THE COMPETITION

Currently, there are three technologies that compete with the 'generic' air bearing shape meter. All use a solid roll or connected segments that house load cells across the width of the roll. Solid rolls have high inertia and friction compared with an air bearing roll, and usually need a motor drive for satisfactory operation. As the measurement transducers are part of a rotating assembly, some means of transmitting the information to the computer is required. The number of measurements per revolution is 1 or 4, thus limiting its use for slow speed measurements. Last, they lack the ability to measure absolute strip tension. Unlike the air bearing shape meter, however, solid rolls can be engineered to resolve force measurements over a smaller width, i.e. 1 inch. Buyers of shape meter technology must make the choice for measurement resolution at the expense of measurement sensitivity, highter costs and greater complexity.

The 'solid roll' technologies in the table below are manufactured or licensed by Asea, Clecim or BFI.

The HiRes Shape Meter has been designed and developed to accomodate the need for minimal measurement width while maintaining the best characteristics of the air bearing shape sensor.

View Competition Comparison