Front view of the Luna T-Ray 5000 terahertz control unit, representative of the TCU5712
Luna / T-Ray® 5600 / Control Units
TCU5712

T-Ray 5000 TCU5712 Terahertz Control Unit, 160 ps Delay, External-PC Configuration

Two-channel T-Ray 5000 terahertz control unit with 160 ps delay, 25 mm measurement range and an external PC for customer-managed cybersecurity.

Bandwidth
1.5 GHz to 5 THz
Dynamic Range
90 dB
Delay
160 ps
Spot Diameter
Nominal 2 mm
Datasheet

Overview

The Luna TCU5712 is a member of the T-Ray 5000 TCU57yz family of terahertz control units. The control unit delivers precisely controlled optical signals to T-Gauge sensor heads, which use them to generate and receive terahertz signals. The processed waveforms allow several measurements to be made at the same time with a single sensor head.

The TCU5712 is the 160 ps delay configuration of the family, giving a measurement range of 25 mm. According to the manufacturer, measured signals across the T-Ray 5000 platform can be processed at rates of up to 1,000 times per second.

External PC and cybersecurity

The TCU57yz control units have no internal storage and run on an external PC, so the customer's IT or cybersecurity department can maintain the operating system. The control unit connects to the external PC over a USB A/B cable that carries Ethernet. Apart from this, the TCU57yz models offer the same measurement capabilities as the TCU56xx models.

Integration

The unit has two optical channels for measurements in reflection or transmission. It works with a range of gauges and sensors connected through umbilical cabling. T-Ray Server software converts terahertz signals into measurement data in engineering units, and communication protocols and digital I/O connect the system to industrial automation and robotics.

Key Features

  • Ultra high speed measurements of moving samples for online process monitoring
  • High precision thickness measurements of single and multi-layer material structures
  • Dual parallel optical channels for multiple simultaneous measurements in either reflection or transmission
  • Simple user interface with independent measurement recipes
  • Powerful and user-friendly application oriented software platform
  • Abundance of communication protocols and I/O options
  • Provides measurement data in engineering units
  • Easy integration with industrial automation and robotics
  • Utilizes an external PC so the operating system can be maintained by the customer IT/cybersecurity department
  • Connects to the external PC via a USB A/B cable carrying Ethernet
  • Fiber coupled sensor allows product scanning via high flex umbilical cable

Specifications

Measurement Performance
Bandwidth 1.5 GHz to 5 THz
Depends on sensor type and measurement time; measured with EPG sensor type over 60 second measurement time
Dynamic Range 90 dB
Varies by sensor type; measured with EPG sensor type over 60 second measurement time
Delay
TCU5712
160 ps
Spot Diameter Nominal 2 mm
Working Distance 1, 3, and 6 inches
Measurement Range
TCU5712
25 mm
Measurement Precision < 1 µm
Measurement Rate
TCU5712
Up to 1,000 Hz
Per the TCU57yz datasheet; the web page table lists Up to 100 Hz for the equivalent 160 ps TCU5612 configuration
Minimum Thickness 15 µm
Depends on sensor type and measurement time; measured with EPG sensor type over 60 second measurement time
Data Storage / Communication Interfaces
Communication Interfaces 2 x Ethernet TCP/IP, 4 x USB
Communication Protocols XML over Ethernet, TCP / IP
Programmable Inputs / Outputs Digital I/O, 24 V
External Inputs 6 Encoder Inputs [A/B/Z or Step and Direction]
Storage No Internal Storage
Optional external hard drive may be purchased separately and connected via designated communications interface
Mechanical Data
Dimension (H x W x D) 17.5 x 21.5 x 7.5 inches / 44.5 x 54.6 x 19 cm
Weight 40 lbs / 18.2 kg
Electrical Data
Power Consumption 400 Watts
Input Voltage 110/120 VAC; 50/60 Hz
Environmental Data
Storage Temperature 0-40ᴼC
Operating Temperature 0-40ᴼC
Relative Humidity 20-90% non-condensing
Regulatory Compliance
Certifications Certified by Underwriters Laboratories, CE mark, compliant with FDA CDRH laser safety regulations, tested to meet FCC part 18 regulations
The TCU57yz datasheet's Conformance to Standards table repeats interface values in error; this summary is from its regulatory compliance text

Specifications are taken from the manufacturer's documentation. See the datasheet for complete and current values.

Applications

  • Thickness measurement during coating application processes
  • Multi-point measurements of extruded tubing and shapes (OD, ID, concentricity, ovality)
  • Top and bottom balance of steel and textile cord tire ply
  • Density and basis weight measurements for multiple materials
  • Online process monitoring and control of moving samples

Options & Accessories

Option Description
Umbilical Cable Umbilical Cable (10 or 30 meter)
Lens options Lens options (1”, 3”, or 6” focal length)
Mounting brackets Wall, shelf, or rack mount brackets
Spectroscopy Rail Spectroscopy Rail
T-image Platform T-image Platform
T-Ray Basic T-Ray Basic software
T-Ray Server T-Ray Server software
T-Ray Imaging T-Ray Imaging software
T-Ray Security T-Ray Security software
T-Ray Server Emulator T-Ray Server Emulator software
External HD Optional external hard drive — Purchased separately and connected via designated communications interface

Documents & Resources