# Is a Roll-2-Roll sensor just a basic edge sensor?

> No. A Roll-2-Roll® sensor is actually a line scan camera with vision-like capabilities, packaged with the simplicity of a sensor.Traditional edge sensors give you a single-point measurement — one edge position, one signal. Roll-2-Roll® sensors have 768 to over 14,000 pixels, integrated LED lighti...

**Last updated:** 2026-03-14

**Source:** https://r2r.tech/resources/faq/roll-2-roll-sensor-just-basic-edge-sensor

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## Question

Is a Roll-2-Roll sensor just a basic edge sensor?

## Short Answer

No — it is a line scan camera with vision-like capabilities packaged as a sensor. It detects edges, measures widths, counts threads, and flags splices, tears, and surface defects.

## Detailed Answer

No. A Roll-2-Roll® sensor is actually a line scan camera with vision-like capabilities, packaged with the simplicity of a sensor.

Traditional edge sensors give you a single-point measurement — one edge position, one signal. Roll-2-Roll® sensors have 768 to over 14,000 pixels, integrated LED lighting (infrared, ultraviolet, or white light options), and adaptive algorithms that provide **spatial awareness** across the full sensing range.

This means a single Roll-2-Roll® sensor can handle:

- Edge detection — up to 128 edges simultaneously
- Width measurement — real-time, across ranges up to 960 mm
- Splice detection — tape splices, overlaps, and joints
- Flag detection — operator flags, markers, and registration marks
- Thread counting — individual thread or string detection
- Tear and void inspection — holes, tears, and surface anomalies

All of this without machine vision complexity. The same sensor-controller combination can be repurposed across entirely different applications without hardware replacement — significantly reducing ownership costs.

**Category:** Technical

## Related Products

- [ODC 96](https://r2r.tech/products/sensors/odc-96)
- [1DC 96](https://r2r.tech/products/sensors/1dc-96)

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## About Roll-2-Roll Technologies

Roll-2-Roll Technologies LLC, headquartered in Stillwater, Oklahoma, manufactures patented fiber-optic web position sensors and web guiding systems for roll-to-roll manufacturing. Products include ODC edge sensors (48mm to 960mm), 1DC all-in-one sensors, SCU-series controllers, and complete web guide systems.

- Website: https://r2r.tech
- Phone: +1 (888) 290-3215
- Email: sales@r2r.tech