Flatness and Shape Measurement
Flatness and shape measurement for strip products
Flatness and shape measurement of metal strip and sheet products play a critical role in ensuring final product quality, regardless of the intended end use or industry. Accurate measurements ensure that these products meet rigorous quality standards.
Moreover, asymmetric rolling can create residual stresses that distort the sheet’s shape, leading to edge or centre buckling that reduces quality. This distortion not only challenges quality control but also increases material wastage, leading to higher costs and inefficiencies throughout the production process.
To address these issues, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has established standard A1030/A1030M-21. This standard provides a benchmark (I-units) for measuring flatness, calculated as [(3.1414xH)/2L]²x105) offering a reliable metric for consistent flatness measurement.
Non-contact shape measurement of strip products using the Proscan Magnum
Scantron supplies the Proscan Magnum—a system originally developed for the aluminium lithographic industry—to sheet producers worldwide. This system features a large granite table with exceptional flatness and stability, integrated with a rapid-scanning laser gantry. As a result, the Proscan Magnum measures shape, flatness, and dimensions on sheets over two meters long, delivering fast data capture and reporting. To suit specific product specifications and relaxation times, the table surface can be machined with air-release grooves.
Furthermore, the Proscan Magnum can also be modified to measure flatness on flat or profiled panels and boards, by using a laser sensor with a larger measuring range and standoff distance.
See the Proscan Magnum page for more information about this system and its applications measuring flatness.
Offline measurement of strip and board flatness
Alternatively, the Proscan 2D surface profilometer provides automated and reproducible offline measurements for strip or board flatness in one orientation. This device enables quick, simple measurements for applications such as gypsum, plasterboard, conveyor flatness, panel, and metal strip. Users can rapidly analyze and store data related to width, height, bow, flatness, and roughness. Additionally, the Proscan 2D offers automatic edge detection and allows width customization to match specific product profiles and dimensions.
Ideal for applications like gypsum, plasterboard, conveyor flatness, panel and metal strip, the Proscan 2D allows quick and repeatable analysis and storage of data related to width, height, bow, flatness and roughness. Moreover, it has the capacity for automatic edge detection and a tailored width to suit your product profile and dimensions.
The Proscan 2D is a perfect fit for the lab or factory floor owing to its robust frame. For more information on the Proscan 2D system, visit our Proscan 2D page.
14 Tonne Proscan Magnum Packing and Shipping
Our largest machine to date—comprising twelve tonnes of granite along with a steel frame and additional mechanical and electronic parts—was carefully packed into a seaworthy crate at our manufacturing facility. Once packed, we loaded it onto a wagon to begin its long journey to India.
Proscan Magnum
Our new Proscan Magnum with linear drives covering a scanning area of 4m x 2.5m
