Linear Position Sensor offers electrical strokes to 10mm

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (www.vishay.com) has proudly announced the release of its latest linear position sensor that features non-contacting Hall effect technology.

Offered with a spring return system, the 20 LHE can cover short electrical strokes of up to 10 mm. It has also been optimised making it ideal for applications in harsh environments requiring sensors with long service life.

Its Hall effect technology provides the sensor the ability to perform in conditions with up to 50 G shocks and high-frequency vibrations of up to 20 G. The device offers a long service life of 10 million cycles, making it ideally suited for short stroke measurements in various industrial applications such as tillers heads for forklifting steering, truck tilt sensors, tractor gear shifts as well as pedal displacement and pressure measurement systems.

In addition, the linear position sensor provides accurate linearity down to ±1 percent. It also provides digital PWM output or analog ratiometric, while offering continuous performance for the device’s life with no drift of linearity.

The 20 LHE operates with supply current of < 16 mA typical and a supply voltage of 5 V ± 10 percent, it also can withstand + 20 V overvoltages to – 10 V reverse voltages. For PWM output and analog output, the recommended load resistance stands at 1 kW. The device has complied with RoHS directive 2002/95/EC.

Balluff BIP Inductive Position Sensors suitable for linear motion applications

Balluff (www.balluff.com), a sensor and systems manufacturer, has proudly announced the release of its latest BIP linear inductive position sensor, which features an absolute measuring principle. This makes the sensor ideally suited for various position monitoring applications that include drive spindles and clamping devices.

The new BIP position sensor can also be utilized in linear motion applications, such as grab positions, valve positions, punch depth measurements and rolling positions.

A non-contact type sensor, Balluff BIP sensor can detect up to 40 mm linear travel. To deliver optimal process quality, the inductive positioning BIP sensor provides a high resolution of 14 µm, a repeat accuracy of +/- 80 as well as +/- 250 µm non linearity. It also offers a high level of repeat accuracy and reliability as well as 0 to 10 V and 4 to 20 mA output to ensure unrivalled process quality in cramped working locations.

The BIP sensor’s flexibility to adapt on site enables it to minimize the need to adjust the sensor mechanically for various applications. The measurement ranges can be conveniently set based on the user’s preferred application, and since the sensor incorporates an IO-Link variant, this feature can also be controlled through the control system.

Balluf manufactures photoelectric, vision, magnetic, inductive and capacitive sensors together with linear position transducers, RFID systems and networking products. Its products for OEM and factory floor solutions are utilized to assemble, regulate, automate, position and monitor assembly, packaging and manufacturing sequences for industries including plastics, aerospace, automotive, medical, electrical, electronics and others.

Autonics sensors & controllers Selection Guide Ver. 12.1

 

Established in 1977, Autonics is a leading company of sensors & controllers in Korea and the No.1 exporting company as well, its world class products over 5,000 items are marketed in more than 100 countries world wide to satisfy customer needs in various fields of Industrial Automation.

 

Click here to download the Autonics selection guide.

Melexis introduces Surface-Mount Programmable Linear Hall Sensor

Melexis (www.melexis.com), the world’s first manufacturer of programmable linear Hall sensors, has launched the third generation of its product. Breaking free from traditional “single-in-line-package”, the new family required more thorough design consideration to prevent space, mounting, reliability, EMI and cost penalties at the system level.

Offered as a surface-mount device (SMD), the new programmable linear Hall IC supports the trend for optimized manufacturability of sensor modules and assemblies.

Applied in a single-die device range, the SMD approach can also be implemented in various position sensing applications, particularly in short stoke linear motion, when combined with adequate magnet thermal compensation and appropriate magnetic circuit.

“Our market surveys and initial feedback are clear: there are many industrial and automotive applications which were waiting for a state-of-the-art, high-accuracy and cost-effective programmable linear Hall sensor in surface-mount package but without any allowable premium for a Melexis Triaxis solution,” said Vincent Hiligsmann, Product Line Manager at Melexis.

“The third generation of Melexis programmable linear Hall sensor ICs addresses those needs and brings the answer.”

In addressing the need, the company has also launched three programmable linear hall sensors — the MLX90288, MLX90291 and the MLX90292.

The MLX90291 features 125 Hz PWM output, while the MLX90288 offers ratiometric analog output. Designed for high reliability applications, the MLX90292 comes in dual die redundant TSSOP-16 package. Utilizing the two-wire PSI-5 protocol, this third sensor reports a digital telegram as it features two kHz PWM mode.

These three new devices are offered in production and sample quantities with their respective PTC-04 programming tools.

