Posted to News on 28th Oct 2013, 15:26
Position transmitter for simple stroke measuring and feedback
Festo is launching a new range of pneumatic cylinder position transmitters, the programmable SDAT-MHS. Described as economic and easy to set up, the high-performance pneumatic cylinder-mounted sensors give accurate position feedback over stroke lengths up to 160mm, enabling engineers and machine builders to gain position feedback and conduct simple object measurement or identification.
There are five transmitters available with 50, 80, 100, 125 and 160mm sensing ranges. They offer excellent repeatability, measuring absolute values such as lengths, thicknesses and heights, and are therefore suitable for process monitoring and object detection, for example for monitoring components and displacements in applications such as assembly, riveting, ultrasonic welding, pressing or adhesive bonding.
Typically two cylinder switches are used in basic pneumatic "end-to-end "movement applications, but for multiple positions or intermediate positions multiple switches and PLC inputs are required to detect and interpret the position. Now, with the new SDAT-MHS, engineers and machine builders need only one transmitter, which enables them to save significant installation time.
SDAT-MHS can be set up with analogue current output 4-20mA, a switching output and an IO-Link combined in a single device. As a result, users can benefit from flexibility in their choice of signal processing method with just one device.
A simple interface allows up to four channels to be programmed in IO-Link mode. This means that almost all applications can be controlled without having to program the analogue input of the PLC.
SDAT-MHS is the only position transmitter of its type that is IP65 rated, therefore providing excellent protection against the ingress of dust and water in more demanding application areas. In addition, the transmitters feature three LEDs which help with set up and alert the user if they are within or outside the measuring range. The transmitters can be fitted easily to any cylinder with a T-slot and are available with up to 20m of cable.
Steve Sands, Product Manager at Festo, says: "With our new SDAT-MHS position transmitters it's now possible to measure longer stroke lengths, extending the scope for pneumatic cylinders being used as measuring devices giving accurate closed-loop position feedback. We're delighted to extend our range of cylinder-mounted sensors. The ease of set-up compared with individual switches or older designs provides a far more elegant and cost saving alternative.
For further information on the SDAT-MHS position transmitters visit www.festo.co.uk/sdat-mhs, or for more information about Festo's pneumatic and electric automation products visit www.festo.co.uk.
