Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT
In industrial manufacturing, especially in automotive, microsystems and medical technology, there is an increasing trend towards filigree and complex structures. One example is injection holes of 150 microns and smaller, where the shape tolerances are in the submicrometer range. Sensitive microcomponents that must be assembled with positional accuracy are also used in microsystems technology. To ensure the quality of such components, measurement technology must also follow the trend towards miniaturization.
One approach to taking measurements in confined spaces is to use fiber optic distance sensors. The sensors offer great flexibility and are easy to integrate into production environments thanks to the small size of the probes. Because the measurement signals are transmitted purely optically in optical fibers, fiber optic sensors are insensitive to electromagnetic interference, exhibit negligible attenuation over long transmission distances, and can be used for multipoint measurements. In addition, they are flexible, have long-term stability and are resistant to a wide range of chemicals.