No-Drift Absolute Gaging Package from HEIDENHAIN

Schaumburg, Ill. –HEIDENHAIN Corporation announces that it has coupled the new ACANTO Absolute Length Gage with the established and versatile ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK metrology readouts. This gaging package is a great solution for many fixed gaging applications.

The HEIDENHAIN ACANTO Absolute Length Gage with EnDat 2.2 provides the benefits of an optical encoder and solves many of the problems of different length gages such as gage drift, linearity over the entire measuring range, or referencing upon startup. The ACANTO’s measuring principle is the measurement standard and does not drift over time nor does it require mastering. “Sweet spots” are nonexistent with the ACANTO as 2µm of accuracy are held throughout the entire measuring length. The new absolute technology, using EnDat 2.2, enables the ACANTO to know its position upon power up with no need to reference. The ACANTO comes in both spring operated and pneumatically operated models and is offered in 12mm and 30mm measuring lengths.

The HEIDENHAIN ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK will handle gaging and inspection tasks with ease, from simple pass/fail detection up to complex logic statements communicating to a PLC.  They can be configured for basic or advanced operations where inputs can be assigned and combined as desired, along with mathematical, trigonometric or statistical formulas.  This makes it possible to measure even complex dimensions such as thickness, flatness, volume and more.  Rapid acquisition of measurement data can monitor dynamic events such as the eccentricity of a rotating shaft.

The ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK now has a new color LED-lit display for displaying results numerically or graphically as a bar graph or dial indicator. The ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK can manage up to 100 parts, each with up to 16 visible measurement features and 16 hidden ones and can save thousands of data entry points for internal statistical process control (SPC) or export. User customization is easy with programmable soft and hot keys. Min/Max functions monitor and store data, and warning and tolerance limits can be set to each display value.

A new plug and play routine allows for smooth interfacing of the ACANTO and ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK. The ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK can interface with 1 to 8 ACANTO Gages and will be an effective solution for many gaging applications. The ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK will also accept any EnDat 2.2 encoders from HEIDENHAIN including linear, rotary, and angle.

For more information, visit www.heidenhain.us

Haydon releases one inch can-stack linear actuator with proximity sensor

Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions (www.haydonkerk.com), a leading manufacturer of precision linear motion products, has released the latest 25000 Series one inch captive linear actuators, which integrate end-of-stroke proximity sensors. The sensors use the technology of miniature hall effect in an IC package placed directly on the actuator. The non-contact operation of the switch provides the unlimited on-off life cycle in the sensors’ hall effect technology. The company’s can stack linear actuator with proximity sensors is suitable for limited space applications.

With the use of a rare earth magnet fitted directly at the internal screw’s end, the sensor achieves a highly repeatable on/off signal. The in and out movement of the screw allows the magnet to move forward and away from the sensor face, enabling the device to switch states. Purposely designed to function in a digital switch mode, the proximity sensor utilizes an open-collector output via a NPN transistor switch incorporated in the sensor. The proximity switch is a device comprised of three wires, requiring a minimum voltage of 3.8 VDC to a maximum of 24 VDC with a current consumption of 10mA max.

The company’s latest 25000 Series is part of the G4 portfolio of high-output can stack linear actuators whose performance are “second to none” when compared to actuators of its kind in the market. Improvements include high energy neodymium magnets, custom engineered polymers, optimized stator tooth geometry, and larger ball bearings for increased rotor support and axial loading.

New Linear Position Transducer with VARAN Bus Interface from Balluff

Florence, Ky. – Balluff announces the Micropulse AT Linear Position Transducer with the VARAN Bus interface. It is able to track the location of up to four position-marker magnets. The transducer outputs a start/stop signal, which is used to calculate the position of each magnet using the transducer length and resolution. It’s available in a non-contact, floating magnet configuration, with optional measuring ranges from 50mm up to 1.5m. The VARAN client chip is embedded into the transducer itself as a low-cost FPGA, allowing simple read/write configuration and making it an economical solution for linear positioning.

VARAN Bus is a robust Ethernet-based industrial network protocol based on IEEE 802.3 100TX Standard Ethernet technology. VARAN Bus offers additional benefits over standard Ethernet including enhanced resistance against disruption, fast bus speed operating in “hard real-time”, with bus cycle times less than 100µs, and low jitter below 100ns, all of which lead to extremely high data integrity.

For more information on the Micropulse AT with VARAN Bus interface, visit www.balluff.com/AT

To learn more about the VARAN Bus real time industrial network protocol, visit http://www.varan-bus.net/index_en.htm.

www.balluff.com

MTS Systems’ Sensors Division’s magnetostrictive sensors new alternative

MTS Systems’ Sensors Division’s magnetostrictive sensors now provide the performance level that make them preferable alternatives to linear encoders in certain applications. The sensors can be utilized as encoders because they offer the performance and reliability needed for dynamic closed-loop control. They provide continuous, precise position feedback that permits velocity and position-controlled movements at very high or very low speeds.

