Online version is a custom-made solution integrated directly into insulating glass lines.
Sparklike Oy is introducing a new Sparklike Laser Online device that allows non-destructive and automated measurement of gas concentration for triple and double-glazed insulating glass units, even through coated and laminated glasses.
Sparklike Laser Online was developed by Mr. Kai Niiranen, who has held the position of Sparklike’s Research and Development Engineer since 2011. The devices are based on Sparklike’s patented and proprietary technology. This laser-based technology (TDLAS) measures oxygen, and the results are converted to argon, krypton and other insulating gases.
Mr. Niiranen developed Sparklike Laser Online because customers were looking for a way to conduct automated quality control. The online version is a custom-made solution in which Sparklike Oy delivers measuring components that are integrated directly into the insulating glass line.
“The ever-growing popularity of Sparklike devices is due to the fact that they offer the IG and window manufacturers, as well as test laboratories the possibility to analyse the gas concentration of IG units in a fast, economic and non-destructive way,” Mr. Niiranen said. “Furthermore, with Sparklike devices, the IG manufacturers are able to confirm the proper functioning of the gas press in an automated way, something that was not possible before. This, on the other hand, ensures that the end-user receives an IGU with the gas concentration that complies with industry norms, regulations, as well as customer expectations. “
The equipment itself consists of three different parts: a 16-kilogram main unit, a 6-kilogram measuring head and a 10.1 inch touch screen display that includes a pen. Every device comes with the Laser Software by Sparklike, which is run on the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise operating system.
“To enhance the device’s user-friendliness, there are several language options available for the software: English, German and French. Other language options, such as Spanish and Italian, will soon be available,” Mr. Niiranen explained.
What makes Sparklike Laser Online an automated analysis device is the possibility to create integration between the device and the IG line. This communication is done using an ethernet port. The communication itself is HEX coded ASCII text. The system developed by Mr. Niiranen reads the port and sends data back according to the communication protocol. To ensure an easy-to-use protocol, all the commands and replies have pre-determined lengths.
In addition, specific commands enable the measurement of the IGU in sync with the production line. This allows a much shorter measurement cycle. In this way, the measurement time can be reduced down to as few as 9 seconds when measuring double glazed units, and 15 seconds when analysing triple glazed IGU’s. (Actual measurement times depends on the settings and the nature of the IG structure.) Finally, the internal data logging capacity is SSD Storage (15 GB). But using a USB/Network transfer, the data logging capability of the devices are virtually unlimited.
All Sparklike Laser devices are developed and manufactured in Finland.
For more information on Sparklike Oy and their devices visit: www.sparklike.com