Long range inductive sensor for difficult applications

Balluff Q40 inductive proximity block sensor is compact in size, senses at long ranges, withstands hostile environments.

By SOURCE: Balluff June 7, 2011

Balluff developed the Q40 inductive proximity block sensor with Factor 1 technology to solve the difficult application problems. The Q40 delivers sensing ranges up to 40mm in a small housing, with weld field immunity and the ability to sense aluminium and steel at the same distance. Each Q40 sensor head can be mounted in five positions and has highly visible corner LEDs, while the connector outlet is also adjustable within a 270° range.

Although the factor 1 sensors are the first choice for hostile welding applications due to their PTFE coated sensing face and immunity to magnetic fields, this sensor is also suitable for other applications where the sensor needs to perform no matter what the type of metal target material.

Balluff’s Factor 1 Q40 Block sensors are designed with multi-metal functionality in mind. An example of this would be a packaging line where cans of various sizes and/or materials are being run on the same line. Aluminium cans are a difficult target to detect due to their thin walls and low inductance. The Factor 1 Q40 sensor not only detects the cans as they backup in the accumulator, but it also detects the cans at a distance much greater than a standard tubular proximity sensor. Additionally the switching and operating state of the sensor can be identified far away due to the highly visible LED.

In addition to the Q40 block sensor, Balluff offers various Factor 1 and Factor 1+ sensor options combining multi-metal sensing with the longest range of all the standard sensor sizes.

Homepage – Balluff

Balluff Inc.

See the sensors page at Vision and Discrete Sensors.

– Edited by Gust Gianos, Control Engineering, Home


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