Confocal Precision Measurement Advances Industrial Inline Control

[Cengiz Özemli]

## Industrial Inline Control Advances with Confocal High-Precision Measurement

Micro-Epsilon has expanded its portfolio with new confocal-chromatic controllers and sensor systems for high-precision series production and industrial inspection processes.

The new IFC2412 and IFC2417 model 2-channel confocalDT controllers, along with the IFD2410 and IFD2415 all-in-one sensor systems, integrate Ethernet data output, enabling easy integration into automated production environments. These products are specifically designed for optical quality control applications in semiconductor manufacturing, battery cell production, and mechanical engineering.

### Extended Functionality

The new controllers complete the portfolio with 2-channel models capable of double-sided thickness measurement with a single device. Thanks to integrated processing functions, measurement values can be calculated directly, reducing the need for additional hardware and allowing for more compact system designs.

Confocal-chromatic sensor technology provides high-precision measurements even on transparent or reflective surfaces, based on the spectral analysis of reflected light. This method is widely used in automated inline control systems for continuous monitoring of critical quality parameters.

### Technical Specifications

• IFC2412 controller: 2 measurement channels
• Adjustable measurement rate: up to 8 kHz
• Measurement resolution: up to 2 nm
• IFC2417 controller: supports 25 kHz measurement rate
• Multi-peak measurements for simultaneous analysis of up to 5 material layers
• Stable measurement even on challenging surfaces with active CCD line exposure control
• IP40 durable aluminum housing
• DIN rail mounting option

### All-in-One Sensor Systems

The IFD2410 and IFD2415 systems are enhanced with an integrated Ethernet interface. Measurement data with 32-bit resolution can be directly transferred to digital production networks and data-driven quality control systems.

Their compact designs allow for space-saving inline mounting on machines and production systems without the need for fiber optic cables. Furthermore, industrial fieldbus protocols such as EtherCAT, PROFINET, and EtherNet/IP enable seamless integration.

### Integration into Digital Production Environments

Integration into customer-oriented software environments is supported by the MEDAQLib software and driver library. This enables real-time data processing and connectivity with automated control systems, allowing for easy adaptation to closed-loop quality control processes.

Micro-Epsilon's new confocal-chromatic controllers and sensor systems address the need for scalable automation solutions in modern industrial production with high-precision optical measurement, compact system design, and standardized communication interfaces.