NDC Sensor Has Many Applications
- Published: August 30, 2016
IRWINDALE, CA | NDC Technologies, a global provider of precision measurement and control solutions, announces FilmPro, a new, modular high-performance infrared thickness sensor. 
Product is a universal single-sensor solution for film, sheet, and coating measurement applications including thin film to thick sheet products with multi-layer discrimination. New optical engine has been enhanced to improve signal-to-noise, accuracy, web flutter, and the effect of optical interference. Unit measures clear, pigmented, voided/pearlized products, plus tints in total or as stripes. It measures the true thickness and weight of voided, microporous, or breathable films and derived density. It can measure costly barrier materials, such as Nylon, EVOH, or PVDC simultaneously with other polymers such as PE, PP, or Ionomer.
Company says an issue confronting the accurate IR measurement of thin films is called Optical Interference (OI), which can negatively affect the accuracy of infrared film measurement due to reflected light within thin film structures. FilmPro’s new design has an optional Fringe Suppression Optics (FSO) module said to have a more efficient optical engine that is unaffected by film thickness changes and scanner misalignment or runout.
For biaxially orientated films, unit provides unique direct thickness measurement of clear, filled, or voided/pearlescent films. It addresses the issue of measuring the thickness of voided films and materials that exhibit density variation with its patented optical design, selection of discrete near infrared wavelengths, and sensor algorithms that combine to directly measure the true thickness and mass of these films. For blown film applications, FilmPro can measure up to six individual product components using a single gauge. These include total film thickness measurement of coextruded products including PET, PP/PE, PS, PVC, EVOH, PMMA, PA, and Ionomer. It can also measure other high-value blown films such as laminating grades, protective films, and agriculture films.
For cast film applications, it is said to provide superior measurement performance for CPE, CPP, cast stretch film, embossed cast films, barrier films, PVB Windshield/window films, and breathable films. With embossed films, product can handle most colors except very dark/opaque films, while cast stretch film measurements include clear, tinted colors, and black tinted products.
Also can measure organic or water-based coatings on film by simultaneously measuring the substrate thickness and the coating thickness.
