NEWSLETTER N°1
December - January - February 2009

STIL S.A. is very pleased to present you its first newsletter.

You will receive, every three months, STIL S.A. company detailed news: innovations, performances, partnerships, important events...

This first edition of this newsletter gives the opportunity to the entire STIL S.A. team to wish you merry celebrations.

Summary :

• STIL S.A. awarded a prize for their innovative Multi-Points Line sensor, the MPLS 180
• The MPLS180 sensor : ultra-fast 3D measurement
• A new “jewel” for Color measurement : the RUBY spectrocolorimeter
• Eye-shadows spectrocolorimetric measurements
• Innovating optical pens for STIL “Point” sensors
• Cutting tool 3D topography

STIL S.A. awarded a prize for their innovative "Multi-Points Line" sensor, the MPLS 180

From September 30^th to October 2^nd,2008, STIL S.A. participated in the OPTO 2008 show in the frame on the “Vitrine de l’Innovation” contest, organized by the magazine Photoniques

This contest, which gives a reward to the most innovative products designed by French Research and Development, has given the occasion for STIL to stand out when they received the Silver Photon for their new “Multi-Points” contactless sensor, the MPLS 180. A totally novel product, the MPLS 180 is the first “Line” chromatic confocal sensor in the world. Designed for dimensional control on production lines, the MPLS 180 is endowed with exceptional performances (180 simultaneous measuring points, frequency up to 324 kHz…) and it renders possible the achievement of very high precision 3D measurements in no time.		STIL S.A.’ MPLS 180 sensor.
STIL S.A. has won the Silver Photon for the MPLS 180 sensor.		The Silver Photon has been given to STIL after the joint vote of a college of experts and the OPTO 2008 Show visitors. This trophy rewards the work of the whole Research and Development team at STIL S.A., a team gathering 14 engineers out of a staff of 36 persons. This reward proves that STIL S.A. is able to remain the world leader manufacturer for chromatic confocal measurement systems offering,to their customers, products which combine innovation and advanced performances. STIL S.A. would like to thank their customers, partners, and all the persons who contributed to this success, for their support and their trust.

The MPLS180 sensor : ultra-fast 3D measurement

The MPLS 180 is the last born of the contactless measurement systems developped by STIL.

The MPLS 180 is the first “line” chromatic confocal sensor in the world.

The measurement line is made out of 180 independent measurement points, what ensures the perfect confocality of the system on each point. The MPLS180 is able to measure up to 1800 lines per second, that is to say a “point” measuring rate of 324 kHz.

With such a high measurement speed, this equipment is naturally meant for systematic dimension controls on production lines.

The MPLS180 also enjoys an advanced integration level with no less than 180 embedded spectrographs.

An optional scanning mirror integrated into the optical head is an available option. This mirror allows to measure a complete field and to obtain true 3D high precision real-time measurement.

A genuine technological innovation, the MPLS 180 sensor is composed of three sub-systems:

• An optoelectronic controller containing the light source as well as the means of acquisition and signal treatment.
• A bundle of optical fibers linking the controller with the optical head.
• An optical head, with scanning mirror (optional).

Currently, three optical heads are available. These three optical heads permit the topography of differently sized surfaces on any kind of material, with an excellent precision.

A new “jewel” for Color measurement : the RUBY spectrocolorimeter

STIL S.A.' products range for Quality Control extends with the new non contact measuring system: the RUBY spectrocolorimeter.

This high-performance and multi-purpose instrument clearly stands out. The RUBY makes it possible to characterize any type of material including complex materials such as coil-coating, metallic painting, and even skin!

The RUBY spectrocolorimeter preserves the measured samples’ integrity thanks to a large working distance (80mm +/- 5mm). The RUBY is totally autonomous; every measurement functions are embedded. As well suitable for control on production line, thanks to an acquisition frequency until 2kHz, as for more complex analysis in laboratories, the RUBY spectrocolorimeter is the perfect tool for most varied and demanding color measurements.

Eye-shadows spectrocolorimetric measurements

To perform colors counter-typing, STIL S.A. company proposes its last new non-contact measuring system: the RUBY spectrocolorimeter. To give you an overview of RUBY performances, we have performed in our laboratory several measurements on eye-shadows produced by very famous cosmetics label. The different acquisitions have been realized directly on make-up palettes and skins of various complexions. To illustrate obtained results, we have chosen the “fuchsia” color.		Make-up palette analyzed with the RUBY spectrocolorimeter.
Graph : reflectance = f(λ).		The pink graph corresponds to the direct measurement on the make-up palette. Other ones correspond to make-up applications on skin: Blue dotted graph: measured reflectance on light skin without eye-shadow; Blue continuous graph: measured reflectance on light skin with eye-shadow application; Red dotted graph: measured reflectance on tanned skin without eye-shadow; Red continuous graph: measured reflectance on tanned skin with eye-shadow application.
Thanks to RUBY, it is possible to observe an important reflectance difference between the conditioning color and the applied one. Moreover, the spectral signature of the measured sample, given by the RUBY, is an excellent way to identify the imitations. Color measurements, essential for counter-typing, become also very interesting to study the psycho-sensory aspect of colored materials. The RUBY spectrocolorimeter is very polyvalent and can be used as well on production lines for manufacturing control as in laboratories for R&D research. The RUBY spectrocolorimeter is the complete and ideal tool to answer all of your requirements.		Technique of measurement directly performed on skin with the RUBY spectrocolorimeter

Innovating optical pens for STIL “Point” sensors

In order to widen its optical chromatic confocal pens range, STIL S.A. company has developed two new products: the OP6000 and OP20000 optical pens.

These new optical pens are endowed with wide measuring range (6mm and 20mm) and large working distance (27mm and 63mm respectively). The OP6000 and OP20000 pens authorize to perform measurements very hard to achieve until now.

Thanks to an innovative conception, these pens maximum measurable slopes have been multiplied by four (20ø against 5ø previously for a 20mm chromaticism).

This property is very useful for analyzing reflective objects which have steep slopes (ball bearings, engine turbine blades...).

Fully compatible with every STIL's optoelectronic controllers, the OP6000 and OP20000 optical pens allow performing ultra-accurate measurements on diffusing and reflective objects with resolution below a micron.

Cutting tool 3D topography

Because materials machining is a complex process, it is necessary to use very high precision instruments.

During this process, checking inserts shape is an essential step.

The tolerance authorized for the calculation of each form is very tight. The insert shape must allow a perfect draining of cutting turnings. It also informs about the reachable finishing degree.

The insert geometry is the determining parameter for efficiency and longevity.

STIL Confocal Chromatic sensors are ideal tools for shape control. STIL sensors' main function is to permit the performance of high resolution 3D topography.

3D topography gives the possibility to know the entry angles values of cutting tools. This is even possible when the cutting tools are polished.

STIL sensors originality lies too in the fact that they can be used as well for serial control on production lines as for study in R&D laboratories.

The following measurement has been performed with MICROMESURE 2 station, CHR 150-L optoelectronic controller and CL3-MG70 modular optical pen. The tested insert is an NR type insert.

Parameters acquisition here below: Scanned surface: 20mm x 18mm. Measurement steps: 20µm x 20µm. Acquisition frequency: 1000Hz.

Picture of the measured NR insert top surface

3D representation of the NR insert top surface and NR insert perspective view

In order to introduce the whole STIL S.A. products range, we invite you to visit our website at the following address: www.stilsa.com. For any other information, or to send us samples to test, please contact STIL's Sales department:

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