LMI Gocator 5500 Series Dual-Axis Line Confocal Sensors

The only smart 3D sensor that measures inside transparent materials. Patented dual-axis line confocal imaging captures 3D surface topography, 3D sub-surface tomography, and 2D intensity data simultaneously - in a single scan, on materials no other 3D sensor can reliably measure.

The Gocator 5500 Series is LMI Technologies' family of patented dual-axis line confocal sensors - the industry's first smart 3D line confocal sensors and the only sensors that simultaneously generate 3D topography, 3D tomography, and 2D intensity data in one pass. Where most 3D sensors measure only the top surface of a target, the 5500 Series uses Line Confocal Imaging (LCI) technology to look through transparent and translucent layers, measuring each material interface independently. Multi-layered cell phone glass, bonded automotive glass, wafer subsurface structure, brake pad surface roughness, polished bearings - the 5500 Series handles material structures that defeat every other 3D inspection technology. Three optical models (Gocator 5504, 5512, and 5516) cover semiconductor, automotive, consumer electronics, and precision manufacturing applications with sub-micron Z precision and scan rates over 10 kHz.

Three Data Types in One Scan

Every other Gocator family captures one fundamental data type - laser line profilers (2100, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 6300, 2880) capture 3D surface topography; snapshot sensors (3210, 3500) capture 3D structured light topography; coaxial confocal sensors (4000) capture shadow-free topography plus 2D intensity. The 5500 Series captures three data types simultaneously in every scan:

No other sensor in the Gocator portfolio - and no other smart sensor in the industry - delivers all three data types simultaneously. Tomography in particular is unique to the 5500 Series: it is the only family that can look through transparent materials and measure the layered structure inside.

What "Dual-Axis Line Confocal" Means and Why It Matters

Conventional confocal sensors use a single optical axis - illumination and detection share the same path through the lens. This works well for surface topography but limits signal quality and prevents simultaneous tomography capture. LMI's patented dual-axis Line Confocal Imaging (LCI) design uses two optical axes - a separate illumination axis and detection axis at calibrated geometry - that together deliver superior signal quality and enable the simultaneous tomography measurement that single-axis confocal cannot achieve.

The dual-axis design is the reason the 5500 Series can scan material types that defeat every other 3D inspection technology:

• Multi-layered transparent materials - bonded cell phone glass with two or three layers of glass laminated together. The 5500 measures each layer's thickness independently in a single scan.
• Curved edge inspection - chamfered and rounded edges on glass, ceramic, and polished surfaces. The dual-axis design handles edge geometry without specular failure.
• Shiny and mirror-finish surfaces - polished bearings, polished glass, mirror-finish machined parts. Specular reflection that defeats laser triangulation is handled cleanly.
• High-contrast textured materials - mixed material assemblies where some regions are reflective and others matte. The 5500 captures all regions in a single scan.
• Mixed-material assemblies - parts with metal, plastic, glass, and adhesive features intermixed. The 5500 measures all materials without the per-region exposure tuning that triangulation sensors require.
• Transparent and translucent films - plastic packaging films, transparent coatings, optical films. The tomography data captures top and bottom surfaces of each film layer.

Key Features

• Patented dual-axis line confocal imaging (LCI) - the industry's first and only smart LCI technology
• Simultaneous 3D topography, 3D tomography, and 2D intensity data in every scan
• 1792 data points per profile across all three models
• X resolution up to 2.5 microns for fine semiconductor and precision features
• Z repeatability up to 0.05 microns - sub-micron precision for the most demanding metrology applications
• Scan rates over 10 kHz with PC acceleration, exceeding 16 kHz at limited measurement range
• Multi-layer profiling support - capture independent profiles from each material layer in a single scan
• Handles practically any material type - multi-layered, transparent, translucent, curved edge, shiny, textured, mixed, and many more
• Field of view from 4.3 to 17 mm across the family
• Measurement range from 1.1 to 5.5 mm across the family
• On-sensor IIoT vision web-based software - next-generation GoPxL platform built into every sensor
• Onboard measurement tools for direct measurement without external processing
• Native I/O connectivity for industrial integration
• Industrial protocol support - EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus, ASCII, native Gocator protocol
• Compatible with the GoMax Smart Vision Accelerator for high-speed inline operation
• Compatible with the GoPxL Anomaly Detector for AI-based defect detection on confocal 3D data

