- Rolling Force Measurement
- StripKraft
Strip Tension Measurement in Hot and Cold Rolling Mills
StripKraft measures the strip tensile forces along the process path and helps maintain constant tensile force control, prevent strip breaks, and ensure high product quality during rolling and winding.
Precise strip tension measurement is an essential prerequisite for stable rolling processes and consistently high product quality. In hot and cold rolling mills, strip tension has a significant influence on material guidance, strip flatness and process stability throughout the entire production line.
Even slight deviations in tension can lead to strip tracking problems, quality defects or, in the worst case, material cracks. Continuous measurement and control of strip tension enables optimal process control, higher equipment availability and improved product quality.
The requirements placed on the measurement technology used are correspondingly high. Dynamic load changes, high speeds, changing coil weights and demanding environmental conditions require robust and high-precision measurement systems that provide reliable and reproducible measurement results.
bis zu 2.200
Tonnen
Breitenreduktion von bis zu 350 mm
Challenges in Strip Tension Measurement
Precise measurement and control of strip tension is a key prerequisite for stable rolling processes and consistently high product quality. At the same time, strip tension measurement is one of the most demanding measurement tasks in hot and cold rolling mills. The systems used must provide reliable and reproducible measurement results even under dynamic process conditions and changing operating states.
Dynamic Process Conditions
During the rolling and coiling process, strip speed, material properties and tension forces continuously change. The measurement systems must detect these changes in real time.
Wrapping Angle and Additional Force Influences
In strip tension measurement, additional influencing factors act on the measurement system besides the actual strip tension force. These include, in particular, different wrapping angles and the weight force of the measuring roll.
To ensure high measurement accuracy, these influences must be taken into account or compensated for during system design and signal processing.
High Requirements for Strip Quality
Even slight deviations in tension can affect:
- Strip tracking stability
- Flatness
- Surface quality
- Dimensional accuracy
Precise Strip Tension Measurement with IMS StripKraft
For applications in hot and cold rolling mills, direct measurement of strip tension forces has become established as a particularly precise method. The IMS StripKraft product family comprises various load cells for different installation situations and measuring directions. All systems are based on state-of-the-art strain gauge technology and provide precise real-time data for strip tension control, process monitoring and quality assurance.
IMS StripKraft Looper
The IMS StripKraft Looper is a high-precision load cell for measuring the forces acting on looper rolls between finishing stands in hot rolling mills.
Precise Force Measurement for Looper Control
The StripKraft Looper provides precise real-time data for:
- Strip tension control
- Looper position control
- Automatic gauge control (AGC)
- Process monitoring
- Production optimization
This enables sustainable improvements in strip flatness, thickness quality and process stability.
Technological Features
- High-precision strip tension measurement
- High repeatability
- Long-term stable measurement values
- Fast response to load changes
- Temperature-compensated measurement technology
- Reliable real-time data for process control
Reliable Operation Under Demanding Conditions
The StripKraft Looper was specifically developed for rolling mill applications and provides reliable measurement results even under:
- Dynamic load changes
- High mechanical loads
- Vibrations and shock loads
- Temperature fluctuations
- Water, oil and scale
High Operational Safety and Easy Integration
- Long service life
- Low maintenance requirements
- Easy integration into new and existing equipment
- Compatibility with modern automation and control systems
- Reliable long-term operation
Typical Applications
- Strip tension control between finishing stands
- Optimization of looper position
- Improvement of strip tracking stability
- Support of AGC systems
- Increased product quality and productivity
IMS StripKraft Horizontal (HMK)
The IMS StripKraft Horizontal (HMK) was specifically developed for measuring forces acting horizontally to the mounting plane of the load cell.
Technological Features
- High-precision strain gauge technology with Wheatstone bridge circuit
- Sensitive exclusively in the measuring direction
- Direct bearing mounting without an additional adapter plate
- High spring stiffness for stable strip tracking
- High dynamic range and fast response to load changes
- Customer-specific design for different applications
Precise Strip Tension Measurement for Stable Processes
The radial force generated by the deflection roll is precisely measured and provided as a measurement signal for strip tension control. If required, the dead weight of the measuring roll can be compensated, enabling reliable strip tension measurement even when coiling a coil.
