Optical Displacement Measurement?

[danbanana]

Does anyone here know of the availability of linear optical sensors that can measure from the side?

I am using LVDTs to measure vertical displacement as installed concrete anchors are loaded to tensile failure. Unfortunately, "failure" sometimes means a massive energy release that causes damage to the LVDT and it's fixture. I'm trying to avoid this issue by possibly measuring displacement using an optical system that I can set far aside (say, a foot or two) from the failing anchor.

I've heard hushed talk of wide-beam laser systems that can do this, but I can't seem to run across a company/distributor for them. Anyone have any recommendations?

And I'm running a DAQ VI with LabView 7.0 Express Full. So I'd prefer if the sensor wasn
't a self-contained system, i.e., I could incorporate it into my current LabView based set-up.

Thanks in advance...

-dan
dharmon@strongtie.com

[Henrik_Volkers]

Dan,

as far as I understand you, you should look for an laser triangulation sensor.

http://www.micro-epsilon.de/publicweb/Content.php?id=507

Greetings
Henrik

[Henrik_Volkers]

always go for a second source 🙂


http://www.keyence.com/products/laser.html?links=12:I:T

[Buechsenschuetz]

This is a german based supplier for laser displacement measuring system but I hope it will be helpful:

http://www.tem-technologie.de/produkte/mess/dist/index2.html

[t1o3m2]

Dan, you may want to consider a high-acceleration cable position transducer such as:

http://www.spaceagecontrol.com/s021h.htm
http://www.spaceagecontrol.com/s021j.htm

They are not optical but the flexible cable will not likely be damaged during a "massive energy release".

Best regards,

Tom Anderson
661-273-3000 Ext. 102