised CCD developed by Keyence) features high-speed sampling that is 25 times faster than conventional models. A special waveform processor (digital signal processor) digitally processes the CCD signal at high speed and delivers high-accuracy measurements very quickly.

Reliable measurements can be obtained on targets travelling, rotating or vibrating at high speeds.

One advantage to the LK-G sensor is that it can perform detection under conditions that challenge other laser sensors. In addition to being able to take measurements without being influenced by colour, surface texture or stray light, the LK-G delivers excellent performance with translucent or transparent targets and surfaces with multiple reflections.

Specially designed algorithms enable accurate measurements that are impossible with conventional detection methods. ABLE technology detects target surfaces and adjusts the laser power to the optimum level.

By intelligently controlling laser emission time, laser power and gain, ABLE offers an adjustment range that is up to 90 times wider than that of conventional models. Accurate measurements are possible even for targets with highly varied surfaces. The MRC algorithm eliminates multiple reflections from metal surfaces. When two or more peaks are generated by multiple reflections, the algorithm compares the waveforms to the most recent-received light waveform and determines the one that most closely resembles the ‘correct waveform’.

Deviations caused by temperature changes are reduced by the highly rigid die-cast body and signal noise is reduced by the Li-CCD.

“Not only were we impressed by the sensor’s technical capabilities, but Keyence provided us with a demonstration before our purchase and assisted us in setting up the sensor so that it quickly delivered the expected results,” concludes Mr Heulot.

Keyence’s LK-G sensor is positioned 30 mm away from the brake discs which can reach a temperature of 650°C.
This distance is obtained using a plastic shim. The measurements obtained during the first few rotations are used to calibrate the sensor.
The resulting initial value is used to calculate disc distortion at two specific temperatures – 300°C and 600°C. The tester is fitted with two LK-G sensors on either side for measuring small and large diameters.
Measurements are taken at a rate of once every 100ms throughout the test..

The LK-G is a triangulation displacement sensor that brings together the best in Keyence technology to deliver the performance and stability required for such measurements.