Gocator 5500 Series Models

The 5500 Series consists of three optical models. All three share the same dual-axis LCI architecture, the same 1792 data points per profile, and the same software platform. They differ in working envelope - clearance distance, measurement range, and field of view - to match the target part size and inspection geometry.

Detailed per-model clearance distance, measurement range, field of view, weight, and dimensions vary across the 5500 Series. Contact Automation Distribution at 1-888-600-3080 for the official datasheet for your selected model and application-specific recommendations.

Shared Specifications Across the 5500 Series

Where the 5500 Series Outperforms Every Other 3D Sensor

How the 5500 Series Fits LMI's Line Confocal Portfolio

The Gocator 5500 Series is one of two line confocal sensor families in the Gocator portfolio. Each addresses a different inspection priority:

Choose the 4000 Series when the challenge is surface geometry that triangulation cannot capture (steep slopes, deep grooves, mirror surfaces). Choose the 5500 Series when the challenge is the material itself - multi-layered structures, transparent films, sub-surface features, or applications requiring all three data types in one pass.

Industries and Applications

Software, Integration, and Networking

• GoPxL IIoT Vision Inspection Software onboard - the 5500 Series ships with LMI's next-generation browser-based vision platform. No additional software purchase required.
• Multi-layer profiling support - GoPxL handles the unique multi-profile output of the 5500 Series, providing measurement tools that operate on each material layer independently.
• Browser-based configuration GUI - set up the sensor, build measurement tools, and visualize all three data types (topography, tomography, intensity) in real time from any web browser.
• Onboard measurement tools - run gauging, geometric, and feature-extraction tools directly on the sensor without an external PC.
• Open-source SDK - integrate with custom applications, robots, and PLCs using C-based libraries supported across the Gocator portfolio.
• Industrial protocol support - EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus, ASCII, and native Gocator protocol for direct PLC integration.
• Acceleration required for high-speed operation - 10 kHz+ scan rates require either a GoMax accelerator or PC acceleration to handle the data volume from simultaneous topography, tomography, and intensity capture.
• Compatible with the GoPxL Anomaly Detector for AI-based defect detection on confocal 3D data, particularly powerful on the surface cosmetic defects common in consumer electronics and semiconductor applications.
• Free Gocator Emulator for offline development and validation in a virtual sensor environment.

Compatible Accessories

Round out your Gocator 5500 Series deployment with factory-correct hardware available through Automation Distribution: LMI Cordsets for power, I/O, and Ethernet; the GoMax Smart Vision Accelerator for high-speed scan rate operation and AI-based defect inference; and the GoPxL Anomaly Detector for AI surface defect detection. For complementary surface-only inspection where shadow-free topography is the priority, see the Gocator 4000 Series coaxial line confocal sensors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gocator 5500 Series used for?

The Gocator 5500 Series is LMI Technologies' family of patented dual-axis line confocal sensors, used for inline inspection of materials and structures that defeat conventional 3D sensors. Typical applications include multi-layered cell phone glass thickness measurement, semiconductor wafer dimensioning and sorting, automotive brake pad surface roughness, bonded automotive glass inspection, transparent film thickness measurement, polished bearing surface measurement, and any application requiring simultaneous 3D topography, 3D tomography, and 2D intensity data in a single scan. View the Gocator 5500 Series at Automation Distribution.

What is tomography and why does it matter?

