LIMAB has for more than 25 years supplied laser sensors and complete
non-contact measuring systems for in-line control of dimensions to building material industries worldwide. 

We measure thickness, width, geometry, edge profile, level and position.
We can measure most types of material such as:

Wood based panels: 

• MDF
• HDF
• Particleboard,
• Chipboard,
• OSB
• Veneer
• Plywood,
• LVL
• Hardboard/Glulam

Insulation materials: 

• Stonewool
• Glasswool
• XPS-Extruded Polystyrene
• Fibreglass

Mixed & Sandwich type of panels:  

Panels made from different raw materials mixed together like Fibrecement, or panels pressed/glued onto each other like THDF or metal sheets onto an insulation core, Honeycomb panels

Other types of products: 

• Laminate and Plastic Floorings
• Door skins

Why use real time in-line measurement? 

• All products within tolerance (alarms if not) –no complaints and no scrap 
• Reduce time between product changes
• Production reports and statistics
• Complete control of the dimensions from the operator area
• Increased yield because of the possibility to produce boards closer to lower  tolerance limits

1. Level measurement in silos

2. Positioning- carriers and panels

3. Matt height before presses

4. Thickness measurement after presses 

5. Thickness before sanders

6. Thickness after sanders  

PanelProfiler installed after a Particleboard press

Protection from moisture, heat and debris after presses. A powerful side channel blower creates over pressure inside the Protection boxes, with only small openings for the laser beams.

Measurement principle:  

Optical triangulation which is a distance/angle measurement. A laser spot is projected on the surface of the panel to be measured and reflecting light is picked up by an optical lens that focuses the image on an array of light sensitive cells (pixels). The angle of reflection will change with distance sensor-panel and thus the the measured panel thickness.

Laser sensor PreciCura SR:

PreciCura is the key component in the PanelProfiler system: 

• Rugged, industrial design
• Not sensitive for colour variations
• DSP(Digital Signal Processor inside the sensor )
• Subpixling 1/32000 resolution, enhanced resolution and accuracy
• High accuracy

Thickness measurement is unaffected of bumps and vibrations in the conveyor because 

• Two distance measurements
• Vertical panel movement means one bigger distance but the other distance equally shorter
• Measuring frequency 2000Hz so even fast vibrations don´t affect measurement result
  
   

Benefits with non-contact laser against mechanical contact measurement: 

• Measure on soft material like most insulation material + ”soft” wood panels after presses
• “Zero-calibration” in endless lines and high speed lines not possible-measurements drift away
• Thin boards contact measurement does not work ok 
• High speed/rough surfaces/bouncing- bad mechanical contact
• No polishing or scratch marks (ie. after sanders)
• Panel edge to egde measurement- front egde important Lower maintenance costs - no mechanical wear