Noncontact laser-triangulation sensors perform measurement tasks other methods can't. Laser triangulation is frequently the best solution for these types of applications because it combines the advantage of noncontact inspection with the ability to measure with submicrometer resolution.
Users often turn to triangulation when other methods produce mixed results or are impractical.
Laser-triangulation sensors determine height by measuring light reflected off a target. The sensor's laser diode projects a beam of light onto the target object. Some of the light is reflected off the object onto a light-sensitive detector built into the sensor. The detector records the position of the reflected beam and reports a height measurement. If the target or the sensor moves, the position of the reflection on the detector changes.