Methods and apparatus for monitoring and conditioning strip material

An apparatus comprising:

• a first sensor located along a width of a first material moving through a first material conditioner;
• a second sensor located along the width of the first material;
• a third sensor, the first sensor and second sensor separated a first distance, and the second sensor and the third sensor separated a second distance different than the first distance;
• a first adjustable backup bearing;
• a second adjustable backup bearing;
• and
• a feedback unit to:
• map the first sensor to the first adjustable backup bearing, the first sensor corresponding to a first longitudinal zone located along a width of the first moving material;
• and
• map the second sensor to the second adjustable backup bearing, the second sensor corresponding to a second longitudinal zone located along the width of the first material.

A method, comprising:

• retrofitting a material conditioner with a feedback unit, the material conditioner including a first sensor, a second sensor, a first adjustable backup bearing, and a second adjustable backup bearing;
• monitoring a first condition of a first zone of first material moving through the material conditioner using the first sensor;
• monitoring a second condition of a second zone of the first material using the second sensor;
• and
• using the feedback unit to:
• map the first sensor to the first adjustable backup bearing;
• map the second sensor to the second adjustable backup bearing;
• generate corrective feedback information based on at least one of the first condition and the second condition;
• and
• adjust at least one of the first adjustable backup bearing or the second adjustable backup bearing to change a corresponding first condition or second condition.