Compare inline and offline systems for outside diameter (OD), ovality, inside diameter (ID), wall thickness, concentricity, taper profiles, and surface defects—from extrusion through final quality assurance (QA).
Authorized LaserLinc sales & support partner. Gauge Advisor helps customers select, configure, integrate, and support LaserLinc measurement systems.
Measure the feature that drives the risk.
OD & ovality
ID, wall & concentricity
Profiles & surface flaws
✓Authorized partnerLaserLinc sales, application review, and ongoing technical support
✓EquipmentLaserLinc measurement systems manufactured in the U.S.
✓WarrantyFour-year warranty on LaserLinc-manufactured equipment
✓LifecycleIntegration, training, and ongoing process support
Start with the process
How will the part be measured?
Start with where the measurement happens and how the part moves through the process—not just the dimensions on the drawing. Choose the workflow closest to yours to see which systems are worth considering.
Inline production solution
Continuous measurement while the tube is being extruded
Start with the dimensions or defects that could cause failure. Then add the gauges, software, alarms, and controls needed to monitor them.
Best whenYou need continuous monitoring, process trends, alarms, or closed-loop control.
MeasuresOD and ovality; add ultrasonics for wall and concentricity or FlawSense for topographic surface defects.
ApproachLaser micrometers, UltraGauge + AutoPilot, and FlawSense can be used independently or together.
iFit note: line speed, material, how the tube passes through each sensor, ultrasonic water coupling when used, tolerances, and control goals all affect the final setup.
Modern inline measurement can coordinate laser OD, ultrasonic wall geometry, defect inspection, software, and process control around the extrusion line.
Offline QA / R&D solution
Controlled bench inspection after the product has cooled
Use a bench-mounted laser micrometer to check OD and ovality under controlled conditions. If you also need ID, wall thickness, or concentricity, use a specialized BenchLinc system.
Best whenYou inspect cut samples, incoming material, first articles, rigid tubing, or finished parts offline.
MeasuresOD and ovality with a laser micrometer; specialized bench systems can add ID, wall, and concentricity.
ApproachTriton 330 for three-axis external measurement; BenchLinc OD/ID or BenchLinc UT when the application requires internal geometry.
iFit note: very thin walls, soft parts, multilumen designs, and unusual materials may need testing with real samples before a system is selected.
A Triton 330 can be bench-mounted with suitable guides or fixturing for controlled three-axis OD and ovality inspection.
Two solutions for full-length profiles
Use Metron for finished parts—or profile production runs
Metron automatically rotates and measures finished catheters, guidewires, mandrels, and shafts. It is ideal for QA and finished-part inspection when you need to identify defects or track a bump or taper profile.
Automated Metron solutionPurpose-built offline inspection for finished parts. Metron creates full-length outside diameter (OD) and ovality profiles without manual feeding or rotation.
Encoder-based production solutionAn encoder adds length tracking to a compatible laser micrometer, UltraGauge, BenchLinc UT, or FlawSense setup. The profile contains only the measurements supported by the installed sensors.
Best whenYou need to find tapers, transitions, changes near the tip, or localized variation that manual spot checks may miss.
iFit note: Metron fit depends on part length, diameter, flexibility, straightness, fixturing, and target inspection time. Encoder-based profiles depend on stable product motion, reading spacing, encoder resolution, and line speed.
Metron is an automatic OD and ovality profiler that rotates finished catheters, guidewires, mandrels, and shafts while a micrometer scans up and down the length of the part.
Inline or offline surface inspection
Detect raised and lowered surface defects that standard OD measurement can miss
Surface inspection can be added to an extrusion line or configured for controlled offline inspection when raised and lowered anomalies create product risk.
Best whenYou need continuous coverage for localized bumps, gels, pits, scratches, wrinkles, or foreign material.
MeasuresOD and ovality plus a 3D map of changes in surface height.
ApproachFlawSense combines laser micrometer measurement with laser triangulation, which maps the tube surface in 3D, plus saved recipes, alarms, and defect-event review.
iFit note: part transparency, color, texture, reflectivity, how it moves through the sensor, and the defect size you need to find should be confirmed with representative samples.
