Inclination measurement is a specialised area within measuring technology

The requirements on machines, assemblies and other equipment in technologically demanding areas are increasing constantly. Especially in the field of machine tools and in the metal working industry the requirement you have there is fulfilling demands at the highest level. The required increased precision of the machined products calls for appropriately stable and geometrically correct machines. In order to assure this requirement a number of different instruments are available. The inclination measuring instrument is playing a major part in this instrument's variety.

Since the early industrial time it has been common practice to conduct geometrical adjustments of machine tools, textile machines, printing machines, etc., with the precision spirit level. During time the accuracy requirements of the geometrical correctness have been increased calling for new means to fulfil the higher standards. This led to the so called "electronic spirit level".

Starting in the late sixties with the development of electronic levels the legendary "Niveltronic" of Wyler AG was one of the first electronic precision levels on the market. This instrument is in use all over the world in large numbers and is still produced.

The industrial progress through the introduction of the digital technology allowed new means of signal processing, treatment and transmission. In many cases the original analogue technology was replaced in the measuring field by digital technology. Using these advantages the first capacitive inclination measuring system was developed and produced by Wyler AG. With this technology a new generation of instruments were created where the reliable measurement of small angles of values 0.001 mm/m respectively 0.2 Arc seconds were possible.

Again Wyler AG was the first to introduce this technology in the early 1980. Since that time the product range has been greatly enlarged and continuously brought to the latest state-of-the-art in inclination measurement. The quality and the reliability of the instruments have been extensively increased by introducing ceramics material in the measuring cell as well as by encapsulating the measuring cell in an air tight housing filled with nitrogen.

Wireless Measuring

Data Transmission

The latest revolutionary technology leap was achieved by introducing the first inclination measuring system with wireless data transmission between the instrument, respectively, the measuring sensor and the receiver or display unit. With this set-up a long time vision has been fulfilled and a lot of customer's "dream" requirements were realised. The metrologist was released of all the cables which caused quite a large amount of instrument's breakage by stumbling over the cables. Also dust and dirt covered cables used in the sometimes rough surroundings were eliminated.

Comfortable measurements in areas without proper access are possible. All in all a great number of advantages. The data transmission is possible without any loss of quality.

Two different frequencies are used for the wireless transmission, one in the band of 433 MHz and one in the band of 902 MHz. In order to avoid any interference with other transmission sources several channels are available to choose from. The signal modulation and one remote display unit is done in the FSK system (Frequency Shift Keying)

The transmission performance is approx 7 mW, which allows sending and receiving signals in distances of approx 50 m in an industrial building or outside around than 150 m. From the receiver/display unit, which is normally a Levelmeter 2000, the connection to a PC or a laptop is done via the RS232 port. In the PC the signal can be treated with different types of software. The specifically developed Wyker AG software "Levelsoft" for flatness and straightness is obviously best suited for the further treatment of the signal delivered by the inclination measuring system.

(Wyler AG is represented in India by Bombay Tools Supplying Agency, Mumbai. Tel: 022-23426495, 23420522. Fax: 91-22-23401933. Email: info@bombaytools.com)