Increasing requirements for signal quality and transmission performance in data cables are making precise quality control and identification of sources of interference in the manufacturing process increasingly important. In cable production, consistent product quality remains one of the key indicators of process stability and of a manufacturer's ability to maintain parameters within required tolerances. Low process variation is crucial in this context. In response to these needs, Sikora has developed the Line Performance Optimizer software, or LPO, which is intended to enable early detection of quality fluctuations during production. The solution was first unveiled to the public at the Wire Düsseldorf trade fair in April this year.
According to the company, the standard deviation σ of different measured values can be an important indicator of final product quality. However, the value of this parameter is only representative if the individual measurement results have not been distorted, for example by averaging. In smoothed data, short-term interferences or cyclically occurring peaks that may indicate the source of process problems are no longer visible.
Analysis of individual measurement values
The new Line Performance Optimizer software is based on individual measurement values with very high accuracy that are not subject to averaging. According to the manufacturer, such data are available in every Sikora measuring device and are then consolidated in the connected Ecocontrol processor system. This is intended to provide a transparent overview of the quality level across the entire production line.
On this basis, deviations, referred to as noise levels, can be detected early, precisely located and specifically addressed using the operator's experience. According to the information provided by the company, this is intended to support process stability and maintain high production quality. Production quality is visualized directly on the Ecocontrol processor system.
Support for extrusion processes
Line Performance Optimizer uses precise individual measurement values to reveal the full picture of irregularities in the extrusion process. As a result, the system is intended to provide information about the source of interference and support the user in resolving the problem.
Measurement values from Sikora devices are consolidated in the connected Ecocontrol system