FlawSense can add complete 3D surface mapping to inline process control or offline finished-part inspection.
Measurement fundamentals
Match the measurement to the technology
A single system may not measure every feature you need. Start by separating the job into external dimensions, internal geometry, lengthwise profiles, and surface defects.
Ø
External dimensions
Laser micrometers provide non-contact OD, ovality, and dimensional drift measurement for inline production or bench inspection.
◐
Internal geometry
Ultrasonic and specialized bench systems can measure ID, wall thickness, and concentricity—how centered the ID is within the OD—when the material and part geometry are suitable.
⇄
Lengthwise profiles
An encoder can tie each reading to a position along the product, creating profiles of OD and ovality, wall and concentricity, or surface condition. What the profile contains depends on the installed sensors and motion setup.
≋
Surface integrity
Laser triangulation detects raised or lowered flaws that can remain invisible to a conventional OD measurement or a short sample check.
Solution families
From the extrusion line to the QA lab
Some applications need one system; others combine several. The right choice depends on the range of part sizes and tolerances, required accuracy and repeatability, part handling, line speed, material, data needs, and validation requirements.
01
Inline-capable measurement systems
InlineOfflineODOvality
Laser micrometers
Non-contact single-, dual-, and triple-axis measurement for inline process control or controlled offline OD and ovality inspection.
Best for
Inline extrusion control and offline external-dimension checks
Automated feed-and-rotate inspection for lengthwise diameter and ovality profiles across catheters, guidewires, mandrels, shafts, and delivery components.
Best for
Long parts, tapers, transitions, and localized OD variation
Measures
Full-length external diameter and ovality profiles
Limit
Does not replace wall or internal-geometry measurement
A compact benchtop touchscreen for simple local laser-micrometer operation and live measurement visibility without requiring the full Total Vu PC-based workflow.
Best for
Benchtop and lab laser micrometer checks that need a compact local operator display
Displays
Configured live diameter, ovality, and other available measurements from the connected compatible laser micrometer
Total Vu
Choose Total Vu when recipes, trends, SPC, reports, saved data, or a customizable interface are required
A compact processor for bench or inline applications that reliably sends real-time laser-micrometer measurement values to a PLC or line-control system over supported industrial protocols.
Best for
Bench or inline applications where another system supplies the HMI, data storage, reporting, or control logic
Provides
Real-time measurement values and the selected industrial-protocol connection to a line-control system
Total Vu
Choose Total Vu when operators also need native visualization, recipes, charts, SPC, reports, or saved measurement data
Use this table to narrow the options, not as a final specification. If you need several measurements, the best solution may combine more than one system.
Swipe horizontally to compare all system families.
Preliminary comparison by workflow and primary measurement capability
Wall measured directly; ID calculated with laser OD
Yes
No
Yes — with encoder
Continuous wall and concentricity control
BenchLinc OD/ID
Offline short samples
Yes
Yes
Yes
No — dimensions only
No — short samples
Repeatable polymer tubing QA checks
BenchLinc UT
Offline bench
With optional laser
Wall measured directly; ID calculated with optional laser OD
Yes
No — optional laser detects OD changes
Yes — with encoder
Rigid, hypotube, cannula, and metallic tubing
Metron
Offline full-length scan
Yes
No
No
No — measures OD profile changes only
Yes — automated
Catheter, guidewire, mandrel, and shaft profiles
FlawSense
Inline or offline inspection
Yes
No
No
Yes — 3D surface + OD
Yes — with encoder
Continuous dimensional and 3D surface monitoring
Profile note: An encoder is a position sensor that ties each reading to a location along the product. With suitable part motion and encoder input, laser micrometers, UltraGauge, BenchLinc UT, and FlawSense can build profiles of whatever their sensors measure. Metron also automates part feed and rotation. BenchLinc OD/ID is designed for individual short samples.
