Effect of Sensor Head Orientation on the Accuracy of Magnetic Defect Detection in Steel-Cord Conveyor Belts

This study analyses how the orientation of the measurement head in a magnetic diagnostic system affects the parameters of magnetic signals recorded during steel-cord conveyor belt inspection. The experiments were conducted on a laboratory test stand using a reference belt with artificial defects at two belt speeds and several sensitivity thresholds. Three types of head rotation were analyzed: longitudinal (OX), transverse (OY), and planar (OZ). For each configuration, a set of geometric signal parameters was calculated, including length, width, orientation, eccentricity, and solidity. The results showed that rotation about the OX axis caused the greatest geometric distortions (increased orientation_deg and eccentricity). Rotation about the OY axis produced amplitude asymmetry and changes in solidity (circularity), while rotation about the OZ axis resulted in twisting and displacement of the signal centroid. The total area (area_mm²) remained stable, confirming the geometric nature of the observed changes. Even small head deviations (5–10°) may introduce significant interpretation errors. Therefore, the application of geometric calibration and orientation compensation algorithms is recommended to improve the online diagnostic accuracy of the measurement system.