Laser Profiler
Laser profilers are laser displacement sensors that collect height data across a laser line rather than a single point. This enables 2D/3D measurements such as height difference, width, or angle to be performed using a single sensor. In addition to height data, KEYENCE profile sensors also collect intensity data to provide a stable solution for inline measurement and inspection. The lineup includes a wide range of sensors to support a variety of applications and industries.
Product Lineup
Perform 2D/3D measurement and inspection in line with the LJ-X8000 Series. Our most versatile lineup of laser profilers offers 3200 points/profile, making it easy to accurately measure any target shape or material from high-resolution images. The laser profile scanners are compatible with four different controller options, allowing users to select a setup that perfectly aligns system capability with any application requirements. The maximum laser linewidth reaches over 720mm (28"), and multiple can be paired together to scan even larger targets. Programming for these high-performance sensors is completed in three simple steps, making accurate in line 3D measurement accessible for users of any experience level.
Measure the profile and shape of targets using the high-speed 2D laser profilers of the LJ-V7000 Series. By collecting height data across the laser line, this system makes 100% inspection possible for targets that alternative systems struggle with due to lack of contrast or glare. The sensor's blue laser and specialized CMOS offers a wide dynamic range, enabling measurement of targets with multiple surface types or colors - ranging from glass and metal to dark rubber. The high-speed sampling (up to 64kHz) enables parts to be measured during transportation, improving production efficiency. The LJ-V7000 Series sensors are also compatible with the controllers of the LJ-X8000 Series to perform 3D measurement and inspection.
This first-generation laser scanner performs simple 2D measurements. The 2D displacement sensors of the LJ-G5000 Series can be used to measure height, height difference, width, and more. The laser line profiler automatically compares measurement values to dimension tolerances, enabling real-time detection of defective parts or processes. Up to 8 measurements can be performed simultaneously, supporting a wide range of inline profile measurement applications.
Laser profilers are laser displacement sensors that collect height data across a laser line rather than a single point. They measure the profile of an object using laser triangulation, a process where a band of light is emitted onto the target and the reflected light is received using a 2D CMOS to understand the height at numerous points across the line. Measurements such as height, height difference, width, and other measurements can be performed from this 2D profile without touching the target. By compiling profiles during a scan of a part, high-definition 3D representations of a target can be rendered to complete 3D measurements and inspection. The laser profiler's high-speed acquisition of high-resolution profiles enables reliable quality and process control solutions for a variety of applications and industries.
Benefits of Using Laser Profilers
Laser profilers can perform non-contact profile measurements. Unlike contact-based measurement devices, laser profilers can accurately measure the profiles of soft materials or targets that could be damaged through contact. Automating profile measurement also removes the dependence on operators, eliminating the risk of human error or variation in measurement methods, thus improving reliability while reducing inspection time.
Contact-type measuring systems are difficult to use on the surfaces of scratch-sensitive products and electronic components mounted on delicate, precision PCBs. Laser profilers, on the other hand, can perform measurements of these delicate targets during production, without stopping the parts for inspection. Due to their non-contact measurement method, laser profilers can accurately measure the profiles of rubber products, food items, and other such soft objects without changing the shape of the target with pressure from contact. Laser profilers can provide a solution for automatic 100% inspections for a diverse range of industries, processes, and products.
Because 1D laser displacement sensors measure at one point rather than the whole surface, they are somewhat limited for calculating 2D or 3D measurements such as height difference or warpage. Laser profilers provide a solution for scanning wide areas in a single pass, making it possible to complete more complex measurements at high speeds.
Completing 2D measurements, such as height difference, with 1D laser displacement sensors requires either the use of multiple sensors or the installation of a precision stage to adjust the sensor's position relative to the target. This could be difficult due to time or space constraints, and the accuracy is limited to how well the part can be positioned. However, laser profilers measure the height across a surface using a laser line instead of looking at a single point, making it possible to complete height difference measurements across wide areas without the need for motion or multiple sensors. By installing laser profilers into a production line, manufacturers can improve throughput by performing height difference, warpage, and other 2D/3D measurements without stopping the product.
Camera-based inspection can be difficult for certain applications due to lighting conditions, lack of color contrast, or height differences in the target. Additionally, the scope is limited to 2D measurements, so height inspection must be completed separately. Laser profilers can complete 3D inspection and defect detection of any material without external lighting.
Conventional area cameras and line scan cameras need lighting fixtures to be installed. In some cases, it can be difficult to set conditions due to unevenness of color, patterns, gloss, and other characteristics the target may have. Furthermore, cameras cannot measure height, and even aiming from an angle does not enable reliable inspection due to the inability to fully focus an image from the front to the back of a target. On the other hand, laser profilers can measure heights without external lighting. With only a sensor head installed, a laser profiler can be used to inspect height and other 3D profile data by capturing the object's shape from above. Laser profilers can also achieve reliable inline profile measurements without being affected by color differences, patterns, and other characteristics of the target object.
Laser Profiler Case Studies
Automotive
High-speed laser profilers can follow the applicator system (dispenser nozzle) to measure and inspect the 3D profile of sealants and freshly applied adhesives in real-time. As laser profilers are free from the impact of radiant light, they can be used for measuring just-welded beads by following the torch of the welding robot. Other applications include appearance inspections of parts and products as well as other 3D profile measurements that were previously impossible for automated inline inspections. KEYENCE introduces the next generation of automated 100% inspections that can only be achieved with laser profilers.
