LMI Gocator 200 Series Multi-Point Profile Scanners for Wood Products

The only Gocator family built specifically for the wood products industry. A modular transverse scanning system that mixes 3D laser profile, tracheid detection, and color vision in one networked sensor architecture - designed for sawmills, planer mills, and lumber grading lines running at up to 300 feet per minute.

The Gocator 200 Series is LMI Technologies' family of multi-point profile scanners purpose-built for the wood products industry. Unlike the standard Gocator profiler families (which capture continuous laser line profiles for general manufacturing inspection), the 200 Series is a transverse scanning architecture: multiple sensors mounted across the width of a board conveyor capture parallel measurement points across the entire board surface as it moves through the line. Four model types (Gocator 205, 210, 230, and 250) combine in one networked system to deliver simultaneous 3D laser profile measurement, tracheid detection for wood grain analysis, and color vision for surface defect grading - all on the same hardware and software platform. The 200 Series is the standard automated grading sensor architecture for edger, trimmer, and planer mill applications across North American and international lumber operations.

A Modular Multi-Sensor System, Not a Single Sensor

Most Gocator product families consist of a single sensor type that you buy in different optical configurations. The 200 Series is fundamentally different - it is a system architecture where multiple sensor types work together to deliver capabilities no single sensor could match. A typical 200 Series installation includes:

• Multiple laser profile scanners (210, 230, or 250) mounted across the board's width, each measuring its portion of the board profile. Together they build a complete cross-section of the board as it passes through.
• One or more Gocator 205 sensors for tracheid detection and color vision, mounted alongside the laser profilers in the same scanning station.
• Master network controllers (typically Master 810 or 2410) that synchronize all sensors across the line, handle laser safety interlocks, and aggregate data to the grading host.
• Differential measurement architecture - opposing sensors measure target thickness with sub-millimeter accuracy by referencing each other's measurements rather than absolute distance.

This modular approach lets mill integrators build the exact sensor configuration each line requires. A high-throughput edger line might use a row of laser profilers with one or two 205 vision sensors for defect spotting. A grading line might use more 205 sensors for comprehensive surface assessment paired with a smaller number of laser profilers for dimensional measurement.

The Four 200 Series Sensor Types

All four sensor types share the same Gocator 200 Series networking architecture, the same Master controller compatibility, and the same browser-based configuration interface. They mix and match freely in one system.

What is Tracheid Detection?

Tracheid detection is a wood-specific 3D vision capability that has no equivalent in general manufacturing inspection. Wood is made of long fibrous cells called tracheids that align with the grain direction. When laser light strikes the surface of a board, it does not just reflect - some of it penetrates the wood, scatters along the tracheids, and re-emerges at a slight offset from the original beam path. The shape of this scatter pattern indicates the direction of the grain at every measurement point.

The Gocator 205 is engineered to measure this scatter pattern in real time, producing a grain-direction map across the entire surface of the board. This is critical for grading because wood grain direction directly determines structural strength. Boards with grain running parallel to the length are strong; boards with grain running at angles (called "slope of grain") are progressively weaker and downgraded accordingly. Tracheid detection automates a grading decision that was previously made by a human grader looking at the surface and making a subjective call. Combined with the 205's color vision cameras for visual defect identification, the 200 Series enables fully automated lumber grading at production line speed.

Why Transverse Scanning is Different

Standard Gocator laser profilers (the 2100, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600 series) are longitudinal scanners - they project a laser line across the part, capture one cross-section per scan, and rely on the part moving past the sensor to build up a complete 3D profile. This works perfectly for parts that are smaller than the laser line and where motion is consistent.

Wood products inspection has different requirements. Boards are 4 to 20+ feet long, wider than any single laser line can span, and move through the line at speeds up to 300 feet per minute. The 200 Series uses transverse scanning: multiple sensors mounted across the conveyor width simultaneously capture parallel measurement points across the board surface. As the board moves through the array, each sensor captures its segment of the board at high scan rates. Combined data from all sensors in the array produces complete 3D coverage of the entire board at line speed - something a single longitudinal profiler cannot achieve.

Key System Features

• Modular sensor mix - combine 3D laser profile, tracheid detection, and color vision in one system
• Line speed up to 300 feet per minute for transverse board scanning
• Wood grain direction detection via tracheid analysis - automates a previously manual grading decision
• Color vision defect spotting for visual surface grading (knots, splits, discoloration, stains)
• True differential measurement for sub-millimeter board thickness accuracy
• High scan rates with temperature-compensated measurement ranges for mill-floor environmental conditions
• Encoder quadrature input for synchronization with conveyor motion at any speed
• Master network controllers (Master 810 or 2410) for synchronized power, laser safety, and trigger distribution across all sensors in the array
• Browser-based GUI for setup, configuration, and real-time visualization
• Open-source SDK for integration with existing lumber grading control systems and mill management software
• Industrial protocol support - Gigabit Ethernet, plus EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and Modbus for PLC integration
• IP67 housing built for sawmill and planer mill environments - sawdust, vibration, temperature swings

