When the target object is other than mirror surface, the visual measurement setting has no problem.

When the sensor (≒ laser light axis) is inclined against the detection surface, it will affect to followings.

Amplitude resolution (SN ratio)

The resolution (SN ratio) is degraded when reflection light of the laser light is decreased by the inclination of the sensor. When the target object has a mirror surface, the detection becomes difficult due to the generation of no regular reflection components situation depending on the magnitude of the inclination. When the target measurement object is mirror surface (especially for long distance detection), it is necessary to adjust the inclination of the sensor while checking the position of the reflection light which returns to the sensor.

*To detect the target object other than mirror surface (scattering surface), the degradation of resolution against the inclination is slower than the detection of mirror surface and enables the non-contact three-dimensional measurement of vector operation.

Amplitude error (cosine error)

The amplitude error can be calculated as the cosine error which is obtained using the angle of the inclined laser light and amplitude axis. When the inclination is five degrees, the error from the true amplitude value is around -0.4 %, when it is ten degrees, the error is around -1.5 %. Generally, it is said that the human eyes have an ability to distinguish the one minute (1/60 degrees) inclination, so there is no problem to set the sensor with visual measurement. However, to standardize the operation, we recommend you to set the sensor while checking the position of reflection light by placing the mirror to the irradiation surface.

The effect of the inclination of the sensor to the measurement value