Tread profile geometry has a strong influence on the cured tire uniformity. Treads that are non-symmetrical produce cured tires with uniformity and balance problems. Over-sized treads are a waste of materials. In order to assure the most precise tread and sidewall extrusion quality, tire makers worldwide have adopted the On-Line Profilometer (OLP) as their standardfor extrusion monitoring. The On-Line Profilometer (OLP) provides automatic, high speed, non-contact measurementof tread and sidewall extrusions. OLP outperforms scanning systems by collecting an instantaneous cross-section profile rather than measuring in a zigzag pattern. OLP can be installed after the die exit to monitor and alarm when key dimensions exceed the allowable tolerances. Dimension changes at the die often indicate changes in rubber visco-elastic properties or changes in the equipment set-up.When dimensions change, the operator is alerted to intervene. Early intervention can lead to faster startup, reduced rework,better production rates,and better tread uniformity. OLP can also be installed after cooling to make 100% quality inspection of all treads before they are released to the tire building operation.This enables the QC organization to compare the current run to the historical standards, to pass or fail each run, and to maintain an audit trail for each lot. On-Line Profilometer (OLP) Uses • Use OLP at the die during the startup of any run to assist in reducing the time required to reach stability • Use OLP at the die to continuously monitor the dimensional quality of any profile, and alarm the operator when any problem occurs • Use OLP at the die to immediately recognize changes in die swell associated with batch change so that the operator can adjust the extrudersettings • Use OLP after cooling to produce data histories to compare any run with its historical performance and verify the effect of quality improvementinitiatives • Use OLP after cooling to check for die wear • Use OLP data alongside other process data such as material theology, extruder die head pressure, screw RPM,screw power,and various temperatures to develop better knowledge of the complex interactionsbetween materials, process set-points, and profile geometry Specifications Measurement Range Thickness (in) Width (in) Thickness (mm) Width (mm) 2.36 11.81 17.72 23.62 60 300 450 600 Absolute Accuracy1 .003 .012 .012 .012 ±0.075 0.30 0.30 0.30 Relative Accuracy2 .001 .004 .004 .004 0.0225 0.09 0.09 0.09 Gage Repeatability3 .001" (0.025mm) Resolution4 .00004" (0.001mm) Measurement Rate Selectable up to 7.5 profiles/second Outputs Analog and Digital I/O; Ethernet (Modbus TCP, Text over TCP); tab-delimited .txt measure log Laser Classification Illa CDRH, 3R IEC 1. Absolute Accuracy: The average error of all dimensions of a certified gage block using the mean of 75 consecutive measurements. Error is defined as the difference between the OLP measured value and the certified target value. 2. Relative Accuracy: The maximum amount of error present when comparing successive measurements of a target with changing dimensions and located at a fixed position within the field of view (This also can be considered as "accuracy in measuring product variation."). 3. Gage Repeatability: An offline assessment calculating the standard deviation of the thickness of a certified gage block over 75 measurements. 4. Resolution: The smallest meaningful unit of measurement that is reported by the system. OLP 539 starrett.com L aser M easurement