Optical Gauging 

Many manufacturing defects are costly, yet preventable. Today, highly accurate, short-range measurement technology can be a useful tool for automating quality control. SICK’s line of OD optical displacement sensors are reliable tools for optical gauging applications at extremely short ranges. They can measure distances as short as 24 mm with 0.02 micron resolution and have a fast response time of 1 ms. This makes non-contact OD optical displacement sensors an ideal alternate solution to mechanical measurement devices, such as LVDT probes.

SICK offers a wide range of solutions for optical gauging. SICK is the only manufacturer to offer an optical displacement sensor that connects three sensors to one controller. From economical, stand-alone products, such as the OD Value... to more advanced systems, such as the OD Precision, SICK has a solution to meet your needs.

SICK OD sensors use superior technology for increased reliability in high-performance applications.

• OD sensors use CMOS technology to accurately measure distances of dark (6% remission) and light (90% remission) targets. This ensures measurement values will remain consistent no matter what the target.
• CMOS offers anti-blooming characteristics to ensure high-gloss surfaces, like polished metal, are measured with high accuracy and no blinding effects.
• Laser triangulation is used to ensure accurate measurement results. Laser triangulation sensors determine the position of a target by measuring light reflected from the target's surface. Download our Laser Triangulation White Paper.

Optical displacement solutions are used in a variety of market segments primary when quality control, positioning and identification is required. Industries include automotive, postal, electronics, packaging, robotics and general manufacturing markets.

Optical displacement sensors are ideal for error-proofing in automotive manufacturing - from press shop to final assembly.

• Error-proofing solution in automotive market
• Position of spring assembly on fly wheel
• Measurement of height differences with OD Max
• Position checking for camshafts in control chain assembly
• Assembly control of injection pumps with OD-Hi 

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Other manufacturing and general applications include counting newspapers in a printing press operation, wane measurement at a saw mill,  determining the exact position of a robot arm,  measuring the thickness of mail, regardless of color, in a mail sortation facility and many more.

• Wane measurement
• Bend detection on files
• Granulate level monitoring in water filters

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From verifying the exact position of a robot arm... to height control of a cutting system, SICK's highly accurate optical displacement sensors have a range of uses in robotics applications.

• End effector positioning - distance to object
• Verifying the exact position of a robot arm
• Height control of a cutting system (laser or water)
• Finding the seam for welding two pieces together
• Precision EVA foil cutting along a glass panel

Boost quality control and inspection in packaging applications with our short-range measurement solutions, including thickness and diameter measurement.

• Counting folding medicine boxes

  Planarity of multi-colored plastic caps for containers
• Can quality control through diameter measurement
• Wine/champagne bottle cork height detection
• Foil/label thickness measurement

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Due to their high accuracy and ability to measure to the sub-micron level, optical displacement sensors are ideal for a wide variety of applications during semiconductor and solar manufacturing - from wafer production to inspecting PCBs.

• Measuring diameter of a silicon ingot
• Smart cameras and precision sensors for handling of solar modules
• Measure the thickness of glass in solar panel manufacturing
• Measure the planarity of a circuit board or electronic component
• Check the position of a wafer
• Planarity of the glass/cover on a mobile phone
• Semiconductor leg height detection for precision soldering

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