Posted to News on 2nd Feb 2024, 11:00
New inductive sensors cut the cost of precision distance measurement
Reliably measuring the distance to metallic targets with micrometre precision no longer requires expensive measuring systems, thanks to the P|Prox range of inductive sensors from ifm electronic.
P|Prox sensors, which have familiar cylindrical bodies similar to those of conventional inductive proximity sensors, are easy to install, easy to set up, and, thanks to their IO-Link communication, easy to interface with almost any type of control system.
P|Prox sensors are factory calibrated and ready to use out of the box. They can be relied on to deliver accurate, repeatable results, continuously outputting distance-to-target data via IO-Link. When the highest precision is required, simple one-point calibration, or even more accurate three-point calibration is possible. In all cases, the results are completely unaffected by the type of target metal.
To ensure suitability for the widest possible range of applications, P|Prox sensors have an IP69K ingress protection rating and an operating temperature range of -25 to +70C. They are available in flush and non-flush mounting versions with 60 mm long industry standard M12, M18 and M30 threaded stainless-steel housings. All types are resistant to the effects of external magnetic fields, and all incorporate four LEDs for local status indication.
The measuring range of ifms P|Prox inductive distance sensors depends on the model, with flush-mount M12 versions, for example, having a range of 0.2 to 2 mm and non-flush M30 types having a range of 1.5 to 15 mm. All types use IO-Link COM2 transmission mode and have a minimum process cycle time of 3.2 ms.
