Probedurchlauf

Probedurchlauf (probe-through run) is a measurement and inspection procedure in which a probe is moved along a predefined path through a system, sample, or workpiece, capturing data continuously along the trajectory. It enables spatially resolved measurements and qualification of varying properties over distance, surface, or volume. The concept is used across industries such as process engineering, quality control, non-destructive testing, and analytics.

The process typically involves selecting measurement parameters, programming a path or grid for the probe, synchronizing data acquisition with probe position, and performing data analysis to produce maps, profiles, or detection of anomalies. Variants include contact probes that physically contact the surface and non-contact probes such as optical or capacitive sensors. In fluids, a through-flow probe path can assess flow-related properties by moving a sensor through the medium or along a pipeline.

Advantages include high spatial resolution, reduced need for multiple discrete samples, and the ability to detect localized defects or gradients. Limitations include longer measurement times, mechanical complexity, probe interference with the system, and the need for robust data processing. Applications examples include mapping coating thickness along a steel strip, leak detection in pipelines using a traversing sensor, calibration and mapping of thermal or electrical properties on flat panels, and quality control in semiconductor test setups with probe cards.

Etymology: the term is a German compound of Probe and Durchlauf. See also scanning probe, profilometry, and tomographic scanning.