Wire & Cable Technology International - January/February 2008 - (Page 76)

TECH BRIEF Pioneering Virtual Technology for Extrusion by: Jeff Swinchatt SIKORA International Corp. 215 Prospect Park, Ste. C Peachtree City, GA 30269 USA www.sikora-usa.com With the state-of-the-art Virtual Gauge Technology (VGT), SIKORA presents an advanced and unique method to optimize the extrusion process. Now and for the future, technologies are needed that quickly and easily provide precise measurements, even under the most extreme conditions and in the smallest spaces. Gone is the day when it was impossible to measure diameter or wall thickness directly after the extruder due to line configuration or product composition. as a result a wall thickness is achieved. The control of the extruder is in consideration of the inserted haul-off speed. The virtual measuring gauge head calculates the extruder rpm to measuring device after the cooling section balances the actual wall thickness against the predicted one and controls the extruder to the requested wall thickness as necessary. help of the ECOCONTROL 2000. In the event of exceeding the control limit, the system informs the operator and gives visual information that a material change has been undertaken that needs to be reported to the system. Real Advantages Intelligent Software Concept Simulation Technology Virtual Gauge Technology is the next chapter of measuring technology for the wire and cable sector. This technology, developed by SIKORA, innovatively controls the wall thickness of the product quickly and precisely at the requested nominal value even though a measurement of the wall thickness immediately after the extruder does not occur. The virtual measurement is still authentic. The basis of the design is the idenurement of its volume output. Volume output is recorded in a user-friendly way by the ECOCONTROL 2000 processor system, which displays the virtual as well as the real measuring value clearly on a 15" TFT-monitor that can be used as a touch screen. If there are several extruder screws in use, their volume output will also be collected. New material types do not demand an addition of the volume output, but only a short calculation of the material-specific factor with the In practice, the VGT is extremely reliable while predicting cold wall thickness and guaranteeing accurate control of the extruder. The measuring system at the end of the line measures the real values of the product, which are then incorporated into the control. SIKORA’s VGT is compatible with X-RAY 2000 measuring devices as well as with the LASER 2000 series of laser measuring systems. The VGT is perfectly suited to application in the wire and cable sector. The virtual measuring head combines typical features of a real gauge head such as precision and reliability with the advantage of technological progress in cost reduction. www.sikora-usa.com / www.sikora.com Forward Thinking Design Previously, lines with a relatively low haul-off speed could not control the extruder from the end of the line due to the dead time resulting from the distance of the measuring device to the extruder. VGT eliminates this lag time and shows even during the start of the production the expected cold wall thickness despite the product not having arrived at the end of the cooling section. The measuring device is installed at the end of the cooling section for this method. Issues such as contamination, of which occur with placement directly after the extruder, are eliminated. The extruder can already be controlled by the VGT during the starting phase to the calculated rpm that is necessary in order to achieve the entered cold nomia cold wall thickness value is a decisive advantage over conventional methods where the extruder rpm is entered and 76 The concept of VIRTUAL 2000. Diagram of the Virtual Gauge Technology (VGT). Wire & Cable Technology International/January 2008 http://www.sikora-usa.com http://www.sikora-usa.com http://www.sikora.com

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Wire & Cable Technology International - January/February 2008 Editorial Wire & Cable Events Industry News Global Economy Drives Specialty Cable Demand Corporate News Change is Tough! Top Products of 2007 New Magnesium Hydroxides Enabling Low-Smoke Cable Compounds Straight From the Show - IWCS Conference™ A History of Long-Term Thinking Ensures a Pioneering Spirit Expediency of Roller Dies Application in Wire Drawing - Part 1 WireDrawing 101 Strain Rate Transforming Our Ideas Into Your Success Straight From The Show - Wire Southeast ASIA 2007 Capstans, Dancers, Accumulators Roundup Spotlight On Quality Control Pioneering Virtual Technology for Extrusion Electrically Heated Furnace Cuts Energy Costs/Reduces Carbon Footprint Machinery Accessories Materials Polymer Developments in the Cables Industry Wire & Connector Top Products of 2007 Just Load, Click and Print Superior Flame Resistance for Minimal Smoke, CO & Acid Gas High-Flex Round Cable Added to On-Line Design Tools Failed Bridge Cables Replaced With Smaller, Stronger Ones Advertisers Index Classified Advertising Internet Spotlight Editorial Index

Wire & Cable Technology International - January/February 2008

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