---
title: "Quick Start: Splice Detection — Industrial Ethernet — SCU6x"
application: splice-detection
variant: ethernet
controller: scu6x
valid_sensors: ["ODC 48", "ODC 96", "ODC 192", "ODC 288", "ODC 384", "ODC 480", "ODC 768", "ODC 960"]
output_type: ethernet
estimated_time: "~1 hour"
last_updated: "2026-07-14"
guide_url: "https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/scu6x"
pdf_url: "https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/scu6x.pdf"
---

# Quick Start: Splice Detection — Industrial Ethernet — SCU6x

> Install, wire, and configure a Roll-2-Roll® ODC sensor with a SCU6x controller for splice detection via Industrial Ethernet.

## What You'll Achieve

After completing this guide, your splice detection system will be installed, wired, and configured to automatically detect splices on your moving web — with detection events accessible from your PLC over Industrial Ethernet.

**Estimated time:** ~1 hour

## What You Need

### Products

- ODC Family sensor — any sensing range, select based on web width coverage needed
- SCU6x controller (with Industrial Ethernet option)
- Quick Disconnect Sensor Cable - 3m (10 ft) (U2-01975)
- 24 V DC Input Power Cable for SCU6x or 1DC - 5m (21218x-5m)
- M12 to RJ45S, Shielded Cable - 9.8ft/3m (21222-3m)
- 24 VDC power supply

### Prerequisites

- 24 VDC power available at the installation location
- Web line accessible for sensor mounting
- Sensor position planned: cross-machine direction at a stable web plane
- For Ethernet paths: network available (PLC or network switch)
- For Digital Output path: stacklight, buzzer, or PLC digital input wired and ready

## Install

Mount the sensor in the cross-machine direction so the field of view spans the web width. This is identical to web width measurement and inspection mounting.

- Standoff distance: 15–25 mm from the web surface (standard working distance) — closer is better
- Stable web plane: mount over a roller or between closely-spaced rollers
- Reaction distance: mount far enough upstream for the machine to react before the splice arrives
- Any sensing range works — select based on web width coverage needed

**Light source:** Infrared (IR) is the default and recommended light source for splice detection.

**Reference documents:**

- [Sensor Installation Recommendations — Inspection Applications](https://r2r.tech/documentation/manuals/sensor-installation-recommendations-inspection-applications.md)

**Troubleshooting**

| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---------|--------------|-----|
| Optical Response Signal 1 reads too low even with the LED brightness set to 100%. | The sensor is mounted too far from the web. | Move the sensor closer to the web, within the recommended installation/standoff distance, until the Optical Response Signal 1 comes up into range. |
| Optical Response Signal 1 reads too high no matter how low the LED brightness is set. | The sensor is mounted too close to the web. | Move the sensor a little farther from the web, within the recommended installation/standoff distance, to bring the Optical Response Signal 1 back into range. |
| Splice detector reports false positives — it triggers too much when no actual splice is present. | The sensor is mounted in a web span that flutters or vibrates out of plane, so the changing web-to-sensor distance reads like a splice. | Mount the sensor in a stable span where the web is not fluttering, and install it close to a roller to minimize out-of-plane web movement (web plane change). |

## Wire

Standard sensor-to-controller wiring with Ethernet output.

1. Sensor: Connect Quick Disconnect Sensor Cable (U2-01975) from ODC sensor to SCU6x port S1
2. Power: Connect 24 V DC Input Power Cable for SCU6x or 1DC (21218x-5m) to SCU6x port Z2
3. Ethernet: Connect M12 to RJ45S, Shielded Cable (21222-3m) from SCU6x port P1 to PLC or network switch

## Configure & Verify

Splice detection watches the image from the camera for changes in material properties caused by a splice, picked up through the sensor's optical response signals. Tune its sensitivity and hold time so every splice registers cleanly at your PLC.

1. Start with Optical Response Signal 1 only. For a plain, single-color web with no printing or coating, disable Optical Response Signal 2 and Optical Response Signal 3 — Signal 1 alone detects the splice.
2. Adjust the gain for splice detection: raise the Optical Response Signal 1 gain as high as it will go, and if detection drops out, lower it slowly until splices trigger reliably.
3. For webs with printing, coating, or more texture, enable Optical Response Signal 2 and Optical Response Signal 3 as well, then tune the gain on all three the same way — the gain behaves identically for every signal.

**Parameters:**

| Parameter | Default | Range | Description |
|-----------|---------|-------|-------------|
| Gain | 2.0 | ~1.0–3.0+ | Sensitivity threshold for splice detection — lower is more sensitive. |
| Hold Time (ms) | 1000 | 20–60,000 | How long "splice detected" stays active. The valid range starts at 20 ms, but set it to at least 100 ms (≥ 2× your PLC scan cycle) so the PLC reliably catches every event. |

**Success:** Splice detected flag goes active, splice count increments, display/app shows the detection event, PLC register updates.