Applications in the Wood Products Industry

System Architecture and Integration

• Master network controllers - Master 810 (smaller systems) or Master 2410 (larger ring systems) provide synchronized power, laser safety, encoder distribution, and external trigger to all 200 Series sensors in the array. DIN rail mountable for installation in control cabinets.
• 1000 Mbit/s Ethernet network connects every sensor to the host grading computer or mill PLC. Each sensor has dedicated Power/LAN and I/O connectors.
• Browser-based configuration GUI sets up the entire multi-sensor system through a single interface. View live data from all sensors, configure measurement tools, set thresholds, and verify calibration.
• Open-source SDK integrates with existing edger and trimmer optimizers, planer mill grading systems, and mill management software. C-based libraries supported across every Gocator family.
• Compatible with standard Gocator firmware updates - the 200 Series uses the same firmware base as the rest of the Gocator portfolio. Mill staff already trained on Gocator profile sensors will recognize the interface and tooling.
• Custom cordset lengths available for the longer cable runs typical of mill installations. Standard Gocator Power/LAN and I/O cordsets are also available - see LMI Cordsets for stocked configurations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gocator 200 Series used for?

The Gocator 200 Series is LMI Technologies' multi-point profile scanner family purpose-built for the wood products industry. Typical applications include sawmill edger optimization, trimmer optimization, planer mill automated grading, structural lumber MSR/MEL grading, veneer and panel inspection, and heavy timber dimensional measurement. The 200 Series combines 3D laser profile measurement, tracheid detection for wood grain analysis, and color vision for surface defect grading in one modular multi-sensor system running at up to 300 feet per minute. View the Gocator 200 Series at Automation Distribution.

How is the Gocator 200 Series different from the Gocator 2100 or 2300?

The 2100 and 2300 Series are longitudinal laser line profilers - they project a laser line across a part, capture one cross-section per scan, and rely on motion to build a 3D point cloud. The 200 Series is a transverse multi-sensor system - multiple sensors mounted across a conveyor's width simultaneously capture parallel measurement points across the entire board surface. The 200 Series also includes the Gocator 205, which is a color vision and tracheid detection sensor (not a laser sensor) that pairs with the laser profilers for comprehensive wood grading. The 200 Series is wood-products-specific architecture; the 2100/2300 are general-purpose manufacturing inspection.

What is tracheid detection and why does it matter?

Tracheid detection measures the direction of wood grain by analyzing how laser light scatters along the wood fibers (tracheids). Wood grain direction directly determines structural strength - boards with grain parallel to the length are strong, boards with off-axis grain are progressively weaker. The Gocator 205 detects tracheid scatter patterns in real time, producing a grain-direction map across the entire surface of every board. This enables automated structural grading decisions that were previously made by human graders. Tracheid detection is unique to the 200 Series and has no equivalent in general manufacturing 3D inspection.

What is the difference between the Gocator 210, 230, and 250?

All three are 3D laser multi-point profilers with the same networking architecture and configuration interface. They differ in measurement range to match different lumber dimensions and line geometries. The Gocator 210 is the standard-range profiler for typical board dimensions. The Gocator 230 is an extended-range profiler for thicker boards and larger working envelopes. The Gocator 250 is the long-range profiler for the widest scanning applications - heavy timber, large dimensional lumber, structural components. Most mill installations use one model across the array for consistency, but the modular architecture allows mixing if the application benefits.

Is the Gocator 205 a laser sensor?

No. The Gocator 205 uses an LED light bar and color cameras - not a laser. It is purpose-built for tracheid detection (using the LED light source to illuminate the wood surface and observing the scatter pattern through the wood) and color vision for surface defect identification. The 205 is the only Gocator 200 Series sensor without a laser; the 210, 230, and 250 are all laser-based profilers. The 205 pairs with the laser profilers in the same scanning station to deliver combined dimensional, grain-direction, and visual defect data.

How fast can the Gocator 200 Series scan?

Up to 300 feet per minute for transverse board scanning applications - the standard production line speed for sawmill edger, trimmer, and planer mill operations. The system's scan rate scales with the encoder input and the sensor array configuration. Higher line speeds are achievable with optimized array layouts; specific maximum speeds depend on board dimensions, sensor model selection, and resolution requirements.

Can I integrate the 200 Series with my existing mill grading software?

Yes. The 200 Series uses the same open-source Gocator SDK as the rest of the Gocator portfolio, with C-based libraries that integrate with existing edger optimizers, trimmer optimizers, planer mill grading systems, and mill management software. Industrial protocols (EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus) enable direct PLC integration for line control decisions. Mill staff already trained on standard Gocator interfaces will recognize the browser-based configuration GUI used by the 200 Series.

How do I order a Gocator 200 Series system?

Because the 200 Series is a modular multi-sensor system rather than a single off-the-shelf product, configurations are quoted based on your specific line requirements: board width and thickness ranges, line speed, target defect identification capabilities, grading decision logic, and existing mill control system architecture. Contact Automation Distribution at 1-888-600-3080 to scope your 200 Series system. We work directly with LMI Technologies to size the sensor array, specify Master controllers, and recommend cordset lengths for your installation.