Contrinex is introducing a new range of M18, low-cost, high-precision diffuse laser sensors designed to solve the problem of detecting small components or features during manufacturing processes.
This type of detection has long posed difficulties for manufacturing engineers, with compact, focussed-beam sensors or accurately set miniature fibre optics often used. However, both these methods require that the sensors are situated close to the target and in many applications there is insufficient space to implement these arrangements.
As a result, vision systems are sometimes the only practical alternative but such systems are expensive and require a high level of application knowledge for reliable deployment.
The new Contrinex sensors use novel low-cost, precision diffuse lasers in which the beam spot can be reduced to just 0.2mm diameter by means of an adjustable iris. This allows them to detect objects as tiny as 0.1mm diameter at a distance of 150mm, making them suitable for detecting small objects or features. The operating distance can be extended by a geared multi-turn potentiometer to 600mm and, even at this distance, targets of 0.6mm diameter can be detected.
A 660nm visible red laser beam makes alignment and set-up very easy and the sensor has a very high immunity to interference from other bright light sources such as arcs or direct sunlight. To ensure the highest levels of reliability, Contrinex has included a diagnostic feature that continuously tracks the received light. If the light level falls due to dirt accumulation or misalignment the diagnostic 'excess light' function output is triggered alerting the user to check the set-up before the principle output fails thus reducing expensive production line stoppages.
These new M18 laser sensors have an operating frequency of 5000Hz and this short response time ensures that even the smallest components do not escape detection. Sealed to IP67, they are supplied in a body length of only 50mm and are made from tough stainless steel.
The sensors have a wide operating supply voltage from 10 to 30V DC, a switched current rating of 200mA, a stable sensing range from -25 to +55 degrees C, are short-circuit and inverse polarity proof, and are overload protected.
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