Extrusion International 5-2025

58 Extrusion International 5/2025 MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY, BLOWN FILM surement accuracy, suitability for measuring colored lms, and the fact there are no government regulations regarding transportation or industrial use of capacitive measurement technologies. KCS sells the K-500 and K-300 contact sensors, which are suitable for non or slightly tacky films with insen- sitive outer layers. The unique selling point of the K-500 is its ceramic sensor surface, which is wear-free. The measuring head of the K-300 can be replaced eas- ily and is available with a chrome or plasma-coated surface. The KCF-700 and KNC-401 sensor types are suitable for lms that are sometimes tacky (e.g., containing EVA or metallocenes) with sensitive outer layers. The largely contactless thickness measurement is based on an air cushion between the sensor surface and the lm. The special feature of the KNC-401 is the temperature-con- trolled air cushion and active lm tracking by a linear motor. KCS exclusively offers an X-ray-based thickness sensor for barrier lms with high polyamide, EVOH, and simi - lar material contents. With more precise thickness mea- surement, regulation free shipping, and simpler oper- ating permits, this sensor technology offers numerous advantages over nuclear based gamma solid-state emit- ters. Thanks to the temperature-controlled air cushion, these K-XRAY sensor types are also suitable for measur- ing the thickness of sensitive lms. KCS also has a measuring device with two capacitive thickness sensors that automatically follow the lm edges to measure the thickness of barrier lms world - wide without approval. Unlike all other measuring sys- tems, the S-100 Twin does not measure the tube portion of the bubble, but rather the attened lm tube after the reversing take-off. This makes the S-100 Twin ideal for pro le measurement on lines with double and triple bubbles. Other notable features of this sensor type in- clude non-contact thickness measurement, integrated lm torsion compensation, and at width measure - ment. All online thickness gauges, not just those from KCS, determine a relative thickness pro le, which is then cali - brated using the effective average lm thickness. This average thickness value is normally determined from the material throughput, the at width, the take-off speed, and the weighted density. It is therefore essential that the at width is measured as accurately and quickly as possible after the lm has been pulled off. In the ninth generation of KCS width measurement – FE-9 – the lm edges are precisely detected using optical time-of- ight K-500 Rotomat KT 3G KNC-401 Rotomat KT 3G K-XRAY Rotomat KT 3G Filmtest 3G