What Is LaserNet Fines?

By BRETT WINBERG

Have you heard the new buzz word in Oil Analysis? The newest way to be Proactive, yet not cost you and your company hundreds of dollars? Well if you haven’t, it is LaserNet Fines. Want to take a closer look? Read on.

LaserNet Fines is a “Particle Counter and Particle Shape Classifier” that was developed by Lockheed Martin Tactical Defense Systems in cooperation with the Naval Research Laboratory for the Office of Naval Research on its Accelerated Capabilities Initiative for Condition-Based Maintenance. With prior knowledge of the wear metals and contaminants present in a lubricating system, it may be determined if that equipment is operating properly or if preventive maintenance is required. LaserNet Fines combines the standard oil analysis techniques of particle counting and shape classification into a single analytical instrument. Lockheed Martin Tactical Defense Systems and the Naval Research Laboratory combined space age imaging technology and neural net shape classification into the development of LaserNet Fines. LaserNet Fines can be used as a stand-alone analytical instrument, or in conjunction with a full service oil analysis program.

LaserNet Fines™ processes and stores thousands of images to obtain good counting statistics. Particles are sized directly and put into size bins of 4 - 15 µm. 15 - 25 µm. 25 - 50 µm and greater than 50 µm. The direct imaging capability of this instrument eliminates the need for calibration with a test dust, the exact particle size distribution of which itself may be questionable. Air bubbles are ignored and the laser is powerful enough to process heavily sooted (black) oils.

The second capability of this instrument is shape recognition of all particles greater than 20 µm by using a neural network. An algorithm is used to sort particles into 4 categories, "cutting, fatigue, severe sliding and oxides". The shape recognition software also does a test for circularity so that bubbles and droplets are eliminated.

The operation of this fine piece of equipment is a powerful laser as it transmits a light pulse through a thin (approximately 90 µm thick) cell in which slowly flowing sample is sandwiched between two glass plates. Using magnifying optics, an image of the sample is captured by a CCD video camera and stored in computer memory. Each image is processed with a raster scan analysis to identify individual objects. The objects are then analyzed for maximum size and several shape characteristics which are used to classify particles into mechanical wear classes. Each laser pulse provides a single image frame to be analyzed, and the results of thousands of frames are combined for a complete record of the sample under study.

Features

• Small size and user friendly interface for shipboard or field deployment
• Algorithms to perform shape analysis, wear particle identification and machine condition assessment.
• Particles counted are greater than 5 µm
• Particles greater than 20 µm are classed by neural network as "cutting, fatigue, severe sliding and oxides"
• Touch screen and LCD user interface
• Provides ISO 4406 cleanliness rating
• Provides NAS 1638 cleanliness rating
• Automatic adjustment for fluid darkness
• Built-in data-base for machine condition trending

For more information on pricing and the ease of getting your oil LaserNet Fines, just email us at newsletter@lubetrak.com

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