Title: Investigations into modelling and assessment of theoretical profiles using capacitive sensor

Authors: A. Murugarajan; G.L. Samuel

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Ramakrishna Engineering College, Coimbatore-641022, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai – 600 036, India

Abstract: Current developments towards assessment of surface finish using the area averaging technique have gained attention in the field of automotive manufacturing. In particular, use of tiny non-contact sensors plays a vital role during in-situ and online monitoring and process control. In this work, an attempt has been made for using non-contact capacitive sensor for characterisation of different theoretical (periodic) profiles. The capacitive response model is developed to predict equivalent theoretical capacitive displacement profile and relate accurately to a measured surface finish of the profile. The proposed model is simulated to predict dimensional parameters of various theoretical profiles. Furthermore, the feasibility to relate the capacitive response to dimensional and non-dimensional parameters of the theoretical profile is studied. The developed model is validated with the different theoretical profiles. Further, the model is validated with experimentally processed theoretical profiles using measurement setup. The results show that the observed and predicted non-dimensional parameters are well agreed with model output and measured output results. Further, it can be applied in non-periodic profile measurement using a sensor.

Keywords: capacitive sensors; theoretical profiles; non-dimensional parameters; modelling; surface finish; automotive manufacturing; automobile industry; online monitoring; process control; non-contact sensors; periodic profiles; capacitive displacement profile; profile measurement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMS.2013.057125

International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, 2013 Vol.6 No.4, pp.288 - 309

Received: 04 Oct 2012
Accepted: 20 Mar 2013
Published online: 12 Jul 2014 *

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