In the context of 3D sensors, tomography means measuring the sub-surface structure of multi-layered or transparent materials - looking "inside" the target rather than only at its top surface. The 5500 Series is the only Gocator sensor that captures tomography data, and one of the few smart 3D sensors in the industry with this capability. Tomography enables measurements that no other 3D sensor can make: layer thickness of bonded glass, sub-surface defect detection in transparent films, adhesive layer measurement under cover glass, and other applications where the inspection target has internal structure that matters.

What is the difference between the Gocator 4000 Series and 5500 Series?

Both are line confocal sensor families but use different optical architectures. The Gocator 4000 Series uses a coaxial single-axis design optimized for shadow-free 3D topography on the target surface - the killer feature is plus or minus 85 degree slope angle capability. The Gocator 5500 Series uses a patented dual-axis design that simultaneously captures 3D topography, 3D tomography (sub-surface layer structure), and 2D intensity data. Choose the 4000 Series when slope angle and surface shadowing are the primary inspection challenges. Choose the 5500 Series when multi-layered structures, transparent material thickness, or sub-surface defects are the target.

Which Gocator 5500 model should I order?

The right model depends on your target part size and standoff requirements. The Gocator 5504 (smallest envelope, 4.3 mm FOV, 1.1 mm measurement range, 7.78 mm clearance) is purpose-built for semiconductor wafer applications. The Gocator 5512 (mid-range envelope) is the most versatile model and is the standard choice for brake pad inspection, multi-surface part scanning, and general precision applications. The Gocator 5516 (largest envelope, 17 mm FOV, 5.5 mm measurement range, 60.75 mm clearance) is the right choice for multi-layered cell phone glass, bonded automotive glass, and larger multi-layered targets where the longer measurement range is needed. Contact Automation Distribution at 1-888-600-3080 for application-specific recommendations.

Can the Gocator 5500 measure through transparent materials?

Yes. The dual-axis line confocal imaging principle measures through transparent and translucent materials, capturing the top surface, the bottom surface, and any internal layer interfaces independently. This is the defining capability of the 5500 Series and is what enables applications like multi-layered cell phone glass thickness measurement, bonded automotive glass inspection, transparent adhesive layer measurement, and sub-surface defect detection in glass and polymer materials.

How fast does the Gocator 5500 scan?

Scan rates exceed 10 kHz with PC or GoMax acceleration, and can exceed 16 kHz at reduced regions of interest. Because the 5500 Series captures three data types simultaneously (topography, tomography, intensity), the effective inspection throughput per scan is significantly higher than sensors that require multiple passes for multi-modal data. Acceleration is required for high-speed inline operation - either a GoMax NX, ORIN, or ORIN+ accelerator, or PC-based acceleration.

What does sub-micron Z repeatability mean in practice?

Z repeatability up to 0.05 microns means the sensor can detect height variations as small as 50 nanometers - one-twentieth of a micron, or about 1/2000th the thickness of a human hair. In practice this enables measurement of features that conventional laser triangulation sensors cannot resolve: thin adhesive bead heights, polished surface waviness, layer thickness in laminated materials, and sub-micron surface defects on precision optical components. This level of Z precision is normally available only from offline metrology instruments like coordinate measuring machines or white light interferometers - the 5500 Series brings it to inline production inspection.

Does the Gocator 5500 ship with software included?

Yes. The Gocator 5500 Series ships with GoPxL IIoT Vision Inspection Software onboard - LMI's next-generation browser-based vision platform with built-in support for the 5500's unique multi-layer profile output. No additional software purchase is required for basic operation. For AI-based defect detection capabilities, the optional GoPxL Anomaly Detector licensed dongle adds deep-learning defect identification on top of GoPxL.

Can I network multiple Gocator 5500 sensors together?

Yes. The 5500 Series supports standard Gocator multi-sensor networking for synchronized power, laser safety, encoder input, and external trigger distribution across multiple sensors. Multi-sensor configurations enable parallel inspection on the same production line - particularly useful for high-throughput semiconductor wafer sorting and consumer electronics multi-station inspection. Each 5500 sensor's high data volume means careful network bandwidth planning is required for large multi-sensor systems; contact Automation Distribution for sizing recommendations.