An eddy-current-based sensor for preventing knots in metallic wire drawing processes

作者：Esteban Bernat; Riba Jordi Roger^*; Baquero Grau; Ferrater Cesar

来源：Nondestructive Testing And Evaluation, 2011, 26(2): 169-180.

DOI：10.1080/10589759.2010.545128

• eddy currents
• sensing coil
• metallic wire
• knots
• quality control

During metallic wire drawing processes, the presence of knots and the failure to detect them can lead to long production interruptions, significant economic losses and a lower quality of final product. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop methods for real-time detection and prevention of this fault. In this paper, a sensor to prevent the formation of knots during the metallic wire drawing process is presented and evaluated by means of experimental data. This fast, inexpensive, non-contact sensor is based on electromagnetic principles such as eddy current induction, magnetic reluctance variations and magnetic coupling. The proposed sensor without direct contact can detect knots in a target metallic wire by measuring the impedance variations of a calibrated sensing coil caused by either a knot or an unwound loop rising from a wire rod. The incorporation of this type of sensor into a wire-drawing machine can avoid the tightening of the knot, thereby reducing downtime and increasing the security and reliability of the process. Experiments were conducted using a scale model of the above proposed system. This allowed highlighting the sensor's potential by carrying out an automatic, real-time knot detection during steel wire drawing.

• 出版日期2011