Precision sensor manufacturer Micro-Epsilon UK Ltd, Birkenhead (www.micro-epsilon.co.uk), has launched a compact confocal chromatic displacement sensor for the high-precision measurement of distance, surface roughness and thickness.

The IFS2407-0,1 sensor offers a measuring range of just 100µm (0.1mm). Combined with a high resolution of 3nm, this enables reliable high-precision measurements of transparent layers such as glass or plastic film/substrates with thicknesses from just 5µm.

The sensor offers a large tilt angle, made possible by the numerical aperture (NA 0.8 or NA 0.7 depending on the sensor model chosen).

Combined with a light spot diameter of just 3µm, the sensor can detect the finest of structures, so it can be used for surface roughness measurements.

The standard version (with NA 0.8) can be used for the high-precision measurement of rough surfaces and thin layers. The light-intensive version (NA 0.7) is suitable for high-speed measurements with short exposure times; it is also suitable for dark surfaces.

In the automotive industry, extremely high demands are placed on product quality, and confocal chromatic sensors accommodate the highly accurate inspection of ultra-fine surface structures.

The IFS2407-0.1 sensors can be used — for example — for measuring the roughness of brake discs.

The disc surface is smooth, polished and often shiny, with surface structures that are almost imperceptible to the human eye.

Another sensor in the confocal range from Micro-Epsilon is the IFS2407/90-0.3. This has a lateral 90deg beam path, allowing it to be used when inspecting automotive cylinder liners.

The axial beam path of the confocal sensors avoids shadowing effects, enabling measurements to be taken in sleeves and recesses.

High-precision measurements with tilted objects are also possible.