Extrusion International 6-2024-USA

23 Extrusion International 6/2024 Advanced Techniques for Measuring Medical Tubing Solutions In the highly regulated field of medical tube manufacturing, precision and quality control are paramount. Consistent wall thick- ness and accurate diameters help maintain the desired flow rates of fluid or gases through the tubes, where any irregularities can lead to complications like blockages or im- proper medication dosages, poten- tially endangering patients’ lives. ZUMBACH Electronics’ advanced measurement and control systems play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the pro - duction of the highest quality medi- cal tubes. ZUMBACH has over 30 years of ex- perience in the development of ul- trasonic measurement systems used in the measuring of wall thickness and concentricity of medical tubes. The UMAC ® utilizes ultrasonic mea- suring techniques that outperform alternative technologies and is the only solution able to measure and recognize materials as individual layers in co-extrusion applications. The UMAC ® provides accurate in-line measurements for ultra-thin tube walls down to 0.08mm and can handle product diameters ranging from 0.2mm to 350 mm. Integrat- ed into the UMAC ® is the System on a Chip (SoC) unit called UMAC ® CI. This expands capabilities with recipe-based operation (without requirement of manual setting ma- nipulations based on the echo sig- nal display), provides a 1kHz sample rate and integrated webserver. It also offers numerous industrial communication protocols for ex- pansive integration with PCs and PLCs utilising Profinet IO and Ether - net TCP/IP, amongst others. The A- Series transducer holders allow the use of 4 or 8 measuring transducers. The top transducer, when in place, is removable, allowing for easier ma- chine setup, while integrated guide solutions ensure product centraliza- tion. An optional height adjustment solution allows for under-bath or over-bath adjustment in vacuum or open-bath extrusion situations. An integrated water flow distribution is standard and ensures air and gas bubbles are removed from the mea- suring area, for greater accuracy and measuring reliability. The ZUMBACH USYS processor complements this advanced ultra- sonic measuring solution by running thehighly specializedWALLMASTER software. This software can manage recipes for different products, save measured data and offers statisti- cal calculations and reporting func- tionalities. Its real-time capabilities include greater control of the extru- sion process, as well as automatic compensation of the wall-thickness based on auxiliary diameter mea- surements. It also enables further expansion of the overall measuring solution through the integration of other measuring ZUMBACH solu- tions, such as ODAC® laser measur- ing heads and KW fault detectors. Key Features of the UMAC ® Range: • Ultrasonic Multi-layer Measure- ment: Utilizes ultrasonic technology to accurately measure wall thickness and concentricity of up to 5 layers simultaneously. Ideal for complex multi-layer products. • In-line & Real-time Monitoring: When integrated with the USYS WALLMASTER software, the system allows for continuous in-line mea- surements and real-time control of the extrusion process, ensuring con- sistent quality. • Economically & Technically Ad- vantageous: Offers reduced setup times, raw material savings, scrap reduction and fully automated con- trol, whilst providing complete pro- cess transparency. ZUMBACH Electronic AG www.zumbach.com