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I would like to measure the optical transmission of tinted plastic panels "in-process" during a hot-water tinting process.
Ideally, the sensors will indicate that the correct transmission has been reached, and the panels will be automatically withdrawn.
The tinting is carried out as a batch process in a stainless steel tank using a water-based dye. Process temperature is 60 to 85degC. 10 sheets of plastic are spaced out through the tank, with room between them for the dye to circulate freely. Panels are complete when their visible transmission falls to 3-10% of the un-tinted value. This measurement is currently done manually.
I have some ideas, but what do you think? The dimension of the tank is ~500mm in the direction in which any optical measurement could be taken (ie. normal to the panels), which means standard emitter/detector systems may not be suitable (inverse-square law). Or am I wrong?
Many Thanks,
Tom Smith
Ideally, the sensors will indicate that the correct transmission has been reached, and the panels will be automatically withdrawn.
The tinting is carried out as a batch process in a stainless steel tank using a water-based dye. Process temperature is 60 to 85degC. 10 sheets of plastic are spaced out through the tank, with room between them for the dye to circulate freely. Panels are complete when their visible transmission falls to 3-10% of the un-tinted value. This measurement is currently done manually.
I have some ideas, but what do you think? The dimension of the tank is ~500mm in the direction in which any optical measurement could be taken (ie. normal to the panels), which means standard emitter/detector systems may not be suitable (inverse-square law). Or am I wrong?
Many Thanks,
Tom Smith