The Jodon Tube Profiling System,Model TPS-2000, is designed to inspect cooling tubes produced by a tube mill. Typically, a tube mill will produce an aluminum tube for use as a liquid conduit in radiators and heaters. The cooling tubes exit the tube mill at a very high rate of speed, making an on-line measurement extremely difficult. As a consequence, the TPS-2000 is used as an off-line measuring system for precisely gauging dimensional characteristics against published tube specifications. The TPS-2000 can be used to gauge virtually any cooling tube using appropriate fixturing and programming.
The Tube Profiling System includes a highly accurate visible laser emitter, and an integral reflected light collector and imaging array. The laser emitter and imaging array combination is called a precision distance measuring transducer (DMT). The laser DMT is rigidly mounted within the TPS-2000 protective enclosure in such a manner as to prevent laser light from exiting the enclosure.
The sample holding fixture is essentially a precision mechanical linear stage with clamping jaws which operate in opposition to each other. A tensioning spring causes the jaws of the sample clamp to close towards each other when the “finger pull” is released. To insert a sample, the “finger pull” is drawn towards the operator until the clamp opening is large enough to receive the intended sample. Releasing the “finger pull” after the sample is installed causes the “jaws” to close gently on the tube.
The sample holding fixture rests atop a precision rotary stage which turns at a rate of approximately 12-degrees/second. Approximately 16 discrete stage positions are used during the scanning of a sample.