Beta and Gamma Gauges for Measurement Solutions

      ATI offers a different technology allowing customers to achieve real time measurements. This technology is based on our solid state digital beta gauge. Beta or X-ray gauges using ion chamber detectors cannot provide real time measurements.

      By using a solid state detector, the detector produces discrete digital real time measurements with 100% step response without the need for filters. In contrast ion chamber gauges provide dampened analog measurements with about a 63% step response and other filters to smooth out their measurements. This means that each measurement has a carryover of at least 37% from the previous measurement causing the present measurement to be a blend of 37% and 63%. To allegedly avoid the carryover, the web is broken up into machine direction slices. The ion chamber samples very fast within each slice. By reading quickly the statistical noise is very high. To provide an acceptable measurement, the measurement is averaged with data from the same slice from previous scans. Usually three or four scans are required. This means that each scan is a moving average of three or four previous scans. By averaging in the machine direction, the measurement is not in real time and is very slow to respond to changes in the cross and machine direction. The step response is about 25% assuming a moving average. The effort to smooth the ion chamber measurements is not limited to averaging measurements in the machine direction; the cross direction measurements are also averaged. This cross direction averaging is creating by using a correlation factor or multiplier based on averaged numerous cutouts across the web.

      ATI first scan provides discrete real time measurements with 100% step response. Discrete real time measurements allow ATI to provide measurements that require separating uncoated area from the coated area. In lithium ion electrode coating applications, ATI is able to provide real time measurements for patch or stripe coating without being effected by the uncoated areas. Another benefit is ATI’s ability to turn the detector on and off in response to an uncoated area. With ion chamber gauges the measurements are continuously on and are constantly being blended with the previous measurements. Software fixes cannot solve the problems with the ion chamber. At best the software fixes manipulates the data from previous scans to create smeared measurements.

    ATI’s small form factor allows mounting the gauges where limited space is available. This is allows ATI’s scanning system to scan the detector in an arc thereby reducing the amount of space needed in the cross direction. This scan technique is especially useful when a coater has doors limiting the available space for scanning in the transverse direction.

     ATI’s solid state beta gauge uses low level radioactive activity to achieve a precise measurement. The solid state detecting element is more efficient than ion chamber detector allowing the radioactivity for krypton-85 isotope to be 250 to 1000 times less than competitive ion chamber gauges. In the United States and Canada shutters are not required.

     ATI offers competitive priced fixed-point gauges and scanning systems. ATI is able to demonstrate their gauge performance on your line prior to purchase. ATI guarantees their gauge precision. Please call us to discuss your gauging needs.

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