Non-contact measuring wheel

Funding for innovative research and pioneering development at ASTECH in Rostock

In industry, rotary encoders are often used in conjunction with an impeller to measure speed. In principle, however, this form of tactile measurement is subject to an error due to mechanical slippage at high accelerations, which means that reliable measurement of the speed cannot be guaranteed. In addition, the direct contact of the measuring instrument with the test specimen leads to wear of the mechanical components of the impeller as well as to a negative influence on the material to be measured, e.g. in the form of contamination, whereby paper can be mentioned here as an example.

The positive characteristics of the measuring wheel, such as the measurement of the speed close to zero or the detection of standstill, the simple installation and the cost factor of such a system usually outweigh the advantages of non-contact methods. In the future, ASTECH plans to better combine the aforementioned advantages of non-contact measurement technology with those of conventional rotary encoders with impellers. In particular, extensive connection and signal compatibility between the optical measuring devices and the previous mechanical alternatives is planned.

This project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund. Operational Program Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2014-2020 - Investments in growth and employment.