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Hostile environments

Fiber-based probe technology enables Novacam low-coherence profilometers to provide 3D metrology in harsh environments which can be:

radioactivevery hotcryogenic
radioactive, very hot, or extremely cold (cryogenic)

Inspecting with fiber-based probes

Novacam profilometers inspect with fiber-based non-contact probes. The probes:

  • can be deployed hundreds of meters away from the profilometer enclosure without signal degradation.
  • operate at a standoff distance of a few mm to 150 mm from measured surfaces.
  • can be replaced at low cost if damaged or contaminated. The profilometer is typically located elsewhere, in a human-safe environment, and remains unaffected.

Novacam standard and small-diameter fiber-based optical probes

Novacam standard and small-diameter fiber-based optical probes

Examples of applications

3D representation of a plasma-coated cast metal strip

3D representation of a plasma-coated cast metal strip surface

Very hot: In industries that handle extremely hot liquids, such as red-hot steel, plasma, or metals in continuous casting, the sensor probes scan the surface in process and on a continuous basis, detecting micron-sized surface variations. Materials that are evaporating, melting, or solidifying can all be inspected. Surface roughness or coating thickness characteristics are delivered at high speed to help detect defects such as minute surface cracks.

Radioactive: Low-coherence profilometers measure the pitting of radioactive targets and detect both surface and sub-surface cracks in weld inspection inside reactor cooling systems.

Cryogenic: Low-coherence profilometers measure the level of liquid nitrogen in NASA’s cryogenic chambers at its Propulsion Systems Lab.

Evaporation chambers: Low-coherence profilometers monitor the thickness of a semi-conductor or metal coating during the deposition process. In this way, the optimal stopping time of the coating process is determined.