PiXargus rolls out new system to inspect rubber products during production

Wurselen, Germany – A German manufacturer of industrial inspection equipment has introduced a new system designed to catch defects in rubber products while they are being made, potentially allowing manufacturers to identify production problems before large amounts of material are produced out of specification.

PiXARGUS said its new ProfilControl 7 RubberFleX uses optical cameras and software to continuously inspect rubber profiles as they move through an extrusion line. The system can check the shape and dimensions of a product while also looking for surface problems such as holes, scratches, bubbles, cracks and color variations.

The system is designed with a modular sensor head that can accommodate between one and eight cameras. Manufacturers can position the cameras according to the portions of a rubber profile that need to be monitored, allowing the equipment to be configured for different products and production requirements.

That flexibility is intended to extend the technology beyond traditional automotive applications. PiXARGUS said the system can inspect rubber sealing profiles used in automobiles as well as technological profiles used in air conditioners, refrigerators, windows and other products.

The inspection system can measure contours, distances, angles, radii, heights, widths and clamping dimensions. It also uses up to 700 LEDs to illuminate the material during inspection, while software filters out interference from external light.

A feature called MultiArea allows multiple areas of a profile to be inspected at the same time using virtual cameras. PiXARGUS said the system is designed to identify defects and their potential sources early in the manufacturing process.

Customers can configure the system for dimensional measurement, surface inspection or both. Standard equipment includes a 21.5-inch multitouch monitor, a mobile support frame and an encoder. Options include inspection of holes and flocking, variable extrusion and defect density management.

The ProfilControl 7 RubberFleX is part of PiXARGUS’ ProfilControl 7 XLine family, which the company said draws on 25 years of development of its ProfilControl 7 technology. The company is headquartered in Würselen, near Aachen, and has a U.S. branch and technical offices around the world.

PiXARGUS develops optical inline measurement and surface inspection systems for continuously extruded products including profiles, hoses, tubes and cables. Its equipment is used in industries including automotive, health care, building, infrastructure and consumer goods, according to the company.