AUTAC 300 Temperature Measuring System
Non-Contact Wire Temperature Measurement
Conductor temperature measurement following preheating and annealing stages in extrusion process’s, independent of colour, material, surface structure or line speed
Why AUTAC?
The temperature a conductor has when it enters the extruder has a direct relation to how well the insulation bonds, insulated elongation properties and ultimately performance properties due to resultant dielectric properties. A preheater calculates the required heating power from material, line speed and ambient temperature, but it cannot know how much heat the wire loses on its way to the extruder head. The AUTAC 300 measures the actual wire temperature exactly where it matters. The system consists of a sensor and a processor unit and works with the convective heat flow principle, non-contact, from 10 to 300 °C on wires and cables from 0.2 to 7 mm. The measurement is independent of colour, emission, speed, material and surface structure, so no material-specific parameters have to be entered when the product changes.
The sensor can be used in two ways. Connected directly to a preheater it adds the ability to close the loop of temperature control, with operation and display integrated at the preheater. As a standalone device, it measures and displays the wire temperature on its own processor and passes the value on to a host computer or PLC. Because the controller accepts earlier type Luxtron and Ircon sensor heads, it can also take the place of ageing temperature electronics while the existing heads stay in the line.
- Non-contact measurement with the convective heat flow principle from 10 to 300 °C on wires and cables from 0.2 to 7 mm, with no material-specific parameter entry.
- Full integration with the preheater: Closed loop control through the preheater processor, with the sensor mounted close to the extruder so that heat losses between preheater and extruder are compensated for automatically.
- Standalone version: Includes its own 19″ rack mount or table-top processor, touch display, trend recording and connection to a host computer or PLC.
- Compatible with earlier Luxtron and Ircon sensor heads: Connection via VBK30 adapter cable for older Luxtron heads, so existing measuring heads can stay in place.
Properties
- Non-contact temperature measurement using proven convective heat-flow technology
- Independent of colour, emissivity, material and surface condition
- Suitable for line speeds up to 2,500 m/min
- Slotted measuring head with ceramic wire guides
- Robust design with no moving parts
- EtherNet TCP/IP, RS-422 and analogue interfaces for easy integration
- Integrated data logging with trend display and CSV export
- Compatible with existing Luxtron and Ircon sensor heads
Benefits
- No emissivity or material-specific settings required, reducing setup time and operator intervention
- Accurate and repeatable temperature measurement across a wide range of products and materials
- Closed-loop temperature control ensures the conductor reaches the extruder at the correct temperature at any line speed
- Reduced maintenance and maximum uptime thanks to a rugged, wear-resistant design
- Quick sensor replacement without threading the wire through the measuring head
- Lower upgrade costs by retaining existing Luxtron and Ircon sensor heads
- Improved quality control and process traceability through integrated data recording
- Protection against overheating helps reduce scrap and safeguard equipment
Object diameter (mm)
Object temperature (C°)
Max. line speed (m/min)
External interface
Technical Data
For accessories and detailed product information, refer to the respective brochures
AUTAC
- Object diameter
- 0.2 … 7 mm / 0.008 … 0.27″
- Object temperature
- 10°C / 50°F … 300°C / 572°F
- Line speed
- 1’500 m/min (optional 2’500 m/min)
- Brochure
- AUTAC 300 (PDF, 968.65 KB)
Proven performance worldwide
AUTAC 300 systems are used in wire and cable extrusion around the world to monitor conductor temperature directly before the extruder and to control the wire preheater accordingly. The measuring principle has proven itself in continuous production, where colour changes, different conductor materials and varying line speeds are part of daily operation.
Together with the Zumbach PREHEATER, the AUTAC 300 forms a complete preheating and control package, from heating the conductor to verifying the temperature at the extruder head. Used as a standalone solution, it can be added to existing lines, including installations that still run Luxtron or Ircon measuring heads.
Areas of application
Wire & Cable Extrusion:
Conductor preheating before insulation extrusion on copper, copper clad steel and aluminium conductors, with temperature verification directly at the extruder head.
Annealing & Wire Drawing:
Post annealing stages and drawing lines in which the wire temperature has to be kept within a defined window.
Data, Automotive & Energy Cables:
Applications where insulation adhesion, dielectric consistency and foam structure depend on a stable and repeatable conductor temperature.
Retrofit & Modernization:
Replacement of ageing temperature electronics on existing lines. All Luxtron and Ircon measuring heads can be kept, and the values are passed on to a host computer or PLC.
Frequently asked questions
How does the AUTAC 300 measure temperature without touching the wire?
It uses the convective heat flow principle, with a measuring distance of approximately 1 to 3 mm. The system consists of a sensor and a processor unit and covers 10 to 300 °C on wires and cables from 0.2 to 7 mm, with a display resolution of 1 °C.
Do emissivity or material parameters need to be pre-set?
No. The measurement is independent of colour, emission, speed, material and surface structure, so no material-specific parameter entry is needed. The same setup works for bare, coated, bright or dull conductors.
Which AUTAC sensor head is required for our product?
Four diameter ranges are available for round wire: 0.2 to 1.9 mm, 1.5 to 3.5 mm, 3.0 to 5.0 mm and 4.5 to 7.0 mm. For other product geometries there are MULTITEMP and FLATTEMP heads, on which the measuring distance can be adjusted.
Can the AUTAC 300 control our preheater?
Yes, and there are two ways to do it. Connected directly to a preheater the system adds closed loop temperature control through the preheater processor, with operating and display functions integrated in the preheater. As a standalone device it measures and displays the temperature on its own processor and passes the value on for control.
We already run Luxtron or Ircon temperature heads. Can we keep them?
Yes. Every Luxtron and Ircon sensor head ever manufactured can be connected to the AUTAC 300 controller. Heads with a 37-pin connector are connected directly, older Luxtron heads with a 24-pin connector through the VBK30 adapter cable.
How do the measured values reach our line control and our quality documentation?
Through EtherNet TCP/IP or RS-422 for host communication and through the analogue outputs 0-20 mA, 4-20 mA, 0-10 V and ±5 V. In addition, the processor shows a trend curve and records measured values continuously to a USB stick in CSV format.
