Fiber-optic sensors and fibers

The smart solution for challenging detection tasks

Thanks to the new SICK ASIC technology, faulty processes are a thing of the past. Sensors with this technology are more powerful than ever before. Whether with a single or up to four-fold scanning range, SICK’s inductive proximity sensors detect safely and reliably with the highest precision. SICK is moving into the future every day. Extended diagnostic options as well as communication via IO-Link 1.1 make the sensors into data suppliers for Industry 4.0. Thanks to intelligent sensors, complex tasks which used to be solved in the control can now be done easily and directly in the sensor. This makes predictive maintenance easier and reduces machine downtime.

Fits flexibly into the narrowest corners

The combination of fiber-optic sensor and fibers is an excellent solution for a wide range of applications. Challenging detection tasks can be solved in combination with the matching fibers thanks to the comprehensive adjustment options of the fiber-optic sensor.

The comprehensive fiber portfolio from SICK satisfies all requirements regardless of whether the size, mounting options, material resistance or suitability for a special application is the deciding factor.

Bussystem

When using the fiber-optic sensors in bus operation, up to 16 devices can be connected to a bus system. This creates several benefits.

Prevention of mutual interference

Through synchronization of the transmission pulse pattern, each fiber-optic sensor detects only the emitted light which it itself emitted.

Reduced setting and wiring effort

The parameter settings can be copied from the base sensor to all other connected fiber-optic sensors with the push of a button.

With a single input signal on the base sensor, all other sensors can be taught in at the same time. In addition, the base sensor supplies all other sensors with voltage, resulting in reduced wiring effort.

Connection to fieldbus gateways

The fiber-optic sensors can be connected to a fieldbus gateway as a bus variant. The fieldbus allows you to make format or product changes from the control at the touch of a button. This means extensions and changes are easy to make. The transmission of cyclical data enables quick access to all process data of the connected sensors. Thanks to acyclical data communication, you can always access diagnostic functions. For example, this makes it possible to identify the need for maintenance work early on, which can then be done in times of planned machine downtime.

Fieldbus gateways

Using the fieldbus gateway, up to 16 fiber-optic sensors (WLL180T and KTL180) and distance sensors (OL1, OD Mini Pro, OD5000 in combination with the AOD1 evaluation unit) can be integrated into a network. All sensor data can be read out and written on the sensor using the fieldbus gateway. Settings can also be made and reviewed in this way (e.g. in the event of format or product changes) if the sensors are installed in hard-to-reach places.

The sensor and therefore the machine status can be determined at any time with the monitoring of sensor data, and diagnostic functions can also be implemented. All sensor data is transmitted to a fieldbus cable, which considerably decreases wiring effort.