Surface note: Laser micrometers can flag localized size changes, such as an increase or decrease in OD, but they do not create a 3D surface map. FlawSense adds laser triangulation to find raised and lowered surface defects. BenchLinc UT can flag dimensional changes only when equipped with its optional laser.
Final capability depends on the complete application, including required accuracy, repeatability, defect size, and control needs. Testing with representative samples may be needed before a recommendation is made.
Applications support
Technical support before and after the purchase
Gauge Advisor helps turn the drawing and process requirements into a practical measurement plan. We coordinate sample testing when needed and stay involved through integration, training, and production support.
“
Thank you for coming onsite and for your assistance troubleshooting our issue. The LaserLinc micrometer works great!
Engineering team, Edwards Lifesciences — Irvine, California
01
Share the application
Provide the material, minimum and maximum dimensions, tolerances, part length, line speed, how the part will be measured, defect concerns, and reporting or integration needs.
02
Confirm the measurement approach
We review the geometry, match each requirement to the right measurement method, explain limitations, and arrange sample testing when specifications alone are not enough.
03
Configure and support the system
Once the approach is confirmed, we can help with the quotation, mechanical and controls review, installation planning, training, validation support, and ongoing troubleshooting.
Faster application review
What should you send us?
You do not need a finished user requirements specification (URS) to get started. The information below is usually enough to recommend a measurement solution and identify any remaining questions.
Use these tools to narrow the options before an application review. They are a starting point and do not replace final system selection or testing with your parts.
These answers provide a starting point. Final measurement capability depends on the product, tolerance, workflow, and required confidence.
Which system measures OD, ID, wall thickness, and concentricity?
For inline extrusion, a laser OD gauge is commonly coordinated with UltraGauge ultrasonic wall measurement. For short polymer samples, BenchLinc OD/ID may provide OD, ID, wall, ovality, and concentricity. BenchLinc UT is an offline ultrasonic option for rigid and metallic tubing. The fit depends on material, geometry, dimensions, and workflow.
Can a laser micrometer measure medical tube wall thickness?
Not by itself. A laser micrometer measures external dimensions such as OD and ovality. Wall thickness, ID, and concentricity generally require ultrasonics, a specialized short-sample system, or another inspection method suited to the material and geometry.
How are multilumen catheter dimensions measured?
Multilumen catheters usually need a part-specific review. Lumen count and layout, material, wall transitions, feature size, and tolerances all affect the best method. Drawings and representative samples are often needed before a recommendation can be made.
When should measurement be inline instead of offline?
Inline measurement is appropriate when the process needs continuous monitoring, immediate alarms, closed-loop control, or complete production records. Offline inspection is useful for incoming material, first articles, validation, finished-part checks, and measurements that require controlled sample handling.
How are full-length tapers and transitions inspected?
An encoder is a position sensor that links each reading to a location along the product. Laser micrometers, UltraGauge, BenchLinc UT, and FlawSense can build profiles of the measurements their sensors support. Metron is the purpose-built offline system that also automates feed and rotation for external diameter and ovality profiles. BenchLinc OD/ID is designed for individual short samples.
How are medical tubing surface defects detected?
FlawSense uses laser triangulation to measure small changes in surface height as the part passes through the system, inline or offline. Material, transparency, reflectivity, texture, part guidance, and the defect size you need to find all affect performance.
What data and integration options are available?
Depending on the configuration, systems can show live values, save setup recipes and production data, create trends and reports, trigger alarms, and connect with plant control and data systems such as PLC, SCADA, or MES. During application review, define the required update rate and where the data needs to go or be stored.
What information is needed for a system recommendation?
Start with the material, min/max OD, target ID or wall, tolerances, part length, line speed, inline or offline workflow, surface condition, defect concerns, reporting needs, and representative samples. A drawing is usually the fastest way to identify missing information.
Interactive medical selector
Build your preliminary profile
Answer five guided questions to narrow the inline or offline measurement paths worth reviewing.
Tell me what you make and what you need to measure. I’ll identify the application and carry the details into the medical selector for verification.
Understanding your application
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