Maintaining precision alignments in steel plants has never been easy.
Typical methods include optical telescopes and alignment templates for
use with feeler gauges. These methods are very time consuming and are
susceptible to significant errors, which is very important as Dave Spinelli,
Team Leader, Dofasco, Inc. explains:
"Maintaining segment roll alignment and
profile to a high degree of precision is critical to production of defect-free
continuously cast slabs." [Source: AISE Steel Technology,
January 2002]
The L-740 Ultra-Precision Leveling System offers a
much fastest, more accurate way of setting the pass line elevations on
caster segments. With wireless targets offering resolutions down to 0.00002"
(0.0005 mm), automatically sweeping laser planes and high-powered alignment
software, the L-740 is the ideal alignment tool for caster segment applications.
The results can be impressive as Mr. Spinelli continues,
"[Dofasco has] achieved significant segment
repair cost and time savings and has resulted in increased segment life
and improved as-cast slab quality." [Source: AISE Steel Technology,
January 2002]
Set Roll Pass Line Faster with Fewer Technicians
One of the more time-consuming tasks in maintaining continuous-caster
steel mills is setting the correct caster roll pass line. Unlike using
optics that requires at least 2 operators, the L-740 only requires 1 operator,
and since the laser automatically sweeps a reference plane, it is a very
simple process to measure and set the heights of a caster segment rolls.
The heights can be set using precision inserts with our targets as the
tolerance of the centerline of the target to its base has been accurately
controlled.
Another timesaving feature of the L-740 is that all the rolls of a segment
can be checked from one setup and the operator who set the laser up can
start doing the measurements himself! Furthermore the laser can be setup
between 2 segments and both of them can be checked at the same time from
the same setup!
Unsurpassed Laser Plane Flatness
The flatness of the laser plane is the most important factor in determining
the overall accuracy of the system for measuring flatness. No one surpasses
the flatness of our laser planes: In a 180º sweep the L-740's laser
plane is flat to within 1/2 an arc second (0.00003"/ft or 0.0025mm/M).
However, in a 90º sweep the laser plane becomes even flatter to within
1/4 of an arc second (0.000015"/ft or 0.001 mm/M).
Laser Technology Reduces Optics' Variability Between Alignment Crews
PSDs, or position sensing detectors, are one of the critical components
of our laser alignment systems. It is this PSD that senses the laser beam
and turns it into a digital signal. This greatly reduces the man-to-man
variability found in optical measurements because sophisticated electronics
determine the measurement rather than the human eye.
Anyone with optical experience knows that the quality of the measurement
depends on having the same experienced person perform the entire alignment,
which can create big problems when the job takes more than one shift to
complete. By relying on the PSD to produce highly repeatable measurements,
our L-740 makes it much easier to hand off an alignment project from one
crew to the next. This greatly reduces the need to have new crews backshoot
the previous crews' work to "calibrate" to their readings.
Most Accurate Mechanical Levels Available
The L-740's level vials are accurate to 1 arc second (0.00006"/ft
or 0.005 mm/M). Only expensive, time-consuming, difficult-to-use, and
fragile electronic levels are more accurate. The combination of accurate
levels and automatically rotating laser planes far out weighs any other
alignment tool on the market.
Multiple Targets for Large Applications
You can even use more than one target, which is extremely useful on large
segments and other leveling applications. In fact, depending on the target,
4, 6 or even 10 targets can all be used at the same time. This allows
the use of multiple work crews, which can really speed alignments.
Continuously Sweeping Lasers and Live Data Reduces Downtime
Continuously sweeping lasers and live data output create a powerful combination
to align segments up to 70% faster than traditional methods. HLI's continuously
sweeping lasers are far superior to other point-and-shoot laser systems
that require time-consuming manual laser rotation and target setup for
each point measured.
By providing live alignment data, misalignment errors can be quickly and
easily fixed without having to change the setup. This is a tremendous
benefit, especially if you are used to using an interferometer, where
the entire length of and axis must be measured before the straightness
or flatness can be determined and the data provided is not even live.
Laser Planes Have 200' Range
One of the most powerful features of the L-740 is the automatically rotating
laser plane with a range of 100 feet (30.5 meters) in radius. That means
even the largest segments can be checked with one setup. In fact, several
segments can be checked from the same setup!
Wireless
Targets and Readouts
With Hamar's new line of wireless targets (A-1531, A-1532 and A-1533)
there is no need to string long extension cords to reference. These targets
have a resolution of 0.001" (0.02 mm) and built-in readouts. With
up to 3" of measuring range and height gage measuring capabilities,
they are perfect for most steel mill alignment applications.
For higher accuracy applications, our second new line of wireless targets
(A-1519, A-1519HR and A-1520) is an ideal alternative. The targets have
up to a 1" (25 mm) measuring range, resolutions as low as 0.00002"
(0.0005 mm) and can be used up to 100 feet (30.5 meters) from the readout
(R-1309), which uses a Cassiopeia PDA, color software and a wireless receiver
to display up to four targets simultaneously.
Software
Quickly Collects and Analyzes Data
The L-719 can also be linked to our new Plane 5 flatness analyzing software.
It is a Windows 95/98 based software that can quickly analyze almost any
layout for flatness or straightness. Plane 5 will even analyze squareness
if used with our squareness lasers (L-743, L-742, L-741, L-733, L-732
& L-731).
Squares, rectangles, frames, circles, rings, and
up to four sets of ways can all be easily analyzed with Plane5. The alignment
data is automatically downloaded by using our wireless data receiver,
the A-908.
Wireless
Targets and Readouts 