“Magnetostriction offers several benefits over other technologies to provide reliable and accurate positioning,” said Matt Hankinson, marketing manager, MTS Sensors.   ”One of the key benefits it offers over incremental linear encoders is inherent absolute positioning. If a linear encoder drops below a minimum speed, it will create a cogging effect that forces the amplifier to speed up until the next signal is received. The result is an uncontrolled jerky movement not acceptable in most of the low-speed applications.”

In addition, according to Hankinson, magnetostrictive position sensors do not have a maximum or minimum speed limitation because they are absolute position devices; they continue sampling absolute position at a fixed rate and resolution regardless of the application velocity.

Another benefit of absolute position sensors is that they eliminate the need for moving to a reference mark or home position after a power reset. At any point in time, the absolute position sensor can report where it is without requiring a movement. “Many applications are now moving beyond incremental encoders and are advancing to absolute position feedback for improved safety and productivity,” said Hankinson.

“Performance was also previously a factor in some cases,” he continued. “Optical linear encoders have a range of performance that at the upper end could achieve resolutions and accuracy that magnetostrictive sensors could not meet in the past. However, advancements in magnetostrictive technology over the years have now increased the overlap in performance so they now fit into applications that could previously only use linear encoders. ”

Magnetostrictive sensors provide precise, dynamic measurement of absolute position and velocities and are capable of measuring signals in the sub-millisecond range.  They can reach sub-micrometer resolutions which permits displacements at very low speeds of only 0.5 mm/s; measurement cycle times down to 100 microseconds to track fast motion; a linearity of <± 0.01% and typical repeatability of 2.5 microns. Real-time linearity correction is available to get measurement accuracy down to 20 micrometers or better.

Another advantage of magnetostrictive technology is that it is not sensitive to contamination in harsh environments. An optical encoder’s reading head, a piece of glass and a laser that’s counting the marks, can be contaminated by dust or oil, causing loss of the optical signal which means the reader is unable to count the marks.

The magnetostrictive sensor’s parts are enclosed within the sensor, and the magnet provides non-wear technology that ensures robustness of the sensor for the life of the equipment. Also, whereas magnetostrictive sensors have historically been used inside hydraulic cylinders in harsh environments and encoders were externally mounted on machine tools, magnetostrictive sensors are now available with many options for mounting on machine tools and offer many interfaces, such as an absolute SSI interface.

“There are still applications that are best suited for linear encoders because of specific requirements, but today’s magnetostrictive technology is increasingly meeting the needs of a wide range of applications and provides significant productivity and cost of ownership benefits,” said Hankinson.

MTS Systems
www.mtssensors.com

IP69K Linear Position Transducer for Harsh Applications from Balluff

Florence, KY – Balluff’s new Micropulse® ProCompact linear position transducer for demanding linear feedback applications is rugged, accurate, and protected against environmental hazards such as high humidity, ambient temperature variations, high-pressure wash down, and exposure to caustic chemicals.

The Micropulse ProCompact rod-style transducer incorporates field-proven, non-contact magnetostrictive technology into a welded, hermetically sealed stainless steel housing providing superior long-term reliability and service life compared to competing contact-based sensors such as linear or rotary potentiometers.

The ProCompact is ideal for the following types of applications: hydropower and other wet applications, railroad maintenance equipment, steel production, sawmill applications, or any other application involving high humidity, ambient temperature variations, and high-pressure wash down.

The Micropulse ProCompact linear position transducer comes in standard ¾-in.-16 UNF (optional M18 x 1.5) mounting threads, allowing the transducer to be installed into hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. Right out of the box, the ProCompact is environmentally protected to IP68. For even more demanding applications, the threaded fitting on the ProCompact housing can accommodate a cable protection system, offering environmental protection up to IP69K.
For more information, visit www.balluff.com/procompact

PNP Output-Type Sensors for Linear Actuators

Franklin, IN – NSK Precision America now offers two types of photo sensor kits for use with its MCM and MCH Monocarrier linear actuators. The variety of sensor types available for NSK’s Monocarrier lines now includes PNP output sensors, as well as NPN output sensors. Both types of sensors are RoHS compliant and give users added flexibility to use a variety of controller types.

NSK’s Monocarrier linear actuators integrate multiple products including ball screws, linear guides and support bearings. Products in the Monocarrier line offer an all-in-one structure, maintenance-free operation and a lightweight, compact design and can be used in a wide range of applications, including assembly, inspection and transporting equipment.

For more information on NSK Precision America’s products and services, visit www.nskprecision.com.

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