High Overload Protection
- 8 times the nominal load as standard
- Optionally up to 20 times the nominal load
- High operational safety during load peaks
- Robust design for continuous operation
Easy Installation and Commissioning
Thanks to the integrated calibration signal, no reference measurement is required on site. The customer-specific design significantly reduces installation and commissioning effort.
IMS StripKraft Vertical (VMK)
The IMS StripKraft Vertical (VMK) was specifically developed for the high-precision measurement of forces acting vertically to the mounting plane of the load cell.
Technological Features
- Sensitive exclusively in the measuring direction
- High-precision strain gauge technology
- High reproducibility and long-term stability
- Direct bearing mounting without an adapter plate
- High spring stiffness for stable strip guidance
- Fast response to load changes
Precise Strip Tension Measurement for Stable Processes
The StripKraft Vertical measures the force resulting from the strip wrap and provides highly accurate measurement values for strip tension control. Compensation of the dead weight of the measuring roll enables reliable measurement results even with changing coil sizes.
High Overload Protection
- 8 times the nominal load as standard
- Optionally up to 20 times the nominal load
- High mechanical robustness
- Long service life
Easy Installation and Commissioning
- Direct bearing integration
- No additional adapter plate required
- Reduced design effort
- Fast commissioning
- Low installation effort
IMS StripKraft Controller (MMV): The Intelligent Evaluation Unit for Precise Strip Tension Data
Precise strip tension measurement requires not only powerful sensor technology but also reliable and flexible signal processing. The IMS StripKraft Controller (MMV, Modular Measuring Amplifier) serves as the central interface between the StripKraft load cells and the higher-level automation and control systems in the rolling mill.
The controller processes the measurement signals completely digitally and enables flexible adaptation to different equipment and process requirements.
Flexible and Modular System Design
The standard StripKraft Controller features two input channels for IMS StripKraft load cells. The modular design allows the system to be expanded by up to two additional channels without affecting processing speed.
Seamless Integration into Automation
Various interfaces are available for connection to existing systems:
- ±20 mA analogue outputs
- ±10 V analogue outputs
- EtherCAT
- Profinet
- Other fieldbus systems
Additional process parameters, such as coil diameter, can also be transmitted and processed via the fieldbus.
Easy Retrofitting and Modernization
Four digital inputs and outputs enable integration into systems without a fieldbus infrastructure. This makes the MMV ideally suited for modernizing existing strip tension measurement systems.
Fast Commissioning and Convenient Operation
The controller features:
- Four-line LCD display
- 20 characters per line
- Four function keys
- Stainless steel enclosure (350 × 300 × 80 mm)
Many systems are delivered preconfigured, which significantly simplifies commissioning on site.
Advanced Diagnostic and Configuration Options
The optional StripKraft Controller (MMV) Configurator software provides extensive functions:
- Configuration
- Data backup
- Parameter management
- Offline analysis
- Documentation
The Ideal Addition to IMS StripKraft Horizontal, Vertical and Looper
In combination with the IMS StripKraft Horizontal (HMK), IMS StripKraft Vertical (VMK) and IMS StripKraft Looper, the IMS StripKraft Controller (MMV) forms a powerful overall system for precise strip tension and force measurement in hot and cold rolling mills.
While the load cells reliably measure the strip tension and looper forces acting on the system, the controller performs high-precision signal processing and provides the measurement values for strip tension control, looper control and other automation and process optimization functions.
The result:
- Precise strip tension control
- Improved strip tracking stability
- Prevention of material cracks
- Optimized looper control
- Higher product quality
- Reduced scrap
- Higher equipment availability
- Increased productivity
do you have any questions?
#IMS Expert
Uwe Fliegenschmidt
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