LMI Technologies – Saatech Systems

In the 1990's LMI - then known as DynaVision - forged their reputation in North America supplying lumber industries with leading-edge laser scanners and single point triangulation laser displacement sensors. The lumber (or timber) industries were, and are still, typically very harsh environments for all equipment, but particularly so for complex and sophisticated electro-optical components and parts.

In 1994 Saatech decided to use DynaVision scanner heads for the development of our true-shape scanning and associated control systems for precision high speed saw-log sorting. Saatech Systems achieved widespread success delivering a large number of high performance systems to most major radiata pine sawmills in Australia.

Chroma+scan 3D sensors built for sawmills

Equipment that operates in mills needs to be durable and tough. Chroma+scan 3D sensors are designed to bolt into your scan frames and get down to work, even in the dust and dirt that comes with the territory. All chroma+scan sensors include:

Gasketed, dust proof IP67 industrial grade housings
Factory calibrated optics, for reliable and accurate 3D measurement
Impressive ambient light and dark surface handling
Gigabit Ethernet for real-time data delivery
Ability to synchronize multiple sensors to cover large scanning zones
Five year warranty

GOCATOR ®
All-in-one 3D Smart Sensor

Flexible Profile Sensors for Inspection and Control

Gocator Profile Sensors are laser line measurement devices that measure cross-sectional shapes of parts and materials surfaces. Cross-sections can be collected to create 3D point clouds representing whole parts for performing volumetric measurements. The same sensor can also generate highly detailed laser intensity images for use with common 2D image processing software. With scan rates of up to 5000 Hz and measurement ranges up to 800 mm (2.63 ft), Gocator profile sensors offer the flexibility for easy integration into production facilities for inspection and control.

Gocator_3D-Smart-Sensor brochure

Detecting Wane Direction in High Throughput Sawmill Using a Gocator® Displacement Sensor

Wane, the curve left along edges of some boards after primary cutting, is usually reduced or removed in wood processing by an edger. But before boards reach the edger, they must be flipped: boards moving on the transport system with excess wane facing down can wobble, causing issues as they are fed into the edger. Using a Gocator 1300 series single point laser sensor to create board profiles, using its profile mode, is an inexpensive solution to detect whether wane is up or down.

Wane Direction Application

Single-Point Laser Measurement
for 3D Thickness, Height, and
Surface Roughness

Features

Ideal for real-time closed-loop automation, Gocator displacement sensors operate at exceptionally high speeds. They are ideal for in-line inspection, non-contact dimensional measurements, such as height and thickness, or surface roughness. Important features include:

Pre-calibrated and ready to measure
Scalable to a synchronized multiple sensor network
Small footprint
Set-up and control via a web browser
Rich I/O and PLC support
Open source SDK

High-speed performance

Gocator 1300 series displacement sensors are built on the same platform to deliver high-speed performance centered on the ease of use and flexibility Gocator is known for. The sensors provide highly accurate results suitable for closed loop control. They feature a scanning rate of up to 32,000 Hz.

Measurement Ranges

Every production facility has its unique set of requirements and challenges. Gocator displacement sensors come in a variety of models to measure scan targets of different sizes. Select the model that best suits your needs.

Gocator 1300 Series Model #	1320	1340	1350	1365	1370	1390
Resolution Z (mm)	0.0004 - 0.0004	0.0005 - 0.0010	0.0015 - 0.0035	0.0025 - 0.0040	0.0025 - 0.0070	0.0250 - 0.0600
Clearance Distance (mm)	40	162.5	200	562	237.5	500
Measurement Range (mm)	20	95	200	375	412.5	2000