EV Parts
The batteries―one of the most important components of electric vehicles―must meet high quality and safety standards. A laser profiler can automatically perform 100% inspections in a broad range of processes, including coating application quality during the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries and the 3D profile measurement of electrodes and weld beads for lid sealing of square cases. Click here to explore other examples of automatic appearance inspection of key parts related to motors and connectors.
Electric and Electronic Parts
Inspection needs are growing with the increasing demand for smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices, along with the trend for smaller size and higher functionality. KEYENCE introduces examples of automatic 100% inspections using laser profilers in the electric and electronic parts industry, including profile measurement of PCB warpage and solder pastes applied on PCBs, oil seal and O ring insertion inspection for the casing, and coplanarity inspection of pins.
Semiconductors
Laser profilers are very effective for semiconductor processes where precision and stability are required, thanks to their ability to measure without negative impacts from part gloss or color variation. Wafer edge profile and positioning accuracy play a huge part in reducing loss and efficiently manufacturing quality chips. KEYENCE showcases examples of introducing laser profilers that offer reliably precise measurements and inspections of wafers with unique gloss for profile inspections of notch positions and edge shapes.
Height and Height Difference Measurement
A typical problem encountered in inspections is the occurrence of measurement errors due to the target object being tilted. KEYENCE introduces examples of height and height difference measurements using a laser profiler equipped with a tilt correction function for accurate measurement. How the laser profiler works are explained using a measurement example that involves both transparent and mirrored surfaces as well as a comparison with contact-type measuring systems.
Width Measurement
Laser profilers can provide inline measurement of a target's width in any position. KEYENCE introduces examples including a case using a laser profiler to measure the width of elastomers. Alternative solutions for non-contact width measurement are also explained.
Angle Measurement
Laser profilers can measure angles quickly and precisely without using multiple sensor heads or external calculations. KEYENCE introduces an example that improves the quality of automatic welding by instantly measuring the groove shape, position, and angle ahead of the torch of the automatic welding machine and providing feedback to the system.
Warpage and Flatness Measurement
A single laser profiler accurately measures the warpage and flatness of a target using the height data from under the laser line. Measurements and inspections are performed simply and speedily thanks to this laser profiler’s ability to detect and measure the height peak and bottom points and warpage width from the obtained profile data.
2D Profile Measurement
Laser profilers equipped with single-shot HDR can provide fast, high-precision measurement of the 2D profile of treads even while the tires (which have low color contrast) are in motion.
The 3D profile can also be measured by acquiring the profile data of the entire circumference of the rotating tire and subjecting it to image processing. This section provides such examples.
3D Profile Measurement
Laser profilers are capable of performing inline 3D inspections on any object. Reliable 100% inspections can be achieved without affecting cycle time by leveraging the high-speed sampling, high precision, and high-performance position adjustment functions of laser profilers. In this introduction, KEYENCE refers to 3D displacement sensors that can instantly batch-measure the height at multiple points, which supports a wide range of applications, including part defect inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Profilers
The LJ-V7000 Series and LJ-X8000 Series both support advanced 3D profile measurement and inspection, not to mention 2D profile inspection using inline profile measurement.
The LJ-X8000 Series achieves 3200 pixels along the X-axis per profile, enabling super-high-definition profile measurement in both the X and Z-axis. These laser profilers are capable of accurately capturing minute profile features. The LJ-V7000 Series provides high-speed sampling, up to 64 kHz, contributing to shorter cycle times by means of fast, precision inline measurement and inspection.
Both series adopt a blue laser, which offers stable measurement and inspection without being affected by the target’s material, color, or temperature conditions.
One head can measure up to a width of 720 mm (LJ-X8000 Series). Our laser profilers can automatically inspect the full width and the total length of sheets, films, and other wide objects with only one sensor head or multiple sensors paired together. Their simplicity makes them easy to integrate into existing systems, but they are super powerful inspection tools and can detect the smallest unevenness on the surface from one end to the other without stopping the roll-to-roll machine movement thanks to their high-speed sampling capability. Additionally, unlike conventional cameras, laser profilers do not require that the head position be readjusted even for sheets with different thickness or color, making them capable of responding to a variety of products easily and quickly.
Most definitely. KEYENCE not only offers a 3D image processing and inspection package, but also a dedicated profile output model (LJ-X8000A) that specializes in and is only designed for use with profile data output. Because raw profile data measured by a laser profiler can be directly imported into a computer, this data can be introduced into 3D inspections using an existing system and existing machine vision libraries without any extra costs. This model is bundled (free of charge) with a HALCON-compatible version of sampling software that supports various machine vision libraries.
This site introduces proven solutions in various industries including automotive, film & sheet, and electric & electronic components- for laser profilers, as well as our other laser displacement sensors and measurement systems. Applications can also be explored by measurement types, such as thickness, width, height, height difference, and 3D inspections.
![Key Technology and Application [Profile measurement]](/img/asset/AS_108927_L.jpg)
![Key Technology and Applications [3D Measurement]](/img/asset/AS_110781_L.jpg)
Conventional contact-type measuring systems and camera-based inspection have known issues. This guide uses different processes and target objects as examples to detail how laser profilers can solve these issues with non-contact 3D measurement. This is a perfect introductory guidebook for users new to laser profilers.
A must-read for users looking for a solution to the problem of measuring and inspecting large products! This guide explains the benefits and real-life cases of improvements achieved by the ultra-wide range, high-definition laser profiler in the LJ-X8000 Series that supports an X-axis width of up to 720 mm with a single sensor head.
