Sensors on show

The sensor, measurement and instrumentation industry thrives on technological innovation. As well as operating as standalone devices, sensors are often at the heart of more complex instruments and systems.

Overall, according to mtec organiser Trident Exhibitions, these products represent an industry worth over £5billion a year in the UK. As the only UK show dedicated to the subject, mtec should be the ideal place to keep in touch with this rapidly developing area of technology.

Although 'co-located' with other shows such as IPOT (Image Processing and Optical Technology), Machine Building and Machine Vision, mtec's main emphasis remains very much on sensors and the measurement functions they facilitate. But, as Trident points out, there is one enabling technology that is needed to make instrument systems work - a network. Mtec itself therefore also features the Industrial Networks for Fieldbus and Open Systems exhibition.

Close on 300 companies will be represented in Halls 11 and 12 of the NEC but, by highlighting a handful of exhibitors below, we hope to give a flavour of the technologies to be featured.

Take temperature measurement, for example. The most frequently measured property in industrial applications, temperature has long been a focus for innovative technology. One of the UK's leading providers of non-contact, infrared temperature measure-ment solutions for process, maintenance and quality assurance, Raytek UK will have its complete line of products on show. Exhibits include the MP50 thermal imaging line scanner for high-resolution real-time thermal images of heated process surfaces.

New at the show is Raytek's PhotoTemp MX6, said to be the first handheld temperature inspection tool to combine a precision non-contact i-r thermometer with a digital camera for enhanced inspection documentation at a price far less than a thermal camera.

The MX6 photographs the measurement spot marked by the instrument's 'TrueSpot' circular laser sighting. These images are then superimposed with temperature, location, time and date information. Up to 100 images can be stored in the unit and downloaded to a PC for reports and emails.

For process calibration operations, Fluke is showing its recently introduced 789 ProcessMeter. Like earlier models in the range, this combines two tools - a digital multimeter (DMM) and a loop calibrator, both of which are commonly used by process technicians. The 789 has added functionality including a 24V loop power display, a very large dual display with enhanced backlighting, a Hart-mode setting, and quick-span checking capabilities.Fluke's 740 series of documenting process calibrators can also simultaneously measure and source, automatically capturing calibration results.

With process applications such as seating and gasketing monitoring, the Tekscan I-Scan is a non-intrusive pressure mapping system that can record the pressure distribution between contacting surfaces, either statically or dynamically. Available through Analogue and Digital Services, this technology involves the use of a laminated plastic film with up to 2000 pressure sensing areas built in. The final sensor is extremely thin (0.1mm) and can be produced in a number of different shapes and sizes depending on the chosen application. The pressure range over which the sensors operate can be varied from a few mm Hg to 25 000psi. The individual sensors are reusable and have many potential applications. The software supplied allows data to be collected and displayed in real-time mode, in either 2D or 3D format. Pressures are displayed graphically in different colours to indicate the ranges from high to low pressure.

Position sensing

Non-contact measurement devices also play their part in position sensing, which Gill Technology will demonstrate at the show. Gill has developed a range of linear and rotary non-contact inductive position sensors called Blade. The standard Blade sensor can measure 25mm of movement and gives end-users the ability to configure its performance to meet their exact requirements.

Gill is also showing its new improved fuel level sensing technology. A capacitive fuel probe specifically developed for harsh environmental conditions, this sensor is fully reprogrammable and has features such as on-board temperature monitoring and compensation.

The appropriately named Sensor Technology is showing its new range of TorqSense rotary torque transducers. With OEM process applications such as the monitoring and control of viscosity during mixing processes, these transducers use a patented method based on frequency-dependent strain gauges to measure the change in resonant frequency caused by the applied shaft strain.

Running alongside the exhibitions is the Sensor Engineering Forum, supported by the IEE and the ISAT Group of the Institute of Physics. This will include a series of free work-shops given by leading industrial and academic experts, and a problem-solving clinic.