**Troubleshooting**

| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---------|--------------|-----|
| Splice detector does not trigger at all — no splice events register even when a real splice passes the sensor. | The sensor image is saturated, so the camera cannot tell the splice apart from the web. Most often the LED brightness is set too high; it can also happen when web reflection is too low (too little light returns to the sensor). Assumes the sensor is already at the correct standoff distance. | Adjust the LED brightness so the Optical Response Signal 1 reads ~100–180 (out of saturation); if needed, mount the sensor at the correct standoff distance. Either restores a discernible difference between the web and the splice so detection triggers. |
| Splice detector triggers too much — false or excessive splice events on a web with no actual splice. | Optical Response Signal 1 gain is set too low. | Increase the Optical Response Signal 1 gain as high as possible; if detection then drops out, lower the gain slowly until it triggers reliably. For a non-printed, uniform web with no printed features, also disable the Optical Response Signal 2 and Optical Response Signal 3 altogether. On the SCU6x, configure these Optical Response Signal settings per sensor. |
| Splice detector triggers too much on a printed web. | On a printed web, Optical Response Signal 1 alone cannot tell the splice apart from the printed features. | Enable Optical Response Signal 2 and Optical Response Signal 3 as well. Start with all three signals enabled, then raise the gain on all of them until detection is reliable. |

## PLC Integration

Splice detection provides a binary detected/not-detected signal. The PLC reads the status flag and counts.

**Register map:**

- [SCU6x Industrial Ethernet Register Map](https://r2r.tech/documentation/manuals/scu6x-industrial-ethernet-register-map-v41.md)

**Support files:**

- [EDS File (EtherNet/IP)](https://r2r.tech/documentation/support-files/ethernetip-eds-file-scu6x-firmware-version-41-using-hilscher-module.md)
- [Add-on Instruction (AOI) for Studio 5000](https://r2r.tech/documentation/support-files/rockwellab-add-instructions-scu6x-cedmced-controller-v41.md)

## Go Further

### Related Quick Start Guides

- [Web Width Measurement](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/web-width/ethernet/scu6x.md) — Splice detection can run simultaneously with web width measurement on the same hardware
- [Position Measurement](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/position-measurement/ethernet/scu6x.md) — Edge position measurement uses the same sensor installation

### Reference Documents

- [Sensor Installation Recommendations — Inspection Applications](https://r2r.tech/documentation/manuals/sensor-installation-recommendations-inspection-applications.md)
- [SCU6x Controller User Manual](https://r2r.tech/documentation/manuals/scu6x-sensor-and-web-guide-controller-user-manual.md)
- [SCU6x Industrial Ethernet Register Map](https://r2r.tech/documentation/manuals/scu6x-industrial-ethernet-register-map-v41.md)

## Available Sensor Models

Select a sensor model at the guide page to see datasheets, 2D drawings, 3D models, and STEP file downloads.

- [ODC 48](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/scu6x.md?sensor=odc-48) (48 mm)
- [ODC 96](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/scu6x.md?sensor=odc-96) (96 mm)
- [ODC 192](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/scu6x.md?sensor=odc-192) (192 mm)
- [ODC 288](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/scu6x.md?sensor=odc-288) (288 mm)
- [ODC 384](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/scu6x.md?sensor=odc-384) (384 mm)
- [ODC 480](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/scu6x.md?sensor=odc-480) (480 mm)
- [ODC 768](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/scu6x.md?sensor=odc-768) (768 mm)
- [ODC 960](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/scu6x.md?sensor=odc-960) (960 mm)

## Related Quick Start Guides

- [Splice Detection — Industrial Ethernet — 1DC Series](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/ethernet/1dc.md)
- [Splice Detection — Digital Output — SCU6x](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/splice-detection/digital/scu6x.md)
- [Position Measurement — Analog Output — SCU5](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/position-measurement/analog/scu5.md)
- [Position Measurement — Industrial Ethernet — SCU5](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/position-measurement/ethernet/scu5.md)
- [Position Measurement — Industrial Ethernet — SCU6x](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/position-measurement/ethernet/scu6x.md)
- [Position Measurement — Industrial Ethernet — 1DC Series](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/position-measurement/ethernet/1dc.md)
- [Web Width Measurement — Analog Output — SCU5](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/web-width/analog/scu5.md)
- [Web Width Measurement — Digital Monitoring — SCU5](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/web-width/digital/scu5.md)
- [Web Width Measurement — Industrial Ethernet — SCU5](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/web-width/ethernet/scu5.md)
- [Web Width Measurement — Digital Monitoring — SCU6x](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/web-width/digital/scu6x.md)
- [Web Width Measurement — Industrial Ethernet — SCU6x](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/web-width/ethernet/scu6x.md)
- [Web Width Measurement — Industrial Ethernet — 1DC Series](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/web-width/ethernet/1dc.md)
- [Multiple Web Width Measurement — Industrial Ethernet — SCU6x](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/multi-web-width/ethernet/scu6x.md)
- [Multiple Web Width Measurement — Digital Monitoring — SCU6x](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/multi-web-width/digital/scu6x.md)
- [Multiple Web Width Measurement — Industrial Ethernet — 1DC Series](https://r2r.tech/resources/quick-start/multi-web-width/ethernet/1dc.md)

## Support

- Email: experts@r2r.tech
- Phone: +1-888-290-3215